The physical toll it takes on people is often the first thing people think of when it comes to addiction. They’re picturing the loss of weight, lack of hygiene, and the loss of cognitive ability that can happen to those with a severe substance abuse disorder. Just as important is how psychological dependence can exact a toll on people. Midwest Recovery Center’s addiction treatment programs help individuals work through how to manage all aspects of their substance abuse issues.
What is a Definition of Psychological Dependence?
There is a lot of reading material on the internet that interchangeably refers to addiction’s physical and psychological dependency aspects. They’re different aspects of the disease. Experienced addiction specialists and medical professionals understand that you should take distinct approaches to physical and psychological dependence.
One good psychological dependence definition is the mental and emotional aspects individuals go through as they try to get over an addiction. It’s just as important to work through emotional issues as the physical side effects of a substance use disorder. Both addiction components tend to exist side-by-side and can put up seemingly impenetrable barriers to overcoming substance use disorders.
Specific aspects of psychological dependence include:
- Feeling a constant need for drugs or alcohol
- Having trouble with your cognitive functions, like remembering what happened when you were under the influence
- Not being able to concentrate
- Feeling restlessness
- Experiencing bouts of depression when you can’t get to drugs or alcohol
- Developing insomnia or other sleep issues because of your addiction
- Staying in denial about the extent of your addiction
Not everyone experiences psychological dependence the same way. That’s why it can be difficult for doctors to measure the extent to which it increases your distress levels.
Understanding Physical Dependence vs. Psychological Dependence
Physical dependence is about your body’s reactions. It’s a way of describing what happens when you drink or do drugs and how your body responds when you attempt stopping. That’s what leads to a sometimes debilitating withdrawal. It’s why a lot of people are unable to get over their addiction.
Common side effects produced because of a physical dependency can include:
- Vomiting
- Headaches
- Trembling
- Shaking
- Nausea
The intensity of withdrawal symptoms from your physical dependency varies. Certain substances produce a more intense reaction than others. The length of time you’ve been addicted to drugs or alcohol and the amount you consume at a time also play a role.
Psychological symptoms can manifest through:
- Cravings for drugs or alcohol
- Having your thoughts consumed by thoughts of drugs or alcohol
- Panic at the idea of not being able to get more drugs or alcohol
Your psychological dependence can make you feel out of control. That leads to difficulty dealing with your emotions or having reactions out of proportion to a specific situation. Many people with psychological dependence start having problems in their relationships. You may stop doing things like hanging out with friends or family or going to work.
Treating Psychological Dependence
How you go about dealing with a psychological dependence varies. People who abuse certain substances can be more likely to end up with psychology dependency symptoms like:
- Cannabis
- Cocaine
- Inhalants
- Hallucinogens
- Psychotropic medications
Midwest Recovery Center offers substance abuse programs designed to help individuals dealing with the fallout of a physical or psychological dependency. Even if you’ve already received treatment from an inpatient or residential treatment program, you can still benefit from services like intensive outpatient therapy or a partial hospitalization program.
Get Help for Psychological Dependency at Midwest Recovery Center
Getting continued support in your recovery increases your chances of success. Midwest Recovery Center offers programs to help clients who need help working through the following issues:
Find out more about each of our programs by calling Midwest Recovery Center at 833.627.0039, or contact us online.
