Addiction Symptoms: Signs You’ve Gone Too Far

Does everyone who gets clean and sober have to have a brutal rock bottom before they do so? What if you could quit drinking or using before your life went down in flames? Recognizing the signs of addiction can help you or a loved one get on the path to recovery before it’s too late.

Signs of Addiction 

Many symptoms of addiction go unnoticed because of the denial and stigma surrounding addiction. It’s easier to explain it all away or to look the other way than to deal with it head on. If you or someone you love is struggling with drugs or alcohol, however, that’s nothing to be ashamed of. Substance use disorder is a chronic disease of the brain that warps your thinking and makes you do things you normally wouldn’t. 

What’s more, addiction is caused by a variety of factors, many of which are outside of the control of the person who is struggling. Genetics, childhood trauma, and mental and behavioral health issues all can contribute to disordered substance use and addiction. Because addiction has so many contributing factors, it can be hard to diagnose and even harder to treat. But, there are some clear-cut signs of addiction.

Addiction Symptoms & The Body

Although addiction is a disease of the brain, abusing drugs or alcohol can take a toll on other parts of the body. You might notice weight loss, weight gain, skin problems, or other health difficulties as a result of excessive drinking or drug use. Different drugs have very different effects on the body, but any kind of drastic shift is cause for concern. Of course, if a medical professional tells you or a loved one that your substance abuse is having even deeper effects — such as causing liver cancer or heart problems — that’s a clear-cut sign that it’s time to stop.

Addiction Symptoms & Your Mood

Substance abuse is often a desperate attempt to self-medicate the pain of trauma or other mental health difficulties, such as depression or anxiety. In the hopes of balancing themselves out, however, drug users often go too far, causing wild mood swings that are a clear sign of a substance abuse issue. Irritability, depression, lethargy, manic behavior, and aggression can all be symptoms of addiction.

Addiction & Relationships

That drug-fueled behavior can decimate relationships — not to mention the broken promises and lying that often accompany addiction. If you are experiencing issues in your friendships, work relationships, and/or romantic relationships, drugs or alcohol could be at the root.

Other Addiction Symptoms

At the same time, financial problems and legal problems can be the result of substance abuse as well. In short, if everything in your life is going wrong it might not be bad luck. It might be substance use disorder.

Get Help for Addiction 

The good news is, recovery from addiction is possible for anyone. You don’t have to wait for a rock bottom moment to ruin your life or someone else’s. When you’re ready, our caring team is standing by to help you find the path to recovery — and to stay on it for the long term.