Understanding the Psychology of Addiction

Last updated 7 months ago

Drug and alcohol addiction take their toll on your mind as well as on your body, and what many people may not realize is that addiction is a psychological response as much as it is a physical one. Learn more about the psychology of addiction and how drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers can help.

Emotional Triggers and Rage

Drug and alcohol addiction are triggered by emotions, particularly emotions of helplessness, fear, and inadequacy. The reason for these feelings is varied and unique for each individual, but in every person these feelings cause you to feel trapped, seeking out your drug of choice in an attempt to feel empowered or in control of your feelings and your life. Additionally, the emotional triggers behind your addiction often invoke powerful feelings of rage, which not only drives you toward the addictive behavior but acts to override your common sense or good judgment to justify your drug or alcohol abuse.

Displacement

The other concept at the heart of addiction is called displacement, which simply means that rather than dealing with your fears or uncomfortable feelings in a more healthy way to deal with your triggers. Displacement causes you to choose drugs or alcohol rather than working out a logical way to solve your problem, and the rage which fuels the displacement keeps you from seeing that a more logical course of action might be healthier as well as produce a permanent solution.

Psychology and Treating Addiction

Drug and alcohol rehabilitation is an incredibly individualized process. In order to successfully address addiction, rehab centers work with you to determine your individual triggers and help you find healthier ways to resolve your feelings of helplessness rather than displacement and abuse.

At Astoria Pointe and The Rosebriar, we strive to help you understand your own individual addiction and the reasons behind it. Our rehabilitation programs will teach you how to successfully deal with feelings of fear or discomfort, rather than turning to drugs or alcohol. Learn more about us on the web or by calling (503) 298-4393.