They say that All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Now, while that\'s true for most people, when it comes to addicts, the opposite becomes true. All play and no work make Jack a dull boy. And eventually even the play stops feeling like play and stops being fun! Addiction starts out …
They say that All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Now, while that\’s true for most people, when it comes to addicts, the opposite becomes true. All play and no work make Jack a dull boy. And eventually even the play stops feeling like play and stops being fun! Addiction starts out as a a lot of fun, but gradually the liking to for the substance decreases and only the wanting for the substance goes on increasing. This extreme, polarized way of living creates havoc in the life of the addict and those around them.
The most debilitating and destructive part about addiction is that it makes one lose interest in everything that a person loves and enjoys doing. Loss of interest in activities that previously used to bring pleasure or satisfaction to the person is a symptom that is seen in other mental health issues as well. But when it comes to addiction, it is exceptionally dangerous because the only thing that matters to the addict is the substance.
The role of the brain in addiction and loss of interest
Now to someone who is not addicted, it may seem like like an intentional act that they are deliberately choosing the substance and not getting involved in any other activity. But by the time one gets dependent on the substance, their brain is physically changed in such a way that the substance becomes their only source of pleasure. In the brains of those who are not dependent on substance, there are certain neurotransmitters or chemicals that are released whenever they do something fun or learn something new. The learning and reward systems are activated. This is what keeps an individual motivated to do activities and feel good after doing them.
But in the brain of an addict, the chemicals responsible for feeling good, the learning and reward systems only become activated when they use the substance. Because the substance provides a quick relief, it becomes harder and harder for the brain to generate these feel-good chemicals from other activities. The result on the level of behavior is that the addict only feels good after taking the substance and loses interest in all other hobbies or pleasurable activities. Eventually, the pleasure gained from the substance also diminishes and the person starts using or drinking just to remain functional or to cope with the multitude of mental health issues resulting from others Comorbid with addiction such as depression, loneliness, anxiety, etc.
The role of psychological factors in addiction and loss of interest
Addiction is a complex and ever-changing disease which is bound to occur with other psychological issues. Intellectually, an addict knows that they need to stop drinking or using and start living their life again, which is to start engaging in productive and pleasurable activities and socialize with their loved ones. But the mental and in many cases, the physical dependence is such that this knowledge only remains intellectual. As the addiction progresses, this knowledge become harder and harder to apply, because the effort required to restart one\’s life increases. It is similar to trying to run a marathon with no preparation and muscles that are weakening day by day.
Not only does the resilience of a person become weaker, the judgement and decision-making skills are also challenged due to continued substance use. Poor self-esteem and insecurity about oneself becomes amplified due to the society\’s regard for addicts. The stigma against them generates intense feelings of shame guilt and embarrassment. Contrary to what some people believe, these feelings are not good motivators and cause more harm to the addict\’s mind. The addict may also suffer from self defeating thought patterns and self doubt which can further enforce the belief that they are incapable of becoming better. The added emotional disturbance that comes with substance dependence makes matters harder. As the person\’s coping is already challenged, they are unable to process emotions and end up suppressing more and more negative emotions by using or drinking. Thus, most psychological factors are working against the person getting out of addiction and starting any sort of productive or pleasurable activities.
What can be done?
Understanding the role of these factors may make it seem like its a battle that cannot be won. How can an individual run the marathon with no preparation, with weakening muscles and the whole world booing them down? To except an individual who is suffering on so many fronts, to get up and start working out, doing their work, hobbies and activities of the day, all of a sudden is ludicrous. But for them to do it is not impossible. When an addict goes into treatment, mental health proffessionals work on three fronts: behavior, thoughts and emotions. In an outpatient setting, an individual is given psychological and pharmacological aid, in order to stay sober, work through their mental health issues and motivate them into becoming more productive. But when the intensity of addiction is higher, inpatient setting of a rehabilitation center is more suitable. There are many rehabs in India which provide treatment for addiction.
In a rehabilitation centre, the individual follows a routine which is designed to help them taken care of their physical health, work on their mental health issues through group and individual therapy sessions and also provide the environment and the resources to explore their productive and pleasurable areas of interest. This reprograms the brain\’s reward systems and helps the person to start finding joy in simple activities. The individual is also motivated to pursue a novel hobby or activity which can further activate their learning and reward systems, enforcing the idea that they can feel interested and excited in a lot of things in life. Thus a rehab can promote the change and provide the necessary time, support and tools needed for this change.
Our alcohol and drug rehabilition center, Zorbacare gives priority to helping an individual to learn to stimulate their own minds and handle their thoughts and emotions in ways that serve them in the best way possible. Our team at our Mumbai rehabilitation center works on different areas of treatment, especially giving importance to co-occuring mental health issues such as depression, obsessive thinking, anxiety, etc. A change in lifestyle is promoted at Zorbacare which is conducive to long lasting recovery. Along with recovery from drug or alcohol addiction, the individual can experience the various hidden aspects of their personality which are spontaneous, joyful and peaceful.
