Psychological Dependence

Psychological dependence is one of the most misunderstood components of addiction and dependency as a whole. Many people believe they have an addiction, and that’s all there is to it. Yet, substance use disorders, in all forms, are complex. At Alina Lodge, we aim to provide you with the information and addiction treatment tools you need to understand what you are going through.

What Is Psychological Dependence?

Are you struggling with drug and alcohol use and are unsure why you cannot stop? It could be due to psychological dependence. This term refers to a conditioned response that leads a person to use drugs or alcohol. This may be triggered by things like feelings or events in their life. There are many types of triggers. They can occur for various reasons but often develop over time.

Common Symptoms of Psychological Dependence

One way to understand if you have psychological dependence is to consider these symptoms. Do you experience:

• Mood swings
• Depression that you often cannot pinpoint a cause of
• Intense cravings
• Irritability and restlessness
• Hypersomnia or insomnia, irregular sleeping patterns
• Obsessive feelings associated with getting the drug you desire
• Memory problems

When you are unable to gain access to the drugs and alcohol you are accustomed to using, do you feel the onset of these symptoms? If so, that can indicate that you are psychologically dependent upon them.

Is Psychological Dependence the Same Thing as Physical Dependence?

Most people think of addiction as simply being dependent. They often lack the clarification of either physical or psychological dependence. These are two very different things.

Physical dependence is focused on the body. Your body adapts to the amount and type of drugs you are using. It achieves a higher tolerance for them, and you need to use more of those drugs to get the same feeling. In physical dependence, you also will feel physical pain when you stop using. This is called withdrawal.

Psychological dependence is a bit different. Here, the term refers to the emotional and mental processes that often lead a person to use drugs and alcohol. It will be important for you to understand what these are, especially in addiction treatment. If you do not do so, you may not be able to recover from your addiction.

It’s also important to know that both are different from addiction itself. In addiction, a person is compulsively using drugs and alcohol even though they recognize the adverse effects of doing so. Many people have psychological dependence with addiction.

How Do You Break Psychological Dependence?

Breaking psychological dependence is necessary to heal from addiction. To get to that point, you may need to work with a professional who can help you change your thought processes and habits.

At Alina Lodge, we do this through a comprehensive assessment and treatment plan designed to meet your unique needs. It becomes essential for you to work through the link between your thoughts and your actions regarding drug use. We can do that through a combination of therapies within our addiction treatment program. These include:

• Dual diagnosis treatment programs
• Drug detox services
• Residential treatment program
• Long term treatment programs
• Men’s drug rehab
• Women’s drug rehab

Your future depends on your ability to break through your addiction and dependence. Our team will work closely with you to give you the tools and resources you need to do this.

Find the Support You Need to Break Free at Alina Lodge

Understanding psychological dependence is a challenge for many people. It’s hard to understand how it can happen to you. Yet, you are not alone in this process of breaking through your dependence. At Alina Lodge, we offer the treatment programs you need to achieve better outcomes. Contact Alina Lodge at 833.685.1700 or reach out to us online to learn how we can help you.