Over the years, we have come to a much deeper level of understanding on many aspects of health, each new discovery and exploration providing us with more awareness and information all the time. There are still, even now, many avenues in and surrounding health that are still greatly misunderstood, one of them being addiction. We all know that the links between addiction and health are abundantly and undeniably clear, but the relationship between the two is what is more complex, and that is what is unique to each individual circumstance. Unpacking it all can take quite a lot of energy and time, but it is important to do so.
Addiction comes in many different shapes and sizes
There are many different faces of addiction. Sometimes, it is an addiction to sex, which should be carefully assessed, especially if it’s beginning to interfere with your life. Regardless, same day STD testing is available to those who engage in risky behavior such as not wearing protection.
For others, it is alcohol or drugs. There are many, many more forms of addiction. One could even argue that addiction has countless faces, all of which are unique in and of themselves. Regardless of which shape addiction takes, however, the point remains the same: addiction is a brutal disease, and it can affect anyone, anytime, anywhere, anyhow. Understanding addiction and how to combat it and help others battle it themselves is becoming more and more necessary all the time.
Addiction has a clear impact on health, but differs case by case
While the overall effects of addiction are literally the same physically in all affected individuals, it is the mental impact of addiction that has a different hold on each affected individual. Mental health is a highly individual component of overall health, just as physical health is. The key difference between the two aspects of overall health, however, is that addiction and its impact on the body is entirely literal, while the impact on mental health is literal in a more fluid way, if that makes sense.
Put it like this: one individual affected by drug abuse thinks one way, but another thinks entirely differently. So, their mental health is impacted differently when they experience addiction. That is not to say that they are not just as affected as one another, but rather that there is a much broader spectrum of how people experience and deal with addiction, than how their bodies physically handle the experience.
Addiction is treatable, but must be approached differently all the time
It is true that addiction is highly treatable, but the road to recovery differs for each individual. So, the approach to treatment must be bridged differently each time. The sharp approach that worked for one person will only drive the next affected individual further into their state of inner chaos. All in all, to find their way to a healthier state of mind, individuals affected by addiction must be willing and able to go in search of treatment. That is step one. If they are not ready to receive the assistance they need, they may very likely bounce back into their addiction. So, start there, and find a supportive environment that can help to tap into one’s own experience with addiction, and help them find their way out of the chaos.