What is the difference between obsession and addiction in psychology?

I am well aware of the dictionary definitions of these two words. My question is, what is the difference, in psychology, between a psychological addiction and an obsession? It seems to me that the two are extremely similar. I do not refer to physical addiction, but to psychological addiction.

Also, how does one determine whether a person suffers from an obsession or a psychological addiction? Is it simply the preference of the one making the diagnosis, or is there a set of criteria that explicitly defines each?

Thank you.

addiction :(?

i have an issue i get easily addicted :( all my friends think i'm a freak because i'm like obsessed with michelle pfeiffer
is it normal
why do they think i'm a freak just because i've seen almost all of her movies read her biographies and watched all of her talk show apperences

do you think i'm a freak whats wrong with me

Behavioral therapies can include counseling, psychotherapy, support groups, or family therapy. Treatment medications offer help in suppressing the withdrawal syndrome and drug craving and in blocking the effects of drugs. In addition, studies show that treatment for heroin addiction using methadone at an adequate dosage level combined with behavioral therapy reduces death rates and many health problems associated with heroin abuse.

In general, the more treatment given, the better the results. Many patients require other services as well, such as medical and mental health services and HIV prevention services. Patients who stay in treatment longer than 3 months usually have better outcomes than those who stay less time. Patients who go through medically assisted withdrawal to minimize discomfort but do not receive any further treatment, perform about the same in terms of their drug use as those who were never treated. Over the last 25 years, studies have shown that treatment works to reduce drug intake and crimes committed by drug-dependent people. Researchers also have found that drug abusers who have been through treatment are more likely to have jobs.

Types of Treatment Programs

The ultimate goal of all <a href="http://www.synergytreatment.com">drug abuse treatment </a>is to enable the patient to achieve lasting abstinence, but the immediate goals are to reduce drug use, improve the patient's ability to function, and minimize the medical and social complications of drug abuse.

There are several types of drug abuse treatment programs. Short-term methods last less than 6 months and include residential therapy, medication therapy, and drug-free outpatient therapy. Longer term treatment may include, for example, methadone maintenance outpatient treatment for opiate addicts and residential therapeutic community treatment.

In maintenance treatment for heroin addicts, people in treatment are given an oral dose of a synthetic opiate, usually methadone hydrochloride or levo-alpha-acetyl methadol (LAAM), administered at a dosage sufficient to block the effects of heroin and yield a stable, noneuphoric state free from physiological craving for opiates. In this stable state, the patient is able to disengage from drug-seeking and related criminal behavior and, with appropriate counseling and social services, become a productive member of his or her community.

Outpatient drug-free treatment does not include medications and encompasses a wide variety of programs for patients who visit a clinic at regular intervals. Most of the programs involve individual or group counseling. Patients entering these programs are abusers of drugs other than opiates or are opiate abusers for whom maintenance therapy is not recommended, such as those who have stable, well-integrated lives and only brief histories of drug dependence.

Therapeutic communities (TCs) are highly structured programs in which patients stay at a residence, typically for 6 to 12 months. Patients in TCs include those with relatively long histories of drug dependence, involvement in serious criminal activities, and seriously impaired social functioning. The focus of the TC is on the resocialization of the patient to a drug-free, crime-free lifestyle.

Short-term residential programs, often referred to as chemical dependency units, are often based on the "Minnesota Model" of treatment for alcoholism. These programs involve a 3- to 6-week inpatient treatment phase followed by extended outpatient therapy or participation in 12-step self-help groups, such as Narcotics Anonymous or Cocaine Anonymous. Chemical dependency programs for drug abuse arose in the private sector in the mid-1980s with insured alcohol/cocaine abusers as their primary patients. Today, as private provider benefits decline, more programs are extending their services to publicly funded patients.

Methadone maintenance programs are usually more successful at retaining clients with opiate dependence than are therapeutic communities, which in turn are more successful than outpatient programs that provide psychotherapy and counseling. Within various methadone programs, those that provide higher doses of methadone (usually a minimum of 60 mg.) have better retention rates. Also, those that provide other services, such as counseling, therapy, and medical care, along with methadone generally get better results than the programs that provide minimal services.

Drug treatment programs in prisons can succeed in preventing patients' return to criminal behavior, particularly if they are linked to community-based programs that continue treatment when the client leaves prison. Some of the more successful programs have reduced the rearrest rate by one-fourth to one-half. For example, the "Delaware Model," an ongoing study of comprehensive treatment of drug- addicted prison inmates, shows that prison-based treatment including a therapeutic community setting, a work release therapeutic community, and community-based aftercare reduces the probability of rearrest by 57 percent and reduces the likelihood of returning to drug use by 37 percent.

http://www.synergytreatment.com

lillywilliam

www.addictionrecovery.net A complete information source for anything you need to know about addiction recovery

Nobody will ever willfully want to become a drug addict. Ninety percent of the cases where the hereditary factor is not involved who get into the entrapment of drug addiction have some reason or the other and that is mostly related to failure of some kind.

If a systematic record is taken what creates an unhealthy situation thereby compelling a person to take drugs you will instantly pick up four to five reasons. Let's take a quick look.

The emotional factor

In America the tendency to outburst on minor issues has taken a steep rise. The emotional behavior of men and women is taking an erratic shape day by day. Just consider the rate of suicidal cases and find out its growth. It will be a matter of shock when you actually get to know that the teenagers or people falling in the adolescent group are committing the major suicides. The divorce cases are also on the rise. As a consequence of all these things more and more people from the younger generation are getting involved in the drug addiction or alcoholism.

The criminal instinct

Does crime promote intake of drugs or drug addiction leads to the criminal instinct? The difference is tough to decipher. But it is true that drug addiction has a close relation with criminal psychology. The current record of criminal statistics shows that out of the major crimes committed across the country 47% were drug addicts and under the influence of alcohol.

State of mind

The Department of Health and Human Services has done a detailed survey to find out that how much is the mental problem involved in the substance abuse in America. It is really depressing to know that fifty percent of psychological disorder cases have shown a positive report regarding drug abuse.

Sexual cause

The sexual factor has become the latest trend to culture these ill practices like drug addiction and alcoholism. Different types of sexual orientation in the society are another big cause. Do you know that gays, lesbians and homosexual drug addicts are treated in a different kind of rehabilitation center where they get a humble and like-minded environment with full sexual security?

Another problem that has become a bigger threat is the sexually transmitted diseases. It's a social curse that half of the population below twenty-five is suffering from either HIV or some other sexually transmitted disease and around 90 percent of unwanted pregnancies during teenage happen under the drugs and alcoholic influence. Isn't it a matter of social shame? The only rescue is through proper rehabilitation.

John Porter

I'm sorry for the low quality of the voice. If you don't understand the word it says look at this text. there is a drug, which is spreading very fast. it is more dangerous than meth, cocaine, lsd, weed, idoser, michael jackson, eroine, harry potter. The most worryng fact, is that this drug, affects specially the kids. it is been invented, from an italian scientist, called Piero Barzocchia, who using an emultronic machine, obtained a cookie. The cookie, if bited, causes hallucinogenic effects. Piero called it, Oreo, which is the first word he could think to, after he bit the cookie. Oreo, instantly got a bewildering spread, and today it is used specially by kids. Even because it is very easy to make. You just need some white liquid, and two brown pieces of cardboard. You grab it, and do the immersion. The number of Oreo addicts is growing. Even in China. This drug give you weird, strange, and very strong effects. Look at this two kids, called Tommy and Junior. We tested Oreo on them. Tommy has been shocked. He declared, that he saw all the pokemon cheering for him. Poor Tommy. The effect is immediate. at the moment that you bite the cookie, unleashing its spores, you trip. Even Bill Cosby, the well known comedian, had serious problems with this drug. But today, he finally succeed in saying stop to Oreo. Instead, gay ass, asshole, piece of shit, usher, still uses this drug. Now I'm going to translate in english, a recently interview. I'm tired! I can't go on. I wake up in <b>...</b>

Are you addicted to alcohol and drugs? Would you know if you were? How do you know if you are? Are you worried that you may be? The definition of an addict is a person who cannot resist a habit, especially the use of drugs or alcohol, for physiological or psychological reasons and sometimes both. If you feel that you may be an addict you can turn to any number of residential  Alcohol rehab centers in Salt Lake City, Utah .

How does addiction start? A person may encounter a problem in their life. The person may find that this particular problem is insurmountable. They may find that a drink every now and then lets them escape that pain, even temporarily, making life a little more bearable. Addiction isn’t done on purpose. It happens by accident and it happens without you really knowing. One day you are imbibing on a cocktail after work, and then before you know it you are drinking a bottle a wine a day. You count the minutes until your next drink. You are planning your day around the amount of cocaine you have. You start to budget your bills around your trips to the bar. If you’re to this point in your life, you are definitely an addict. It’s time to seek out professional help from Utah’s many treatment centers. Our referral site covers all major cities like Salt Lake City, West Valley City, Provo and more.
Los Angeles Affordable Drug Rehab Treatment Center Near Malibu, CA

When you are consistently introducing alcohol or drugs into your system your body is building a tolerance to it. The more you put into your body, the more your body will need. Whether you drink or do drugs to numb a physical or emotional pain, your body absorbs all of their effects, good and bad. You like how your mind works when you are high. It’s calming, it blocks the bad feelings, but it causes damage to your brain, mouth and throat, liver, heart, pancreas, small intestine, large intestine, stomach, kidneys, and immune system. If you are an addict, addiction treatment is important to your well being. The longer you continue to abuse drugs and alcohol the more damage it will do.

No matter what your addiction, there are long term rehab centers in Utah for you. You can find one that fits your specific personal and financial needs. The treatment centers offer: Detox Centers, Drug Rehabs, Drug Treatment, In and Out Patient Treatment, Counseling, Meetings and other addictions such as Cocaine, Crack, and Heroin. It’s time you took your life back and seek help for addiction treatment.

Alicia Foster

span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";">The government and the people of Utah are trying their best to fight the drug menace. As everywhere in the world, it is a two pronged approach which is being adopted to suppress the growth and explosion of drugs and related problems. On the one side, the government puts in lots of efforts to stop the production, supply and consumption of drugs, whereas, on the other end, enlightened citizens are sweating it out to pull back those unfortunate lives who have fallen on the unrestricted pit of drug addiction.

If you are living in Utah and have a friend or relative who have drug addiction problems, take heart, as there are solutions round the corner. Treatment centers imparting addiction treatment have come up in required numbers. And the service they provide is simply marvelous. The experts employed in rehab centers in Utah meticulously plan each and every moment of treatment in a scientific and successful way that most addicts walk out completely free after some weeks or months, depending on the level of addiction.

Some treatment centers simply treat the body to remove the toxic sediments left by harmful drugs using medication. As you know, it is these residues which make the addict crave for more drugs at intervals. Once they are removed using medicines, the craving would go off. But this process only treats the body. It is common knowledge that the mind of a person plays a very important role in turning him to drugs. The untreated mind would slowly and steadily take the ex-addict back into the realms of drugs in course of time.

However, techni
Video - Drug Detox for Pittsburgh residents with addiction

cally and technologically advanced drug treatment centers in Utah offer comprehensive treatment to cure not only the physique and also the psyche of the addict. This method has become a roaring success with as much as ninety percent of patients walking free.

The first thing the rehab centers do after a person is admitted for treatment is to analyze and understand his or her personal traits, background and present state of mind. Then the stage of medication starts. Here, a holistic treatment method is adopted which involves medicines, exercises, sauna, steam baths and yoga. The bright side of this approach is that withdrawal symptoms are taken kindly and treated with love and care.

Various counseling sessions by psychologists and other experts help the addicts to get away from inferiority complex, thus making them mentally strong to face any further hardships which may come about in life. I need not tell you what harm inferiority complex can do to individuals and societies. Civilizations have got destroyed due to this mindset of citizens. People with this character trait start dabbling in drugs only to feel macho and show off to others. But later the habit starts clinging on and brings disaster to the drug abuser.

Once the person gets both physically and intellectually strong, he or she is fit to face the world. The people who work on these drug addicts are doing a wonderful service to the nation and humanity. Some drug rehabilitation centers in Utah have set benchmarks in terms of efficiency of treatment and multifarious treatment methods for others to emulate.

Roberta Groche

Methamphetamine addiction is a disease that devastates indivdiuals and families. Fortunately it is a treatable disease. Each years thousands of people receive treatment and acquire the tools and support they need to turn their lives around. Recovery from addiction - even meth addiction - IS possible. The Hazelden Foundation and Twin Cities Public Television's Minnesota Channel present the compelling personal stories of six people who are living in recovery. Listen as they talk about their addiction, how they got sober, stay sober, and enjoy life after meth.

More often than not, sadly enough, life seems to take the shape of a burden for people suffering from alcohol addiction. Addiction, of any kind, tends to impose a sort of binding or compulsion in the lives of the addicts. Limiting you to a constrained focus, it almost confines you to a small cage, debarring you from leading a free thinking life and making your life a continuous source of pain and struggle. Having to engage yourself in a constant battle against the curse of your existence, you even tend to lose your memory. An alcohol addiction treatment center can come to your rescue in such pathetic situation.

 

It is a bane that being an alcohol addict you learn to shy away from living life to the fullest. Life is all about knowing and learning new and interesting experiences. It is a continuous process like an infinite and uninterrupted journey, where you constantly seek to delve into the depths of knowledge. Getting yourself addicted alcoholically means you lose out on the merits of a good and healthy life; you miss out on the ecstasy of enlightenment and understanding.

 

In fact, life should ideally be savored bit by bit, with gratitude, as it has lots to offer. The bits and pieces of experiences in life help you build your character, making a complete person out of you. However, a person suffering from addiction is in no position to show any signs of gratitude whatsoever. Being enmeshed in addiction you tend to eschew feelings that are sources of pain; you are more likely to shove the blame on others rather than taking the onus on yourself. Leave aside gratitude, you are not even capable of taking your own responsibility.

 

Instead of resolving to be proactive and make the most of whatever life has for you, you lead the life of dependence and shame. Instead of trying to seek for answers within yourself you aimlessly search outside. You should be happy from within to realize the meaning of life and gratitude irrespective of whatever the circumstances are.

 

However, the alcohol addiction rehab center is something that lends a helping hand to bring you out of your cocooned life of ignominy and despair. The medical staff there are angels in shape of doctors and counselors. They know that it is only through human touch and feel that an alcohol addict can move towards recovery. Showing demonstrative signs of care, attention and compassion can turn around things miraculously.

 

The medicos at the rehab centers work delicately towards the making of a bond with the patient. An emotional reliability is what you are looking for at this moment and here are the few good people to help you out. Through human touch and interaction with your medical therapist you develop a sense of sharing and understanding. This further helps your doctor to bring out the real human being within you. Ensuring first class drug abuse rehab facilities, the therapeutic programs comprise undying love, affection and understanding meted out by the medical specialists. Their untiring efforts see you through the agony of alcohol addiction and help you walk the path of normalcy once again. You begin to see a glimmer of gratitude within you.

 

Androx

www.addictionrecovery.net A complete information source for anything you need to know about addiction recovery

Do you like an occasional beer, or maybe a sip of wine? Alcohol consumption in moderation is not a problem per se. We all love to unwind with a fine wine or frosty brew. However, too many individuals take this leisurely habit to a whole new level. How much alcohol is too much? Well, if you don't know, then you might want to do a reality check. Don't make the mistake of becoming too easy-going with your social life.

Too many college kids do this with drinking and partying and none of them end up happy I can tell you. One glass, two glass and before they know it, only gulping down a case a night can satisfy their crave. It's time to be well-informed, people. You have to control how much you drink and how often. If you don't, then you just may end up in an alcohol and drug treatment program. I don't think it's fun in there.

Back in high school I watched a number of kids drink alcohol like it was milk. Where were they getting all those booze? I mean come on; someone had to be supplying it to them. They were clearly under the drinking age at the time. Regardless of where the supplies came from, they were chugging like there was no tomorrow. Some teens just think this is the only way to have fun and look cool. It's a way to escape I guess. It's their vehicle to a less stressful realm. Unfortunately it's not healthy. People need to focus their energy on more legal and safer routes to a good time. No one wants to end up in an alcohol and drug treatment program.

Talking about alcohol and drug treatment programs, a close friend of mine was in one. I met him about seven years back, while working at a video store. It took me a while to realize that he had spent a mere 20 years on this earth. This amazed me when I found out because he was always carrying cases of beer in his car. He told me once that he drinks around 20 beers each night. I thought to myself, "God, this kid's an alcoholic, and he's not even old enough to buy it." That's crazy! However, there are many people out there in the same condition. Eventually he engaged the service of an alcohol and drug treatment program. These days he is alcohol free.

Do you or someone you love need the assistance of an alcohol and drug treatment program? If so, you can go on the Internet now and find the answers you're looking for. There are alcohol and drug treatment centers just around the corner. Get that much-needed help today. This is your future we're talking about here. Don't drown it in endless drinking nights again.

John Wellington

An overview of a lightweight camping stove system suitable for backpacking. The small, portable stove weighs less than an ounce and fits inside the cook pot which weighs only a little more than the fancy msr titanium pots yet only costs $10. Uses a homemade cozy that will "simmer" foods for half an hour without fuel - maintains food at 187F after 30 minutes from removing from stove. Powered by cheap alcohol that can be found at any hardware store or can burn everclear alcohol. Boils two cups of water in four and a half minutes using an ounce of fuel. Simple, silent, lightweight, effective, cheap and very reliable. See zenstoves for more information on how to build your own, this gear is a must for most any camping equipment setup unless you are cooking for a large group or need to boil water 90 seconds faster. The advantages over propane gas systems are numerous: you always know how much fuel you have left, the fuel can be multi purpose, the stove is much lighter, the operation is quieter, the fuel can be found anywhere, the canister can be lighter weight, etc..

Alcohol addiction is something that is commonly misunderstood among all population ages. There are many beliefs and thoughts about drinking within society, so in some cases people confuse someone that likes to drink with an alcoholic. So, how do you tell an alcoholic from a social drinker if you’re not a counselor or other mental health professional? Is there a per beer limit or number of drunken stupors that one must engage in before they can be said to have an alcohol addiction? Since there are many factors, these questions can be somewhat difficult to answer, however there are some basics that must be understood before one comes to any type of conclusion. Read on for more information about alcohol addiction and the effects it commonly has on those addicted.

What Is An Alcoholic

An alcoholic is described as someone, who has a craving for alcoholic beverages regardless of the type and has trouble limiting their intake. Now some may say that they have an occasional craving for a cold beer or a margarita with dinner, but that is not what is meant by craving. For those that have a true addiction, they have trouble concentrating on their daily activities without overwhelming desires to have alcohol. These individuals have generally tried to slow their drinking or limit it at least once or twice without great success. They may also feel guilty about the amount of alcohol that they have taken in over the weekend or evening frequently. The type of liquor does not matter when assessing whether or not a person may be dependent on alcohol. It can include beer, wine, whiskey or any other beverage having liquor as an ingredient.

What Are Withdrawals

Withdrawals range from person to person and though some believe that a person must be a diehard alcoholic to experience withdrawals, this is not true. Once a person has established a pattern of drinking the body becomes accustom to it just like any other type of medication or chemical altering substance. Withdrawals are a set of symptoms that individuals sometimes feel if they have been without alcohol for a certain period of time. These withdrawal symptoms can include nausea, dizziness, sweating, headache and anxiety. These symptoms can vary greatly and are not the same for everyone, but are a good general guideline. Sometimes even if the person has a drink, the body will continue on with withdrawal symptoms because over time something known as an increased tolerance occurs.

Tolerance Explained

Alcohol tolerance is something that is believed to be inherited from family traits; however it can change through the consumption of alcohol. This set tolerance differs in most individuals and can be seen with two people drinking the same beverages as well as amounts. One person tolerates the drinks very well, and maintains their behavior as well as composure. The other person, on the other hand may have lowered inhibitions, become loud, unruly or show their intoxication more so. This is because of tolerance levels and why there are numerous factors such as weight, age and gender, it is quite detailed. For the purpose of this article, the basics will only be discussed. What happens is that individuals start out with this set point and over time their body slowly increases this tolerance level. Now what this means is that instead of three beers to make the individual intoxicated it now takes six and this can go on for many years. For the individual that has become addicted to alcohol they have a need to drink more to find that high again. So, they crave six beers instead of the three that use to do the trick! Tolerance is not something that happens overnight, however frequent drinking can build a person’s tolerance level over a period of months.

Long Term Effects Or Consequences

The short term effects are pretty self explanatory, drink and drive, you go to jail. Continue drinking, not only are there negative effects with family, friends, but also employment as well. The long term consequences are often over looked because they are not overly advertised. Long term alcohol abuse can include heart troubles; destroy brain cells, increases the chances of cancer, pancreatic disease, skin troubles, respiration troubles and even sexual dysfunction. Does alcohol still sound appealing? What is meant to be a socially acceptable gesture can actually cause severe troubles over the years.

Why Don’t You Just Stop Drinking

Most alcoholics as well as their family and friends believe that if they wanted to they could just stop drinking. All it takes is will power and a little self discipline, right? This couldn’t be further from the truth because the alcoholic has altered the chemical and hormonal balances within their brain, making it increasingly difficult to stop drinking. It is not as easy as cutting sugar or learning to exercise more, it often takes professional help to stop drinking once and for all. With a good support system of family, friends and treatment it is possible, but it is not easy. With the right information however we can teach those addicted to change the brains imbalance to help them leave drinking behind. Taking the first step is of course the most important and oftentimes the most difficult. The journey is long, but well worth the choice at life that it returns.

Michael Porteous

Are you addicted to alcohol and drugs? Would you know if you were? How do you know if you are? Are you worried that you may be? The definition of an addict is a person who cannot resist a habit, especially the use of drugs or alcohol, for physiological or psychological reasons and sometimes both. If you feel that you may be an addict you can turn to any number of residential  Alcohol rehab centers in Salt Lake City, Utah .

How does addiction start? A person may encounter a problem in their life. The person may find that this particular problem is insurmountable. They may find that a drink every now and then lets them escape that pain, even temporarily, making life a little more bearable. Addiction isn’t done on purpose. It happens by accident and it happens without you really knowing. One day you are imbibing on a cocktail after work, and then before you know it you are drinking a bottle a wine a day. You coun
Drug Alcohol Addiction Treatment in Westlake / Los Angeles, California - RECOVERY ADVOCATES

t the minutes until your next drink. You are planning your day around the amount of cocaine you have. You start to budget your bills around your trips to the bar. If you’re to this point in your life, you are definitely an addict. It’s time to seek out professional help from Utah’s many treatment centers. Our referral site covers all major cities like Salt Lake City, West Valley City, Provo and more.

When you are consistently introducing alcohol or drugs into your system your body is building a tolerance to it. The more you put into your body, the more your body will need. Whether you drink or do drugs to numb a physical or emotional pain, your body absorbs all of their effects, good and bad. You like how your mind works when you are high. It’s calming, it blocks the bad feelings, but it causes damage to your brain, mouth and throat, liver, heart, pancreas, small intestine, large intestine, stomach, kidneys, and immune system. If you are an addict, addiction treatment is important to your well being. The longer you continue to abuse drugs and alcohol the more damage it will do.

No matter what your addiction, there are long term rehab centers in Utah for you. You can find one that fits your specific personal and financial needs. The treatment centers offer: Detox Centers, Drug Rehabs, Drug Treatment, In and Out Patient Treatment, Counseling, Meetings and other addictions such as Cocaine, Crack, and Heroin. It’s time you took your life back and seek help for addiction treatment.

Alicia Foster