People who struggle with addiction issues can be addicted in several ways. There are physical and mental areas of addiction, but there are also physiological areas to consider. These are areas where the drug affects the physiology of the body, strengthening the addiction to that substance—a psychological or physiological addiction to drugs. At Promises Behavioral Health, we can give you answers and help you break any addiction to drugs or alcohol. Our trained and caring professionals understand that there are multiple facets of addiction, and our drug rehab centers around the country are equipped to give you the help you need. When suffering from addiction, people deal with a wide variety of issues and challenges that they must overcome.

what is a physiological dependence

Oftentimes, when people speak about dependence, it is this form they are talking about. With respect to drug use, it’s important to differentiate between psychological dependence and physical dependence. Physical dependence refers to physical changes in the body that occur after drug use.

What is the Difference Between Physical Dependence and Psychological Dependence

This is a physical common addictive dependency versus a psychological dependency. Depending on the addiction, it was previously thought to be either one or the other. Here at Sana Lake Kansas City Rehab, we have a great detox program that will help you and your body recover physically and psychologically. For some folks dealing with both a physical and psychological dependence, the psychological side of things sometimes resolves on its own once the physical dependence is treated.

It could be playing video games, reading a book, socializing with friends, running, or drinking alcohol. Generally, individuals report feeling emotionally high when fully engaged in their favorite activities. They report happiness, joy, and a desire to continue the activity. Now imagine how you feel when you haven’t completed the activity in some time. Most people would report a desire, a need, or a craving to participate in their favorite activity. These terms can be confusing but, in fact, they are both parts of the physiology of addiction.

Social Symptoms

If you or a loved one are having seizures, seek medical attention as soon as possible. Seizures are sudden and uncontrolled actions disturbing the brain wave pattern. When people use the term psychological addiction, they’re often talking about physiological dependence on alcohol psychological dependence, not addiction. Physiological Dependence refers to the process throughout which a body becomes dependent upon a foreign substance. This is the process through which a person becomes addicted to alcohol or drugs.

What are the psychological effects of dependency?

Psychological dependence is an emotional state caused by how chemicals affect the brain. A person's emotional behavior changes, resulting in mood swings, feelings of irritability, and depression.

Because physiological dependence is a warning sign, you’ll need to know how to spot it. For many, the withdrawal symptoms are the wakeup call they need to make changes. That is why it is important to get help from a medical professional when quitting. If you’re struggling with physiological dependence, know that you are not alone and there is help available in the form of professional addiction treatment. At The Right Step Houston, our addiction treatment programs are designed to help you overcome physiological dependence and achieve lasting sobriety.

Treatment and Recovery from Physiological Dependence

Post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS) is another example of psychological withdrawal. It’s a condition that sometimes pops up after the symptoms of physical withdrawal have subsided. You can also experience both physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms. Medical detox involves the use of prescription and over the counter medications to help people throughout the detox process. Professional detox centers may even be able to eliminate many withdrawal symptoms, making the process as easy and as comfortable as possible.

The result is that clinicians who see evidence of tolerance and withdrawal symptoms assume that this means addiction, and patients requiring additional pain medication are made to suffer. Similarly, pain patients in need of opioid medications may forgo proper treatment because of the fear of dependence, which is self-limiting by equating it with addiction (764–765) [6]. When being asked, the difference between physical dependence versus psychological dependence, trembling might come up as a symptom of physical dependence.

That’s why it’s so important to break a psychological addiction to drugs. By targeting both the physical and psychological symptoms of a substance use disorder, patients can safely and effectively be treated. Let’s take a deeper look into the differences between physical and psychological dependence.

what is a physiological dependence

Once you’ve realized that you need tools and guidance, choosing a treatment program that provides what you need will get the recovery process underway. Psychological dependence is another term for mental dependence. Furthermore, physiological dependence is physical dependence.

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Firstly, physiological dependence does not necessarily mean you or a loved one has a substance use disorder. The differences between the two can be hard to distinguish, but one does not mean the other. For a small of number of people, the detoxification process is all they need to quit using. However, for most people, there is still much work to be done in rehab. Other signs of psychological dependence are social consequences. On-going use despite issues of productivity, lowered self-esteem, financial or family ramifications demonstrate psychological dependence.

Substance use disorders are difficult to understand for many people. The physical and mental aspects of any substance disorder are complicated and unique to the individual suffering. The differences between physical and psychological dependency vary but have some similarities.

The Difference Between Physical and Psychological Dependency

Seizures, rapid heart rate, and measurable changes to serotonin or endorphin levels might be symptoms of physical dependence. Psychological dependence traditionally refers to the behavioral decisions, emotional triggers, and other feelings and mental health factors which fuel addiction or result from it. Depression, anxiety, or risk-taking https://ecosoberhouse.com/ behaviors might be part of this category. Scientifically speaking, physiological dependence describes the adaptive changes the body makes in response to the continued use of an addictive substance. These adaptations to brain and body chemistry, hormone levels, and organ functions develop slowly and will take time to return to normal.

  • It is possible that you’ve already moved past the dependence stage, which is why early detection of these symptoms is key.
  • In addition to your body adapting to the chemicals, your psyche has done so, too.
  • No matter whether you’re dealing with a moderate or strong addiction, there’s hope.
  • When someone uses narcotics to cope with life’s problems, it is a symptom of psychological dependence rather than physical dependence.
  • An agonist facilitates the activity of a neurotransmitter system, and antagonists impede neurotransmitter activity.