The Psychology of Addiction

On why addiction is largely a state of the mind so addicts are more addicted to their addiction, the temporary feeling of pleasure, rather than the drugs…

Addiction is primarily psychological although addiction is defined according to the physiological changes in the body, and addiction continues to be considered as a social, cultural, genetic and experiential process as well. Addictive behaviour could be explained as any behaviour that gives temporary or short term pleasure and also provides relief from discomfort although there may be long term adverse effects.

Addiction is generally described as dependence on any drug and results from substance abuse. Any drug or alcohol can produce addiction as can other things such as the internet, gaming, gadgets, chocolates etc. However the physical and psychological effects of drugs and alcohol are detrimental and actually result in loss of productivity, withdrawal and physical dependence and lack of attention and such other conditions. The primary feature of addiction is dependence as an individual shows increased psychological and physiological dependence on the substance he is addicted to and without the addictive substance the person is unable to return to normal life.

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Understanding Male Psychology – Use it to Progress Your Relationship Faster

Have you ever wondered how he works and if you could ever understand his psychology? Do you want to make him fall in love, but don’t know if you have what it takes? Are you hoping to learn the secrets to getting a man to fall in love with you? Often times it feels like it is impossible to understand men. It is also difficult to make him fall in love. The trick is to understand his psychology and use it to make him fall in love with you.

Be Willing To Go Slow.

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Integrating Psychotherapy and Spirituality

Why “integrating” psychotherapy and spirituality?  This question seems silly to many people for one of two reasons.  Some would say it is silly because the two must necessarily be kept separate, like church and state.  Others would say it is silly because they are inherently intertwined and don’t require any effort on our part to be integrated.

I am inclined toward the view that the two are inherently intertwined, but believe that they have been artificially separated by psychology, the discipline that most clearly undergirds most of what we practice in psychotherapy, in its zeal to be scientific.  Freud’s disdain for religion didn’t help either.  Of course there have always been those, like Carl Jung, who have kept alive the perspective that psychology and psychotherapy have an intrinsic relationship to spirituality.  However, this perspective has only moved toward widespread acceptance among psychotherapists in the last few decades, thanks in part to the Journal of Humanistic Psychology, and the Journal of Transpersonal Psychology.  Such acceptance in mainstream psychology, as reflected in the American Psychological Association, has only been noticeable in the last few years.

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