CROSS ADDICTION

CROSS ADDICTION

INTRODUCTION

Cross addiction is when an addict replaces one addiction with another. This happens often particularly after coming out of a treatment centers or immediately when giving up their addiction of choice. The main reasons how this occurs is that although an addict is aware that he cannot use his drug, substance, or addictive activity he may not be well informed on other addictions or things that can causes active addiction. Alternatively, the addict may be convinced of one addiction but has not admitted or been willing to convince himself of his powerless over another addiction that he had been tampering with previously. This happens most often with drug addicts and alcoholics. There have been many addicts, especially of the younger generation who are not willing to see alcohol as a relapse. It is to be noted that addiction is using any mood-and-mind altering substances as a relapse because addiction is the disease of the body and the obsession of the mind.

Cross addiction can be anything from drinking too many energy drinks, an excess of caffeine, sugar bingeing, over or under eating, self-medication, using diet or muscle gaining supplements (with ephedrine or any other stimulant), and even internet dating or social networking. These activities may appear sound and fairly safe; however, they have subtle affects on the recovering addict that can cause cross addiction. For example, many people who have used stimulants or even sedatives over as their prime addiction will find that an excessive amount of sugar, caffeine, and energy drinks causes cross addiction into stimulants due to the euphoria and other chemicals that affect that brain chemistry in the drug addict. Equally, such activities as internet dating and social networking can make the recovering drug addict and gambling addict meet people who use drugs and other alcoholics as well as other dangerous people. Also it runs risk of the person falling into sex activities and other illicit eating or cutting websites that may lure the addict into other dangerous behaviors.

Most importantly, all the tools and skills that the addict has been using as educated by professional people either in therapy or in recovery treatment centers will become null and void as the distorted mind of the addict will come right back into the open now only for different addictions and addictive addictions. Denial of the bad behavior will come right back into the open now with more deceptive defects of character that even the addict may find hard to point out. All the rationalization and old justification techniques will be once again be toyed with when the addict explores new foundations of a new addiction. The once recovering addict will go right back into active addiction only with stronger methods of self-manipulation, a history of well used active addiction tools, and new skills for harming other people and putting their lives at risk.

WHAT CAUSES CROSS ADDICTION?

There could be many reasons why addicts go into cross addiction but mostly its out of denial of their own powerless and unmanageability of where addiction has gotten the to which is what is laid out in detail in Step One in any stepwork guide found in the 12 Step Program. However, those who are not familiar with the 12 Step Program can still be guilty of being in rejection of the fact that they are addicts. Addiction is what causes people to do things that they know in advance will cause them or others around them pain or harm yet go onto do these very activities regardless. Addicts enjoy risk-taking and sensation-seeking activities even though it would only be fair to say that in the early stages of addiction the addict may not be aware of the harm. However, after engaging over a period of time in gambling, drug, sex, or alcohol; the addict will have attempted on many occasions to quit and may actually have succeeded. However, they may continue to go onto doing other activities that falls under another addiction like the ones previously mentioned.

Addiction changes the brain chemistry of the individual causing the natural neurotransmitters i.e. dopamine, serotonin, and the endorphins to no longer function the way they are supposed to which creates the impulsive-compulsive behavior. In other words, all addictions when in action release a huge amount of these neurotransmitters to go into the brain and this may manifest in the misperception of cravings, having the false motivations of seeking reward-pleasure despite existing and proceeding dangers, or an unnatural state of euphoria. Therefore, when the initial addiction has been removed the brain will not and cannot go back to its natural condition so it is actually justifiable and natural for the addict to reach for something else to the same abilities to his mind that the original addiction used to do. This is how the addict will literally search for other forms of pleasure-seeking, instant gratification, and acts to buffer his cravings.

Addicts are generally the rebellious type and can be arrogant or overconfident providing the disbelief that cross addiction can happen to them. In many cases, particularly those who have attended 12 Step support meetings or have gone through rehabilitation treatment, addicts have been constantly told to avoid any mood-and-mind altering substances or addictive activities (that cause the changes in their brain as discussed in the above paragraph). Some have been specifically told what to avoid i.e. gambling, excessive internet browsing, food bingeing, diet pills, and self-medicating themselves back to health yet some addicts ignore all the warnings and play around these activities amongst others. What can happen is that they will end up cross addicting into gambling, prescription pill addiction, eating disorders, etc. All of these acts can be avoided but it is up to the addict to stay vigilant regarding his own recovery.

SUBSTANCES AND ACTIVITIES TO AVOID

Energy Drinks

Energy drinks contain an excessive amount of caffeine can contain anything between 70 to 200 mg of caffeine per can which can be the equivalent of two cups of coffee. The caffeine is what stimulates the central nervous system causing all the malfunction of the neurotransmitters and the eventual crash. This naturally will promote the addict to drink another one and eventually and can find himself drinking six or more of these energy drinks a day causing erratic behavior, sleep disturbances and insomnia, headache, nausea and high blood pressure. Energy drinks also contain taurine (an amino acid which is already produced in the body) that is unnecessary to add into the body. There have been studies that have observed that it excites the brain as well as the fact that taurine has cholesterol which with too much can cause blocked blood vessels. Finally, many energy drinks also contain guarana that has twice too much of this can overstimulate the brain causing hallucinations and headaches.

Self-Medication

Self-medication is when an addict takes it upon himself to diagnose and directs how his takes his own medication. An addict must always go to a doctor or seek any other kind of professional help should he feel that he is coming under any kind of illness to avoid prescribing his own medication. Many of the over the counter medicines available have an assortment of mood-and-mind altering substances i.e. alcohol, benzodiapines, codeine, amphetamines, etc. Alcohol is commonly found in cold and flu tablets, however, many of the energy supplements that are also found in garages and convenience stores. Benzodiapines commonly found in antidepressants like Valium and sleeping pills are sedatives that also can create anxiety, seizures, muscle spasms as well as can turn into pill addiction. Codeine is found in several prescription medication and is highly addictive as well having methylated morphine. Finally, amphetamines have been used to treat ADHD, nasal congestion, depression, and may be found in some diet supplements. This substance can lead to psychosis.

Diet Pills

There have been many diet pills that have had to be taken off the market due to the side effects in them. One of the substances found in diet pills was Sibutramine which heighten the risk of strokes and heart attacks. Diet pills that have sympathomimetic amines tend to rouse the heart also causing heart attacks. Other diet pills may lead to liver injuries that will manifest as jaundice, pain cramps, discolored stools and urine. Diet pills containing qysma will lead to chronic birth defects in pregnant women, sleep apnea, and eventual diabetes. General appetite suppressants cause dry mouths, insomnia, chest pains, constipation, urinating difficulties, blurred vision, headaches, and shortness of breath.

Pornography

Pornography is Ill-advised to the addict as it may lead to love and sex addiction. Particularly because the addict is already an insecure person who already has enough inadequacies the last thing he needs in his life is to feel that his body or his sexual performance is lacking of features or any other arousal executions. Equally, pornography (particularly snuff material) may cause triggers for women or men who have been abused, molested, or raped in the past. Internet pornography is sporadic and does not have any censorship guides when using programs like Yahoo! or Google images therefore one never knows what they may encounter that can cause traumatic disturbances subliminal or otherwise. Internet pornography is also an addiction that any addict can cross addict to even if they feel that they are unlikely sex addict material.

Internet Dating

Internet dating is frowned upon for the reason that one never knows what they may encounter. Deception, lying, and manipulation are some of the methods of people getting involved in the addict’s life. Worse, there is the possibility of people finding themselves as dangerous such human or drug trafficking all under the guises of possible romantic ventures. lnternet dating sites are not really protected despite what the promises may say and addicts are the most vulnerable in finding themselves in risky situations like any form of manipulation particularly human trafficking and financial manipulations. Therefore, if an addict wants to explore dating and social networking it is preferred they do it in the flesh.