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While many of us know that you can be addicted to drugs or alcohol, chemical dependency is a lesser discussed medical term. Unfortunately, chemical dependency is one of the main reasons people find it difficult to stop consuming substances, with effects just as powerful as those commonly associated with drugs and alcohol. Understand more about chemical dependency and what you can do to prevent the reliance on substances that end up harming you or your loved ones.
How Substances Impact Your Brain
Substance abuse/addiction and how it impacts the brain is something scientists are still working on identifying to this day. Some people find it much easier to let go of substances they’ve been taking for years, while others endure chemical dependence after a few months of usage. But what is clear is that these abusive substances tie themselves to the reward systems of your brain. They cause your brain to create a dopamine rush that builds up into addiction over time the more you target that feeling.
As time passes, your brain and body become so used to the substance that you won’t feel anything, leaving you chemically dependent on the drug. As you crash and begin experiencing withdrawal symptoms, the body then learns to crave more and more of the drug. This cycle repeats, leaving the individual in a state of physical dependency on an addictive substance.
What Does it Mean to Be Chemically Dependent?
So what does it mean to be chemically dependent on something? Chemical dependence is a compulsive desire to take and experience the feeling of a mood-altering substance without regard for any consequences or negative outcomes that come from your decision. Chemical dependence can be fatal, as your body slowly weakens due to increased substance consumption. Without proper care or medical supervision — as you’d get from a professional drug and alcohol treatment center — most people will not be able to fully recover from their drug abuse.
Difference Between "Chemical Dependence" and "Addiction"
While they’re commonly referred to as the same thing, chemical dependence and alcohol abuse actually describe two different situations. Chemical dependency is more so the body’s physical dependency on a drug. Addiction goes a bit deeper, as it involves chemical changes to your brain that causes one to engage in uncontrollable behaviors while in the presence of or while taking a substance. Although they are different phenomena, they both go hand in hand. While not everyone with chemical dependency will be addicted to a substance, most of the time, addiction is the end result of dependency. As such, it’s important not to take chemical dependency lightly.
Overcoming Chemical Abuse
If you or someone you know are chemically dependent or showing signs of dependence on a substance, it’s important to get the right help as fast as possible. Overcoming chemical abuse is best done with drug and alcohol treatment centers or a successful detox program for those addicted to a substance. These addiction treatment programs ensure that patients safely and successfully overcome withdrawal symptoms and other difficulties while removing a harmful substance from their lives.
Recover From Chemical Dependency With Silver Pines Treatment Center
Chemical dependency can be extremely dangerous, but if you’re struggling with substance abuse, you aren’t alone. Overcome your chemical dependency with help from a residential treatment center in Pennsylvania. If you or someone you love is struggling with a chemical dependency, give the team at Silver Pines Treatment Center a call at 267.719.8689.
