Psychological dependence is the destruction of natural abilities to regulate the psyche and replacing them with the use of surfactants (psychoactive substances – alcohol, drugs). Psychological addiction is formed on the principle of a vicious vicious circle: psychological problems and difficulties in solving them→abuse of surfactants to solve them→temporary relief→destruction of abilities to solve psychological problems and accumulation of these problems. In sober state addict: experiences destructive emotions (guilt, shame, irritation, anxiety, depression etc.); cannot make decisions and take necessary actions; lacks interest in life, values, aspirations (boredom, apathy, loneliness, longing etc.); unbalanced self-esteem (from strongly understated to strongly overstated); cannot analyze problems and find ways to solve them. An addict needs surfactants because he/she is unable to manage his/her psychological state without using: regulate emotions, stabilize self-esteem, make decisions and take actions, feel “meaningful” and interested in life, think over and analyze problems, etc. Psychological recovery is the restoration of the ability to manage one’s psyche and get rid of intolerable psychological states.
The more psychological problems a person has and the less developed his ability to solve them, the more prone he is to addiction. Stage 0 – absence of psychological dependence. The person has no need to use surfactants in order to regulate his psyche and solve his psychological problems. Stage 1 – incorporation of surfactants into the system of mental regulation. The person prefers to use to solve some psychological problems (though he/she can solve them without using). Positive effects of use increase. Negative effects are imperceptible. Stage 2 – inability to regulate the psyche without surfactants. The addict’s ability to solve some psychological problems without using – use becomes forced. The positive effects of use diminish until they disappear altogether. Negative consequences of use increase. Stage 3 is the destruction of the personality. Psychological problems accumulate and the personality degrades to the point where the use does not solve any psychological problems anymore. Using becomes a necessity, but brings no relief – the point of no return. It ends in death. Though up to the 3rd stage only minority lives through. Signs of psychological dependence: denial of dependence and negative consequences of use; feelings of guilt, shame, inferiority etc. associated with use; euphoric memory; obsessive desires and thoughts about use; “unpleasant” psychological state when sober (irritation, anxiety, depression, guilt, gloom, boredom, loneliness etc.); loss of situational control (unplanned use).
Substance use not only stops a person’s personal development, but also leads to personality degradation, a person begins to “grow backwards” psychologically. The personality of an addict becomes infantile (childish, undeveloped). Characteristics of an addict’s personality:
- Inability to take responsibility for oneself.
- source of all problems in the world, for problems to go away, the world must change.
- Self-centeredness (“I” am at the center of the world, “the world revolves around me”).
- “Childish” emotions (guilt, resentment, shame, irritation, depression, anxiety, loneliness, boredom, etc.) prevail over adult emotions (confidence, determination, respect, humility, faith, hope, love, etc.)
- Fluctuations in self-esteem from complete self-deprecation to grandiosity and megalomania.
- Behavior is impulsive, ill-conceived, subordinated to momentary desires and emotions.
- Predominant desires on the principle “I want everything, at once and by myself. Inability to set realistic goals, postpone the desired for later, make executable plans to achieve the desired.
- Values are childish, bodily needs prevail, spiritual needs are not developed.
- Childish idealism and sense of justice. Inability to distinguish between the ideal and the real.
- Inability to think abstractly – it is impossible to detach oneself from the problem and think about it emotionally.
- deceitfulness. Inability to be honest with self and others.
The addicted person is unable to live in the “adult” world because of the “childishness” of his personality; he needs “crutches” for this. Substances become such “crutches”, but their use destroys the personality of the addict even more. Dependency and co-dependency manifest themselves as a consequence of underdeveloped personality. Therefore it is necessary not only to restore the system of regulation, but also to solve personal problems.