Addiction

Doing various things with online media, indirectly makes us use gadgets more often. But actually, long before the pandemic occurred, our lives were already very dependent on gadgets and the internet. Yes, no?

From waking up until going to sleep again, we must hold the cellphone. Can you imagine the increasing use of gadgets during this pandemic? In fact it is, have you experienced it too?

In fact, if we realize, the excessive use of gadgets in recent years has indeed become the concern of many parties. There are many campaigns about the dangers of using gadgets. However, current conditions force us to be closer to gadgets, the more we feel unable to let go, until we feel dependent on gadgets.

WHO also said that gadget and internet addiction during the pandemic needs to be a concern. Have you ever thought about why someone can get addicted?

Usually addiction is closely related to illegal drugs. But nowadays addiction is not only related to drugs, addiction can also describe behavior that is repeatedly carried out, such as playing games, scrolling cellphones, until what often happens is pornography addiction.

But we can't easily label our repetitive behaviors as addictions. Before we discuss how to stop this addiction or addiction, let's first get to know what addiction really is!

What is addiction?

Does the word addiction sound foreign to you? Maybe in our daily life we ​​hear it more often as an addiction. Now for its own meaning, addiction or addiction is defined as a condition of physical and mental dependence on something that causes changes in behavior for people who experience it, until they lose control of their own behavior.

So even though you do something repeatedly, but you consciously feel that the behavior is still under your control, then it cannot be said to be an addiction.

Well, it will be a different story when you play games, use gadgets, to watch porn videos and you already find it difficult to control this behavior, you need to be careful because you could be experiencing addiction.

Why do people get addicted?

To answer this question, many experts discuss it through the brain response that occurs when someone does something that makes him addicted. So, when someone does something that makes him addicted, the part of the brain that will be active is the reward circuitry.

This section functions to regulate emotions, and plays a role in encouraging someone to behave in a certain way in order to maintain his life. Well, this urge is influenced by the pleasure hormone or what we often know as the dopamine hormone.

Surely you often hear about the hormone dopamine? Dopamine is a hormone that makes us feel happy and even have a desire for something we like. The greater the dopamine hormone produced when doing something, the greater a person's desire for it.

So when experiencing addiction, the response in the brain will always give a sense of pleasure, until finally we always feel the need for it.

Signs that someone is addicted

Diclemente in his book describes the signs of someone experiencing addiction. This sign is not used to self-diagnose, but to increase our awareness of ourselves.

~Uncontrolled behavior patterns.

You find it difficult to control yourself not to do this behavior, even though you have tried to control it.

~There is a bad impact from this behavior.

This behavior makes you experience bad effects such as lack of sleep, difficulty concentrating, and uncontrollable emotions.

~Feeling unable to change behavior.

You feel that the behavior you are experiencing is already bigger than you are. So that you are unable to control, even change the behavior that you experience.

~This behavior is used as a way to deal with stress.

When you are feeling sad or depressed about something, the first thing you look for is this addictive behavior. You feel that this behavior is the only option for coping with stress that is most effective for you. Try checking your stress level through a stress level test.

~ Productive activities such as work.

Having social relations is neglected because of this behavior, you prioritize this behavior over other productive activities. You can even shirk your responsibilities to fulfill this addictive need! Very cool huh?

Free yourself from addiction

Maybe by now you have realized that you are addicted, then you have also tried to stop this addiction. But indeed, to quit addiction is not easy.

The process that you will go through may be a little difficult because it involves physically and mentally, but that doesn't mean you can't. Quitting this addiction is something that everyone can do, including you.

There are things you need to consider when going through this relatively difficult process, namely :

~Making a decision to change.

~Prepare to change.

~Starting treatment for addiction.

~Prevent addictive behavior from reappearing.

~Seek help or support from experts.

Quitting the addiction you are experiencing is not impossible, although it is difficult for everyone to be empowered to stop the addiction they are experiencing. Don't hesitate to seek help when you feel you need it.

Hopefully useful and don't forget to pray for happiness. Thanks :)