Addiction is a disease that can take over a person’s thoughts and behavior so much that their personality begins to change. They may develop certain traits that are not necessarily part of who they are as a person but are simply a symptom of addiction. People with addictions start to show similar characteristics that are mechanisms which enable them to continue abusing drugs and ignore the consequences.
When someone has an addiction they may start to act differently and their friends and loved ones will notice them becoming more distant, shifty and less reliable. Addiction can make you behave in ways that you never have before because you are subconsciously taking measures to ensure that you will be able to keep drinking or using drugs without any interference. People struggling with addiction may not even be aware how much they have changed or how their behavior is affecting others.
When someone is an addict they may develop habits of being ambiguous and vague about things it a way that makes it easier for them to justify their behavior. They may also lose a lot of their sense of personal responsibility about their actions so that they neglect things that they need to do or fail to be reliable to others. Their self destructive habits begin to take over and the ability that they once had to be accountable is gone.
Changing Addictive Behavior
One of the reasons that people change so much when they develop an addiction is because alcohol and drugs can create chemical changes in the brain. The more a person uses they are no longer able to regulate their emotions and their self-control because they are physically dependent on a substance to function. Even a person who used to be very responsible and trustworthy can become negligent and more inclined to lie or hide things from their loved ones.
In order for an addict to return to their usual self and learn to be responsible, honest and straightforward again they need to first become abstinent from any drug use. Chemical dependency causes these extreme changes so it is important that there are no drugs or toxins in their system in order to learn better behavior. Going through a detox program is the first step to improving bad habits and problematic personality traits.
After completing detox they will need to work with a therapist while in rehab so that they can start to become more aware of their behavior changes that have been affecting theirs and other people’s lives. While in the midst of addiction it can be hard for addicts to be self-aware enough to realize that they are being ambiguous and irresponsible. Their denial can be so intense that they don’t understand their own methods that they use for justifying their behavior but a therapist can help them see these tactics and learn to alter them.
Learning New Habits
While speaking with a therapist, addicts may start to be able to identify their unhealthy patterns that made it easier for them to maintain their addiction. They will start to be more conscious of the ways they avoid the truth and the reality of their situation. They can start to minimize their habits of escapism and confront their problems head on so that they can make some real and concrete changes.
There are certain tactics that therapists and addiction specialists use to help addicts minimize their habits of being vague and hiding things from others. Therapists can help patients start to understand the importance of clarity and being forthcoming. They can start to see the benefits that they experience when they are more honest with themselves and others so that they can work through problems instead of running away from them.
Patients can also learn habits of personal responsibility through being held accountable for what they do during the program. They can also be more responsible by helping others or becoming a sponsor in their twelve step meetings. Having someone else rely on you for their health and well-being is a great responsibility that people in recovery can see enormous benefits form.
As patients in a rehab treatment center learn to change their habits they will start to see their relationships with others improve and they will start to ease some of the guilt they may have about their past behavior. Taking steps to improve behavior can be a very rewarding experience that builds confidence and satisfaction with the sober lifestyle.
Everyone that has gone through an addiction will have a number of different personality or behavioral issues that they need to work on but it is possible to see a lot of positive change through detox and therapy. If you have issues with ambiguity or personal responsibility because of your addiction then talk to a therapist as part of a rehab program.