Psychological Dependence

What Is Psychological Dependence?

The term psychology refers to behavioural processes involving emotions or the mind in general. The term psychological dependency is used to describe the emotional and mental processes that accompany the development of a substance use disorder or process addiction and their rehabilitation. However, emotion and cognition cannot be completely separated from physiology. It is a misconception to suggest that “psychological dependence” is less serious than “physical dependence. In reality, these two designations do not exist as mutually exclusive categories and hence cannot be contrasted as if they do.

Most people or sources that talk about psychological dependency are about the cognitive and emotional components of addictive behaviours or the withdrawal process from drugs or alcohol, rather than categorising substances or activities as psychologically or physiologically addicted.

Difference between Dependence and Addiction

An addiction can develop without being physically dependent on a substance. In such circumstances, the addiction is primarily psychological, meaning that the brain feels that the body cannot function without the substance, even though the body does not require it. Process addiction is an example of such an addiction (such as a gambling or sex addiction).

Dependence can develop without the presence of addiction. A development tolerance to some substances – especially prescription medication – can lead to physical and psychological dependence and also withdrawal symptoms if you try to quit, but this doesn’t mean you’re addicted to the substance.

When compared to determining whether or not a person is addicted to the drug in question, determining whether or not they are substance dependent is rather simple. Stopping opioids, for example, will cause withdrawal symptoms, but you won’t be classified as an addict until you’re actively or compulsively seeking opioid medication to satisfy your cravings.

As a result, unless you exhibit changes in behaviour (such as establishing an opioid-seeking habit or facing family issues or job loss as a result of compulsive drug-seeking behaviour), you are most likely not addicted and just drug dependent.

If your drug use has passed the line from dependency to physical and psychological addiction, a simple analysis of your behaviour will disclose it. Addiction may have set in if your drug use is causing problems at school or at work, harming your relationships, or getting you in trouble with the police. If you’re only experiencing cravings and withdrawal without any of the previously described behavioural changes, you’re probably just dependent.

The Role of tolerance in dependency and Addiction

Tolerance is medically defined as a person’s decreased responsiveness to a drug after repeated use. Tolerance does not develop overnight; rather, it develops over time as the drug’s influence on the body diminishes, causing an addict to take a higher dose to achieve the desired effect. Tolerance can be developed to either an illicit substance or a prescription medication if used long enough.

Tolerance is not always indicative of addiction. People who are taking pain medicine, for example, may acquire tolerance to the drug over time without becoming addicted to it, although this is dependent on the type of prescription. When it comes to opiates, stimulants, or benzodiazepines, developing tolerance can be a primary sign of addiction. As a result, if you discover that your medicine is having less of an effect at the dose you’re used to, it’s advisable to talk to your doctor about it rather than increasing your dose on the spur of the moment.

The physical consequences of the two states are the most important distinction between tolerance and dependence. Tolerance refers to the body’s adaptation to the ongoing use or presence of a chemical in the body, whereas addiction refers to a person’s need to abuse a drug.

Physical VS Psychological Dependence

Given our current understanding of behaviour, the idea that conduct can be divided into mutually exclusive components, such as mental or psychological aspects of activity and solely physical parts of behaviour.

The ancient dualism division of mind and body is a misconception and an impractical way of looking at almost any form of activity. All psychological and emotional processes have a physiological foundation, and all complex behaviours (behaviours that aren’t just reflex actions) have a strong emotional and psychological component. This encompasses behaviours that are linked to substance abuse and process addictions (e.g., compulsive gambling).

Any claim that something is “purely physical” or “purely psychological” reveals a broad misunderstanding of behaviour. This holds true for disorder model addiction notions that assert “addiction is not a choice,” because people with substance use disorders do make decisions about their substance consumption.

Furthermore, the alternative extreme viewpoint that “addiction is a choice” is equally invalid because individuals with substance use disorders are driven by several physiological processes that influence their behaviour in a variety of contexts, and it would be a mistake to assume that anyone “chooses to become an addict” in the same way that few people would argue that most smokers who develop cancer chose to get cancer.

As a result, trying to comprehend the factors contributing to the development of addictive behaviours from either extreme is impossible and unsupported by research. This incorporates the concepts of physical and psychological dependency. There is no such thing as purely psychological or physical dependence.

Substances Associated with Psychological and Physical Dependence

Many sources differentiate the features of the development of a substance use disorder and the withdrawal process into substances that are associated with withdrawal symptoms that are mostly psychological in origin. These drugs usually include:

• Most stimulants, including cocaine and Ritalin
• Most hallucinogenic drugs, such as LSD
• Cannabis products
• Many inhalant products
• Many psychotropic medications, such as antidepressant medications

The following substances are frequently linked to the development of significant physical dependence:

• Alcohol
• Opiate drugs, such as heroin, morphine, and Vicodin, among others
• Benzodiazepines, such as Xanax, Valium, Ativan, among others
• Barbiturates, such as Seconal and phenobarbital

Many abused medications are said to cause both physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms and encourage both types of dependence.

Signs of psychological dependence

Psychological dependence symptoms vary from person to person. However, consider treating psychological dependence when a combination of the following symptoms develops:

• A perception that you require the substance to do particular activities, like sleep, socialise, or just to function in general.
• Strong emotional dependence to the chemical.
• Your normal pastimes have lost their appeal.
• Spending a lot of time with the substance or thinking about it.

Can psychological dependence lead to withdrawal?

Many individuals think of withdrawal symptoms when they think of substances like alcohol or narcotics.

Withdrawal from certain narcotics, if not treated properly, can be dangerous and even fatal. However, you may also experience psychological withdrawal symptoms, such as panic and fear.

Another type of psychological withdrawal is post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS). It’s a disorder that can appear after physical withdrawal symptoms have faded. According to some estimates, around 90% of persons recovering from opiate addiction and 75% of people recovering from alcohol or other substance addictions will have PAWS symptoms.

Symptoms can range from moderate to severe, and the condition can linger for weeks or even months. Symptoms may also change over time, improving for a while and worsening when you’re stressed.

Treatment for psychological dependence

Some drugs that are considered to be strong candidates for physical dependence, such as alcohol, benzodiazepines, and barbiturates, can cause potentially fatal seizures during withdrawal, which is an important distinction to make when distinguishing between drugs that are considered to cause physical versus psychological dependence.

However, withdrawal from opiate medications, which are also very psychologically addictive, rarely leads to this syndrome.

Individuals who have developed substance use disorders to these substances should have their recovery closely evaluated by an addiction medicine specialist or psychiatrist to detect and address any potential seizure activity.

Nonetheless, seizures have been reported in people recovering from other substances. While these occurrences may be uncommon, any treatment plan for a substance use problem should include an initial programme of physician-assisted withdrawal management. Initial recovery from any substance of abuse can be associated with significant emotional and physical distress, which can lead to various potentially dangerous situations for the individual, such as an increased likelihood of overdosing during a relapse, becoming involved in accidents, or even becoming suicidal.

In essence, long-term treatment for people with “psychological addictions” or “psychological dependency” should not differ considerably from treatment for people with “physical addiction” or “physical dependence” in terms of the overall recovery strategy.

Based on their individual circumstances, these individuals should still be thoroughly assessed, followed by a physician, treated for any co-occurring issues, involved in substance use disorder therapy as the primary component of recovery, participate in social support groups, receive support from family and friends, and engage in other alternative therapies that can contribute to their recovery.