Recognizing addiction in a loved one or friend is a complicated process, and oftentimes, people suppress their feelings about it. Because of this, many people never receive treatment, which is why the staff at Emerald City Medical Arts in Seattle, WA, stress the importance of understanding and identifying addiction. You can help the person by bringing them to a health clinic, so a professional can assist. If you suspect someone is dealing with addiction, read on to learn more.

3 Signs of Addiction

1. Look for Obsessive Episodes

When someone has an addiction, they can begin to focus solely on what they’re addicted to. Whether it’s a drug, gambling, or something else, they’ll fixate on it and exhibit episodes of extreme obsession. During this time, all responsibilities will fall to the wayside. This is because they can’t achieve relief until they’ve satisfied the addiction. Once this satisfaction has faded, however, they’ll return to another obsessive episode. If you recognize this cycle, speak with the person and recommend for them to visit a health clinic for help.

2. Recognize Emotional Distance

As someone sinks deeper into addiction, they may begin to withdraw from friends and family members. Similar to depression, they may lose self-worth and interest in previous hobbies, begin sacrificing or eliminating important relationships, and spend more time alone. In other cases, they will attack others to remove attention from themselves. This is so they can avoid the reality of their addiction by focusing on faults in others and, ultimately, cutting ties with the person.

3. Identify the Stimuli

Addiction comes in many forms, and while you may not be able to identify what someone is addicted to, you can recognize general categories. Alcoholism and drug addiction may be exhibited publicly, and you may even notice a general decline in their health and hygiene. Other action-based addiction, such as gambling, are better identified by the person talking about it constantly, going to the casino often, or expressing financial woes. Look for repeat incidents, so they can seek proper help at a health clinic.

Addiction is treatable, and with assistance from health clinic staff, it can be overcome. The staff at Emerald City Medical Arts is committed to helping people conquer their addictions and offers a variety of services at their health clinic. They also assist with a variety of other issues like ADHD and anxiety relief, so turn to their compassionate team. Call (206) 281-1616 to schedule a consultation, and visit the website and Facebook page to learn more about the services available.