DrSack

Most recent research indicates that marijuana can be both psychologically and physically addicting. Physical symptoms of withdrawal include anxiety, insomnia and loss of appetite. These tend to start within several days of stopping and peak during the first two weeks. Psychologically, people who chronically use cannibis are often observed to have low motivation, to be socially withdrawn, irritable and complain of memory difficulties.

While medical specialists have yet to formally agree on when porn becomes an addiction, most experts would focus on how does watching porn affect other areas of your life. Does it disrupt your relationships? Does it interfere with getting other things done? Do you spend too much money on it? Your message suggests that your are starting to rely on watching porn to get sleep, and it makes me wonder if you are watching it at other times to control anxiety, improve mood, fight loneliness.

People have started to pay more attention to video gaming and compulsive TV watching and have put it on the spectrum with gambling. I have often seen young adults who started out as gamers but migrate to online gambling as they get older. There has been a lack of research at this point, but there is no question that many of the same behaviors (excessive involvement, disruption of relationships, interference with working) can occur with gaming.

No matter which drug you choose, only a small proportion of the people who try it will become addicted. The risk is somewhere between 1 out of 8 to 1 out of 12. Genetic factors can account for up to 50% of the risk of becoming addicted but we have yet to identify the specific gene/genes are are involved. Two other factors that are often cited are the age of first exposure is another factor (the younger you are when you try a drug the more likely you are to become addicted) and a history of other psychological or emotional problems before you start using a drug.

Loved ones often struggle between fear (that the person will hurt themselves or someone else, overdose, do irrevocable harm to work or career) and anger (at being exploited, taken for granted, intimidated or abused). The first goal is to get your loved one to safety if possible. Sometimes safety is a place (rehabilitation program) at other times it is a process (90 meetings in 90 days). What a loved one shouldn't do is to continue to support an addicts habit.