We can divide the areas of our lives more or less into categories: medical, mental, spiritual or religious, financial, social, and societal. Unfortunately, addiction impacts all areas of life–not just for the individual struggling with a substance use disorder (SUD), but also for the people and family closely connected to the situation. However, there’s one more element that we often overlook when it comes to addiction: how it affects our identity.
Identity is an aspect of a person that spans all of the categories listed above. It bridges into the psyche, our spirit, our behavior with money and work, our relationships, and our sense of an afterlife–or our sense of meaning in this life. However, to fully understand how addiction influences our identity, we have to look at each life category individually.
The Physical Impact
There are multiple negative physical effects caused by an SUD. The severity and likelihood of any of them depend on the substance used, the length of time it’s used, and the typical dosage. Here are some common physical issues related to substance abuse across drug types:
- Heightened risk of heart disease
- Weight loss
- Increased likelihood of contracting pneumonia and sexually transmitted diseases
- Increased probability of developing cancer, digestive problems, and stroke
- Dental issues
- Immune system compromises
If you’re thinking that now is the time to get off substances, know that we’re medically prepared to guide you through the withdrawal process with our detox services.
The Mental Impact
People typically use and later misuse substances to cope with hardship. Initial mental benefits from drug or alcohol abuse may seem positive: reduced anxiety, pain relief, euphoria, and better ability to remain focused or become drowsy at appropriate times.
However, with sustained abuse of substances, people can expect to see increases in depression, anxiety, learning and memory, and more:
- Irritability
- Insomnia
- Confusion
- Violent behavior
- Paranoia
- Hallucinations
We encourage patients who have tried traditional forms of therapy to check out our experiential therapies. We strive to address addiction as creatively, holistically, and humanely as possible–which is why we’re so excited to offer this program.
The Spiritual Impact
Because spirituality is personal and unique for all of our patients, it’s a difficult area to study. What we have seen is higher reports of spiritual negativity and existential suffering in people who struggle with SUDs. People within certain reports also admit to feeling like their addiction was interrelated to their spiritual life, inversely affecting its quality and richness.
The Economic Impact
Maintaining a steady income relies, in large part, on your ability to show up consistently, supplement previously acquired skills with new knowledge and abilities, and display stamina and flexibility. In essence, the bills keep coming and it takes flexibility, consistency, and solid mental health to push along. Because SUD tends to break people down to the most inconsistent and unreliable versions of themselves, an individual addicted to drugs or alcohol has less earning potential and less probability of advancing economically in comparison to those who do not misuse substances.
If you’re searching for the right support system in sobriety as you reinitiate in the workforce, we have resources ready that help keep you on track when you enroll in our Continuing Care Program.
The Social Impact
The social impact of addiction knows no limits. From individual friendships to larger family systems, to the nation as a whole, SUD burdens everyone it touches. Because there’s so much growing need for SUD treatment, acute pressure falls on taxpayers and society members to meet the demand for treatment centers, intervention services, and long-term therapeutic solutions.
SUD also leads to widespread increased risk of homelessness, suicide, and criminal behavior, none of which are prosocial behaviors. If you’re concerned that your SUD has spilled over into your family life, don’t hesitate to check out our family services to begin rebuilding in the right direction.
Addiction and Identity: The Overlooked Piece of the Puzzle
All of these aforementioned areas are those that we directly pull from to create our identity. Our physical well-being and appearance, our mental conceptions, our spiritual life and beliefs, the economy we participate in, and the state of our societal and social affairs culminate into an image of ourselves that we rely on to move through the world. Evidence shows that when our identities become infiltrated or burdened by addiction, we’re more likely to identify with addictive behaviors and mold ourselves into an addictive version of ourselves. In turn, when we decide to rise above our SUD, gain control of our lives, and embrace sobriety, our identity modifies once again to something more nuanced, complex, and liberating.
Recreating Your Identity in South Carolina
With locations in North Charleston and Cameron, Waypoint Recovery Center is here to support you as you rebuild every area of your life in the direction that speaks most to you. Contact us today for more information!
