"Addicted" vs "Physically Dependant"
Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 167
addiction = the act of fulfilling a perceived need (substance/act).
dependence = the state of a perceived need becoming necessary to "normal" functioning (due to an alteration in physiology/psyche), if the need (substance/act) is removed physical/psychological/emotional effects present.
I think they are completely different concepts.
dependence = the state of a perceived need becoming necessary to "normal" functioning (due to an alteration in physiology/psyche), if the need (substance/act) is removed physical/psychological/emotional effects present.
I think they are completely different concepts.
Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: central coast, ca
Posts: 1,652
You can be physically dependent on a drug ..say ambian..used only as prescribed for the purpose it was prescibed for..no abuse going on and have physical withdrwls when you stop..
Addiction seems to imply an emotional dependence in addiction to other symptoms..an escalating use, period of trying to control the substance, etc.
Addiction seems to imply an emotional dependence in addiction to other symptoms..an escalating use, period of trying to control the substance, etc.
Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 46
Well i think everyone has their own say on if their addicted to alcohol or "physically dependent" but either way they both more then likely need help. Sure you can say that your hands dont shake like some, you dont think about alcohol all day like some alcoholics, but at the end of the day you have a hard time stopping just like them. The best thing is to just get help. Me personally though, i always have a migraine 24 hours a day 7 days a week which gets worse if i drink. For instance if i drink and wake up the next morning i have a super migraine that does not get better until a couple days. Then afterwards its still there, just not as bad.
But i notice when i go a few days without drinking, my mind goes back to "normal" not as many angry thoughts or tense moments as the days that im hungover, in a sense im back to how i shouild normally be, but everyones different. Ive come to realize that alcohol abuse can destroy your life. You think its just a few minor health problems after a few years but its much more then that. Alcohol can destroy your mental state as well as your physicial state. Its just eating away at you everyday, slowly. Its the silent killer.
How many more booze before you snap, how much longer is it gonna take before you say something youll regret. How many more booze before you neglect to do something important. How many more booze before you face high blood pressure, kidney failure, diabetes, fatty liver, the list goes on and on. Because when i first started this drinking career i only thought about the health problems in "10 or so years", but now i have come to full view of the effects of alcoholism, and it is not a good thing as i described. But through it all we have to remember, this is alcohol abuse, not alcohol consumption which is not wrong.
But i notice when i go a few days without drinking, my mind goes back to "normal" not as many angry thoughts or tense moments as the days that im hungover, in a sense im back to how i shouild normally be, but everyones different. Ive come to realize that alcohol abuse can destroy your life. You think its just a few minor health problems after a few years but its much more then that. Alcohol can destroy your mental state as well as your physicial state. Its just eating away at you everyday, slowly. Its the silent killer.
How many more booze before you snap, how much longer is it gonna take before you say something youll regret. How many more booze before you neglect to do something important. How many more booze before you face high blood pressure, kidney failure, diabetes, fatty liver, the list goes on and on. Because when i first started this drinking career i only thought about the health problems in "10 or so years", but now i have come to full view of the effects of alcoholism, and it is not a good thing as i described. But through it all we have to remember, this is alcohol abuse, not alcohol consumption which is not wrong.
and Chrispi5...Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 650
I think with few exceptions, anyone who drinks enough alcohol to become physically dependent upon it is probably an alcoholic-- normal people rarely drink to that extent. Even if they are not a TRUE alcoholic as described in the BB, they are drinking alcoholically and are more than likely doing so to cover up such pain-- my FIL was one such person. He drank alcoholically for some time, went to AA, got 'cured' and now drinks responsibly-- go figure.
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 46
Originally Posted by Isaiah 
I'm going to guess rather than express knowledge...
I believe physical dependence refers to a very specific part of addiction,
I believe physical dependence refers to a very specific part of addiction,
Then there are drugs like Xanax when some folks are addicted and others just dependent.
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 46
Originally Posted by least
I have what I call an 'emotional dependence' on my dogs.
I'm serious. I need them to survive, to be happy and secure. I go thru what feels like a withdrawal when I make my yearly trip to the grandkids' family. Don't sleep well and have headaches and depression. Feel normal again when I'm home with my dogs. Is that addiction? I don't know, but I know I do much better with them than without them.
I'm not making light of addiction, and realize that my dogs aren't a 'substance', but still feel that I need them to be truly alive.
I'm serious. I need them to survive, to be happy and secure. I go thru what feels like a withdrawal when I make my yearly trip to the grandkids' family. Don't sleep well and have headaches and depression. Feel normal again when I'm home with my dogs. Is that addiction? I don't know, but I know I do much better with them than without them.I'm not making light of addiction, and realize that my dogs aren't a 'substance', but still feel that I need them to be truly alive.
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 46
Originally Posted by Murray4x5
They are but different points on the same downhill slope.
Murray
Murray
may people in this thread have correctly explained the differance
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: northern ireland
Posts: 83
When i was once a gambling addicted i was depressed when i lost, and double depressed when i quit which led to me becoming very close to being an alcoholic. Mental dependence no doubt plays a big part even with playing video games, i have had times were i would sit and fidget when i would get the urge to turn on the ps3 but couldnt because everyone was watching the tv, then frustration and anxiety would kick it.
Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: united kingdom
Posts: 7
someone once said to me in a meeting If you drink 2 litres of vodka a day and you NEED TO DRINK IT THATS A PROBLEM, IF YOU DRINK ONE GLASS OF WINE A DAY AND YOU NEED TO DRINK IT ITS STILL A PROBLEM!!!! for me they are one and the same but I dont care if I was addicted,physically dependent,emotionally dependent or anything else Im just glad to know that I no longer HAVE to be any of those things I have a choice today!!!!
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 46
Originally Posted by foghead
When i was once a gambling addicted i was depressed when i lost, and double depressed when i quit which led to me becoming very close to being an alcoholic. Mental dependence no doubt plays a big part even with playing video games, i have had times were i would sit and fidget when i would get the urge to turn on the ps3 but couldnt because everyone was watching the tv, then frustration and anxiety would kick it.
"Some psychology professionals and many laymen now mean 'addiction' to include abnormal psychological dependency on such things as gambling, food, sex, pornography, computers, internet, work, exercise, idolising, watching TV or certain types of non-pornographic videos, spiritual obsession, cutting and shopping"
Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: northern ireland
Posts: 83
well i would agree with that as it seems that anything i do, that i enjoy ....i do it alot!!!
Drinking, gambling, excercise,gaming, thinking and worrying, and it nearly puts me off trying out new things incase the same happens again.
Drinking, gambling, excercise,gaming, thinking and worrying, and it nearly puts me off trying out new things incase the same happens again.
Proud Neonephalist
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: North Coast BC Canada
Posts: 1,141
Originally Posted by noonereal
if you are speaking of dependence and addiction you are mistaken
Every alcoholic starts at the same point as a non-user then goes through the same progression that for some, who unfortunately can't step off the slope and quit, end up dying from it. Some lucky people manage to step off that downhill slope and quit before all is lost, but they are still alcoholic's.
Murray
Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Oxnard (The Nard), CA, USA.
Posts: 13,900
From what I have learned, physical dependence is just that, body tissue becomes dependent on a substance, lets say drugs. At the cellular level a drug is adapted into normal functioning and when the substance is suddenly discontinued the body goes in withdraws.
Physical dependence can be included into the overall picture of addiction then it becomes a symptom of addiction. Just like psychological dependence or cravings are can also a component of addiction.
Physical dependence can be included into the overall picture of addiction then it becomes a symptom of addiction. Just like psychological dependence or cravings are can also a component of addiction.
Laozi Old Man
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Detroit, MI
Posts: 6,665
Originally Posted by dgillz
... I have no credentials on addiction other than my own drinking career.
All insights and opinions appreciated.
The last few years that I drank, there were both physical symptoms and mental symptoms. I could not go 1 hour without looking forward to my next drink. Even when I quit for a few months.
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