Addiction and Recovery
Anxiety, depression, and addiction are strongly connected. Anxiety and depression can lead to addiction. But addiction also causes anxiety and depression. People use drugs and alcohol to escape the feelings of anxiety and depression.
Approximately 15 to 30 percent of addicts suffer from both addiction and underlying depression.(1),(2) The combination is sometimes called a dual diagnosis. People who have a dual diagnosis of depression and addiction often have a repeating pattern of staying sober for a while and then relapsing because they feel awful.
To learn more about addiction, please look at the public service website:
Addiction Test
To see if you have an addiction, answer the following seven yes or no questions. Most questions have more than one part, because everyone behaves differently in addiction. You only need to answer yes to one part for that question to count as a positive response.
1. Tolerance. Has your use of drugs or alcohol increased over time?
2. Withdrawal. When you stop using, have you ever experienced physical or emotional withdrawal? Have you had any of the following symptoms: irritability, anxiety, shakes, sweats, nausea, or vomiting?
3. Difficulty controlling your use. Do you sometimes use more or for a longer time than you would like? Do you sometimes drink to get drunk? Do you stop after a few drink usually, or does one drink lead to more drinks?
4. Negative consequences. Have you continued to use even though there have been negative consequences to your mood, self-esteem, health, job, or family?
5. Putting off or neglecting activities. Have you ever put off or reduced social, recreational, work, or household activities because of your use?
6. Spending significant time or emotional energy. Have you spent a significant amount of time obtaining, using, concealing, planning, or recovering from your use? Have you spend a lot of time thinking about using? Have you ever concealed or minimized your use? Have you ever thought of schemes to avoid getting caught?
7. Desire to cut down. Have you sometimes thought about cutting down or controlling your use? Have you ever made unsuccessful attempts to cut down or control your use?
If you answered yes to at least 3 of these questions, then you meet the medical criteria (DSM and ICD) for addiction.
Printable Addiction Test
For your convenience, I've included a printable version of the addiction test.
Learn More
In the book "I Want to Change My Life" you'll learn:
- The medical definition of addiction
- Self-assessment questionnaires
- The genetics and disease of addiction
- Withdrawal symptoms
- Post-acute withdrawal symptoms
- Relapse prevention and the stages of relapse
- The 5 rules of recovery. The five things you need to do to succeed in recovery.
Last Modified: December 2, 2009