This classification fails to recognise individual variation in drug use. Alcohol can be used in heavy doses that are gravely disabling and induce severe physical dependence with convulsions on sudden withdrawal; i.e. for the individual the drug is ‘hard’. But there are many people mildly psychologically dependent on it who retain their position in the home and society. In some cancer patients drug-seeking behaviour is seen because of unrelieved pain and not psychological dependence.

Chronic administration of opioids produces physical and psychological dependence. A characteristic withdrawal syndrome occurs when the opioid is stopped abruptly or an opioid antagonist is given. In the case of morphine and other OP3 receptor agonists with a similar duration of action, lacrimation, rhinorrhea, yawning, and sweating occur about 8–12 hours after the last dose.

Key Facts on Psychological Dependence

Consuming the drug or alcohol at an excessive level is a social symptom of an addict. There is also an overlapping of symptoms of psychological effects and physical effects. An example of one of these effects of overlapping symptoms is to redirect your food budget to buy the substance in question, which is a psychological effect. However, by doing this, you are unable to consume enough nutrients which in turn is a physical effect.

If you or someone you know identifies with the symptoms of physical and psychological dependence, you might need addiction treatment. Our staff at Comprehensive Wellness Centers is here to help you every step of the way. In order for addiction treatment to be effective, patients must receive treatment for their physical and psychological symptoms. By attending a residential rehab program, you will be able to confront your addiction, learn how to manage your symptoms, and gain life-long support that will be there for you throughout your sobriety. By targeting both the physical and psychological symptoms of a substance use disorder, patients can safely and effectively be treated. Let’s take a deeper look into the differences between physical and psychological dependence.

Methods for reducing dependence

So, medication prescribed by a doctor can still result in a physical dependence. It’s also important to note that the presence of psychological dependence and/or physical dependence does not mean that an individual is addicted to a substance. Their presence might indicate that an individual is on the road to addiction, but they are only part of addiction as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistics Manual-5 (DSM-5). There is a change in a person’s emotional state after the long-term use of a substance that changes chemicals in the brain. The change is due to neurotransmitters sending higher levels of certain chemicals.

The psychological aspects of addiction are sometimes so tortuous that they are the hardest symptoms to overcome. Problem drinking has multiple causes, with genetic, physiological, psychological,and social factors all playing a role. For some alcohol abusers, psychological traits such as impulsiveness, low self-esteem and a need for approval prompt inappropriate drinking. Some individuals drink to cope with or “medicate” emotional problems. Social and environmental factors such as peer pressure and the easy availability of alcohol can play key roles. Poverty and physical or sexual abuse also increase the odds of developing alcohol dependence.

Programs With a Focus on Psychological Dependence

Many people wonder about the differences between psychological and physiological dependence on drugs. Also, not helpful is how so much information you find misleads you even more. Those who are suffering from substance abuse problems may not be able to tell the difference, but a family member can.

When analyzing whether or not legal issues caused by substance abuse is a psychological dependency versus a physical dependency, evidence suggests it is a symptom of psychological dependency. They need to do something illegal to get the substance of choice is a psychological dependence of that substance. To put it another way, physical vs psychological dependence means mental vs physical symptoms. Also, a program at an addiction recovery center will deal with them separately. A psychological dependence affects the mind negatively in terms of mood, feelings, and thoughts.

Are you struggling with an addiction?

Therefore, psychological and physiological dependence should probably not be perceived as entirely separate entities, but rather two sides of the same coin. In fact, most modern evidence-based treatments are based on the understanding that there some crucial distinctions. Psychological vs. Physiological Dependence – The idea that behavior can be divided into components independent of each other, such as being purely mental or physical, does not mesh with what we now know about behavior and the processes that influence it. Moreover, all psychological processes have physical underpinnings, and all complex behaviors have significant psychological elements. Different stressors likewise robustly reinstated extinguished alcohol-reinforced responding in different operant reinstatement models of relapse (Funk et al. 2005; Gehlert et al. 2007; Le et al. 2000, 2005; Liu and Weiss 2002b).

• These activities or events, that previously brought joy, are now looked sourly upon due to the substance not being available.
• That psychological aspect causes you to take more medication, which in turn eases the physical need.
• This removes any traces of it from their body and the build-up of toxins in the process.
• However, if this person takes it for several years they’ll likely develop a physical and psychological dependence.

Factors that might put one at higher risk for psychological dependence include past exposure to violence, environmental stressors, anxiety, or other mood disorders. Personality variables, such as neuroticism, low self-control, low self-regulation, https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/psychological-dependence-on-alcohol-physiological-addiction-symptoms/ low self-esteem, or loneliness can also be factors. People who have a family history of psychological dependence can also be at risk. The feeling is caused by chemical reactions to neurotransmitters within the brain.