definition of physical dependance per healthallrefer.com- occurs when the body reduces production of its own natural opiods(endorphins,enkephalins,etc) and begins to rely on the drug to manage the functions of these natural brain chemicals.
I have studied quite a bit on the subject of physical dependance and these are my conclusions. anyone who takes a chemical altering drug long enough will become dependant. the length of time to become dependant will vary from one individual to the next. once your brain has reduce production of its own natural chemicals you become more tolerant and need more drug to get same effect(not neccessarily high, just to stop pain or feel normal) tapering or stopping the drug will produce withdrawal same as addiction due to reduction in brain chemicals. for myself, i never took opiates to get high. pain control to continue my job was my goal. the longer i took the more i needed to reduce pain. then due to the lack of my own brain chemicals my body hurt only because i didn't take meds or increase the amt. i never dream or think of taking vicodin now, but i had to stop thinking of everyone else and focus on me to stop. i had to allow myself to feel bad, not be there for everyone. i actually put ME first. now i will be there for them bigger and better in the future. i only took prescribe meds. i was honest with my doctors. never md shopped or took the pills for recreation. i have alcohol in my house that doesn't get drunk. i felt no desire to get high. regardless of all of this i was still dependat and experience the same physical withdrawal and frankly i will avoid any opiates like the plaque just because i never want to go through this again.
this is just my story and my take on physical dependance
physical dependence and true addiction are two very separate animals.... a person can be physically dependent due to chemical responses as you said but when the psychological component coming into play as a reason to 'feel good' or 'feel normal' (not normal without pain but psychologically so) then the line is crossed and an addict is born.... and you dont have to take huge amounts to be an addict it is all in the motivation for using.... the tolerance, increasing doses, doctor shopping ect will all come later if the psychological addiction continues....
many chronic pain people think that because they become tolerant that they are or might be an addict.. not true... it is in the motivation of their use....
physical dependence and addiction both cause physical withdrawl it is a physiological response not in our control... the mental part however is very much within our control in how we deal with it....'
teresa....
many chronic pain people think that because they become tolerant that they are or might be an addict.. not true... it is in the motivation of their use....
physical dependence and addiction both cause physical withdrawl it is a physiological response not in our control... the mental part however is very much within our control in how we deal with it....'
teresa....
thanks teresa, well said. i have taken drugs to get high and drank to get drunk and i do not wish to imply this is ever responsible, but i could turn it on and off. take it or leave it. as i matured i realized my responsibilities and took them seriously. i never became pyschologically hooked. i do not brag. i thank GOD. my father is an alcoholic. my seriousness for responsibility and desire to provide led me to take narcotics for pain control so i could work, work, work. but ironically it has landed me on my rear and in bed alot. i definitely have some issues i have got to deal with. thanks again
