Perhaps you have ever wondered if, in fact, how you see yourself can in some way influence the possibility of developing an addiction, whether to a substance or a behavior. That is what we are going to talk about in this article.
It is necessary to point out, although it is something that we have already indicated in other previous articles, that in the development of a dependency there can be a large number of factors that influence it, and yes, self-esteem, the way in which we perceive ourselves. , is one of those determining factors. So that, Let’s see how addictions and self-esteem interact
Why is self-esteem so important as a factor in the development of addictions?
We can say that self-esteem is the individual’s perception of their own value. It has been described as an “emotional and cognitive evaluation of oneself as a human being.” This element is fundamental, because it directly It influences how people feel and perceive themselves, but it also influences how they act towards others
It is easier for people who have an acceptable level of self-esteem to feel much better in all areas of their lives. It is also important to indicate that the self-esteem that someone has of themselves has a lot to do with their experiences and experiences, since having gone through negative situations is not the same as having not done so. This It can cause guilt and other feelings that can make you perceive yourself in a way that is not real and that can end up hurting you
The really negative thing about all this is that, if this poor self-esteem lasts too long, it can lead to the development of an addiction that makes you feel better.
Self-esteem is something fundamental
Not perceiving ourselves positively influences all areas of our lives Everything we do, think and say is wrong, nothing can go right because we can’t do anything right. We can’t help it, it’s how we feel, and therefore, we act accordingly.
To give an example, if a boy lives in an environment in which, no matter how hard he tries, he is always told that he does nothing well, he will listen to it for many years. This continuous bombardment will make him sooner or later end up internalizing the idea that it is true, that he does nothing right, and little by little and without wanting it himself, he adapts his behavior to that belief that, for him, is an absolute..
Addictions and self-esteem: what is the relationship?
Self-esteem can be achieved in the short term through external validation, which can result in a lack of motivation and lower self-esteem. On the other hand, others believe that high self-esteem leads to the independence and confidence that are necessary for positive mental health.
It is important to note that We can’t always control how our actions impact our sense of identity The relationship between addictions or negative behaviors such as substance abuse and low self-esteem has been studied for a long time, and there are, as we have said before, many factors involved in this relationship, such as environment, genetics, past experiences, social environments… It seems plausible that these factors may contribute to some people developing addictions.
Really, this is the whiting that bites its tail, a vicious circle in which one aspect feeds on the other: When you don’t value yourself, you look for a way to alleviate all the discomfort it generates You do that with alcohol, drugs or any other addictive object, but, on the other hand, when you use, you feel bad because you are doing it, and again, you are back to square one.
How an addiction can affect the mind and body
Addiction is a term that refers to any type of behavior or substance that an individual uses to satisfy a psychological or physiological need. Although it does not always lead to physical addiction, it can cause mental and emotional dependence on the substance or addictive behavior, which leads to long-term health consequences
The brain is affected by addiction in many different ways, which can lead to health problems such as anxiety, depression, and even suicide attempts.
