Addiction: Immense effects on the body and mind

             Addictions are often associated with something that brings us a quick but temporary high. With continued use, it can easily become compulsive and interfere with ordinary life responsibilities, such as work, relationships, or health. Users may not be aware that their behavior is out of control and causing problems for themselves and others. Once a person becomes addicted they lose control of themselves and become dependant on it in order to cope with daily life. The effects of addiction are destructive and over time it takes away from your health and social well being.

 

             Drugs can appear initially to have positive effects – lifting your mood, relaxing you or even giving you more energy. However, they can also have negative impacts on your mental and physical health, your relationships, and your life in general. In this painting we see a woman with a gloomy facial expression. Her facial expression and the general composition of this image  is significant because it illustrates the negative effects drugs can have on the body and mind. She has lost control of the appearance of her body and how her brain functions. All drugs that are addicting can activate the brain's pleasure circuit by releasing excessive amounts of dopamine . Drug addiction is a biological, pathological process that alters the way the brain functions. The lack of colour in her skin and around her represents the negative effects drugs have had on her mental health. Drug abuse might affect an existing mental disorder or result in one. More than half of those who are addicted to drugs have also had some form of mental illness, either at the same time as their addiction or at some other point in their lives.

This addiction is complex. The symbolism of the white powdered donuts represents how food, like drugs or alcohol, can trigger the release of dopamine in the brain. This chemical is related to pleasure. It creates a positive link between food and emotional wellbeing. In the addicted brain, food is seen as a drug. It is used to re-create feelings of pleasure, even when the body does not need the calories. Food addicts may have a hard time controlling their eating, despite the desire to stop. While food addiction can often appear harmless or less serious than other addictions, it is not. It is a condition that tends to progress gradually. The fact that the donuts are piled high and in a big abundance it shows how when someone becomes addicted enough is never enough. It can eventually result in lifelong obesity or health problems while also making mental health issues worse.

         Steroid abuse is common with competitive athletes. While the pursuit of performance and appearance is certainly a large factor in steroid abuse, growing evidence now suggests that addiction also plays a role in driving some individuals to repeated and excessive use in the face of significant health risks. Steroid addiction has been associated with a wide range of adverse side effects ranging from some that are physically unattractive, to others that are life threatening. Most are reversible if the abuser stops taking the drugs, but some are permanent. The man in this image shows himself with a unsatisfied face. This reveals the false impression of what he and the steroids have done to his body. Once addicted to steroids it can be very destructive to the human body. Many users feel that they are more physically attractive with larger muscle mass. The lack of colour in this image suggest that the man in this photo is unhappy with the way he looked. It is common to suffer from a condition called muscle dysmorphia in which they see themselves as scrawny and weak when they are actually very muscular. This affliction is similar to the cognitive bias that leads people with eating disorders to see themselves as overweight when they are very thin. Like other forms of addicts, many steroid abusers continue to pursue steroids despite the serious health concerns.

We all have our own reasons for using social media. Some of us like to browse at other people's status updates and photos, while others use the sites as a way to vent their emotions. Social media addiction poses a threat to the self-esteem of young adults.  Addicted to social media, young adults rely on the number of “likes” they receive from their posts and pictures. The needles symbolize how people are becoming addicted and looking for outward acceptance instead of building confidence in themselves by pursuing personal strengths and interests. Without gaining the expected or desired recognition on posts and pics, young adults addicted to social media may become disappointed to the point of depression.Virtual environments often involve bullying. Feedback and comments from “friends” users affect how young adults addicted to social media view themselves and their interests and this takes a huge toll on their wellbeing. The anxiety stemming from the negative feedback and news feeds, may accelerate prior vulnerabilities. In addition, the colour in the needles demonstrate how people become addicted and when it eventually takes over their life it is the only thing that provides them with pleasure. This causes people to feel pulled towards their addiction whenever they are feeling down which is how it leads to the destruction of many people’s lives.

In conclusion, it is easy to see the immense effects of addiction. When addicted to something it is easy to become drawn to it and hard to keep control of your life. This showing that, the effects addiction have on your body and mind can be damaging and even life threatening.

 

References

Gunnars, K. (2012). Food Addiction [Photograph]. Retrieved from http://authoritynutrition.com/how-to-overcome-food-addiction/

Matsalla, B. (2013, December 12). Social Media Addiction [Photograph]. Retrieved from http://guardianlv.com/2013/12/social-media-addiction/

Pearce, E. (2015). Addiction [Illustration]. Retrieved from https://erinashleypearce.wordpress.com/tag/addiction/

Robertson, S. (2010, July 21). Does steroid use lead to aggressive tendencies? [Photograph]. Retrieved from http://blogs.biomedcentral.com/on-health/2010/07/21/does-steroid-use-lead-to-aggressive-tendencies/