Research says that 20 percent of young adults have a substance use disorder. If you are the one of those you may feel sad, confused and unsure to cohere to look for help. Let’s understand this better.
SYMPTOMS
1. Feel the urge to have that particular drug, medicine, substance again and again
2. Feeling that you need to have that substance again and again
3. Over the time, feeling it to increase the intake
4. Spending money on that substance even though not able to afford
5. Bartering in money to buy substances like sexual acts/stealing/ doings things that are not accepted by the societal structure.
6. Continuing the usage of substances even though being aware that it is harming their physical, mental and emotional health.
7. Not able to focus on work and commitments like studies, practicals, coaching classes due to usage of substances.
8. Failing in attempts to escape substances in spite of wanting to do so.
9. Withdraws oneself from their family/friends.
10. Avoids attending events in the society
11. Irregular sleep patterns 12. Irregular eating patterns
13. Long prolonged physical ailment or disability also may lead to usage of substances. 14. Lack of financial security, lack of sex drive, lack of job, can also lead to usage of substances.
15. In case of depression, sexual assault, panics and frequent attacks also can be one of the reason as the cause of usage of substances.
16. Experimenting with the same in societal structure
17. Over usage of the medicines that gives temporary relief from pain or peace, can be used multiple times for temporary relief.
CAUSES
1. Lack of family bonding, lots of tagging and nagging by the people at the house. Insecurities in various stages of life
2. It can be genetic, environmental or developmental factors which influences the use of substances by any student
3. The child who is facing a lot of judgemental issues also are prone to adapt to the usage or overuse of substances
4. Lack of parental monitoring
5. Family history of substance use
6. Favorable parental support for the usage
7. Family rejection of sexual orientation or gender identity
8. Friends who are consuming substances and are forced or shown the positives of the usage of particular substance
WHAT - YOU CAN DO
1. Practice Self Care your top most priority
2. Earning for your own self with aid in your ability to take care of your child
3. Maintain a log of periods of use and absence
4. List down your strengths
5. Improve more awareness to attend seminars and workshops on self care
6. Keep track of your usage including how much and how many times did you use
7. Consider and list down things that are imperfect to you
8. Ask someone when you trust about their feeling on your substance usage
9. Remind yourself constantly on reasons to change
10. Keep reminders of your addiction from your home and workplace and enter places you frequently visit
11. Disown friends who constantly remind you of substances or force you to have one
12. Get your counseling done which will asset you in the process of controlling or leaving usage of substances altogether
13. If needed, opt for medication but only if expect suspicion.
FEW THIPS – JUST FOR YOU, PARENTS
1. Strengthen your relationship with your child.
2. Display a sense of acceptance and understanding.
3. Be kind and respectful.
4. Say no to negative issues.
5. Your reactions can make the situation worse.
6. Ignoring the problem will not make it go away. Address it in the right manner.
7. Encourage healthy conversations at home and allow your child to engage in healthy activities.
8. Create and reinforce consistent guidelines
9. Set clear expectations
10. Set clear boundaries of what is expected and what is not, in the family structure.
Article by :
Riddhi Doshi Patel
Child Psychologist / Parenting Counselor