The stages of addiction

The "cycle of addiction" refers to the reoccurring mental and behavioral habits that hinder someone in recovering from addiction from completing their recovery.
They are termed addiction cycles as, until and unless the pattern is broken, the addicted individual will almost certainly continue to act out the same repetitive behavior patterns.
Now there are some stages of this cycle, but usually, the behavior of the pattern is considered to be of the same nature. 
Learning about these stages of the addiction cycle can help you identify as to where you stand currently and what sort of measures you must take in order to break it. 
What are these stages? Let's find that out! 

1 Initial Use When you drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes for the first time, it is referred to as the initial use stage of the addiction cycle.
Similarly happens with process addictions as well. 
For example, you play a game online for the first time, and then after a passage of time, you become addicted to it. 
There are several reasons why a person may use that addictive thing for the first time. It can either be due to the peer pressure of playing online games as all of your friends are doing. 
A similar thing goes with gambling, where you see people in your close circle engaging in gambling, and then ultimately, you also try it for the first time. 
Whatever the reason may be, the first stage of the addiction cycle is always the initial use. 

2 Abuse At this stage of the addiction cycle, the person starts to engage in the addictive activity on a regular basis. 
You use that thing or engage yourself in it at such a level it is considered to be harmful to you. 
For example, getting addicted to using social media and wasting your precious time over there. 
Moreover, using it to such an extent that you have destroyed your social life existing outside of the digital world. 

3 ToleranceAt this stage, the addicted person becomes so used to the addictive thing that they now need more to achieve the same level of physical and mental satisfaction. 
This ultimately forces you to engage in that activity more frequently and use it without any limit. The brain has basically changed its response toward that addictive thing. 

4 Dependence At this stage, as the name suggests, the person becomes dependent on the addictive thing. 

You will find it extremely challenging to fight your urge and will feel as if your mind and body may not work properly if you don't get that thing. . 

5 AddictionThis is where the person realizes that they have now become addicted to the thing that they initially used due to peer pressure, depression, or any other reason.  
You are now using that thing without any limit, you are not able to control yourself, your relationships are getting affected by it, and your mind is not working in a proper manner when you are not engaged in that activity. This is the stage of addiction. 

6 Relapse This is the final stage of the addiction cycle. Relapse is something that usually happens with most people who have taken addiction treatment. There are a number of reasons for relapse to happen. 
For example, you do not get proper treatment, or you yourself try to quit the addiction, but after some time, you lose control and relapse. 
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In such scenarios, it is vital to get assistance from a professional who has got extensive experience in treating people with process addictions. You can schedule an appointment today. You either do this work now, or you will do it later. Start on the path that's right in front of you.