When you seek help for yourself or a loved one, you run into terms you’ve never seen before. Dependence, tolerance, and addiction are some of these terms. These break down further into physical dependence and psychological drug dependence. You know what it means to physically need your drug, but what is psychological dependence?

What is Psychological Drug Dependence?

Sad woman in the dark dealing with psychological drug dependenceThe word “psychological” means behavioral, emotional or mental. So psychological drug dependence refers to your mental need for your chosen drug. This mental need comes from how the drug makes you feel mentally and emotionally.

The reality is that psychological dependence is no different than physical dependence when it comes to substance abuse and addiction. Addiction is addiction. The primary difference between these types of dependence comes into play in the side effects of your dependence. Your symptoms of addiction include physical symptoms, mental symptoms or both.

Psychological drug dependence symptoms include:

  • Cravings and drug seeking
  • Anxiety and depression
  • Sleeplessness and restlessness
  • Irritability and mood swings
  • Appetite loss
  • Inability to quit without help
  • Thinking, memory and judgment problems

Drugs Causing Psychological Dependence

Certain drugs cause what people call psychological dependence but not physical dependence. As said earlier, this means the side effects of the dependence are mental and emotional, not physical. But again, addiction is addiction. So someone addicted to these drugs needs the same quality of help as someone addicted to drugs causing physical symptoms.

Drugs causing psychological dependence include cocaine, Ritalin, LSD, marijuana products, inhalants, medications prescribed for mental illness and hallucinogens. Drugs causing physical dependence include alcohol, opiates, benzos, and barbiturates.

There is no difference between psychological drug dependence treatment and physical drug dependence treatment. In treatment, you can expect different symptoms. These start in drug detox with the symptoms you experience as part of withdrawal.

Still, scientists today believe the mind and body connect more than considered in the past. That is, they believe your mind affects your body and vice versa. To address this connection, many rehabs apply methods for mind-body wellness. These programs include therapies like yoga, mindfulness-based treatment, physical fitness, nutrition and outdoor therapies.

What Dependence Means to You

In reality, it does not matter whether you have psychological or physical symptoms of dependence. Your addiction is simply an addiction. There is only one addiction. There is also only one set of outcomes for addiction.

Outcomes of addiction include relationship, career, reputation, financial, legal and health problems. The ultimate consequence is death, whether by overdose or other causes related to your substance abuse. Death does not discern physical from psychological drug dependence.

The only way out of drug dependence is through detox and rehab. This treatment requires a variety of therapies. You need individual, group and family therapies. You also need individualized treatment planning based on your own unique mental and physical health.

Treatment for Drug Dependence in Jacksonville, Florida

In Jacksonville, Florida, Beaches Recovery provides detox and rehab treatment for people dependent on drugs or alcohol. Your treatment includes a variety of therapies and evidence-based methods designed for your unique needs.

Programs at Beaches Recovery include:

Do not concern yourself with whether you or your loved one have physical or psychological drug dependence. Just knowing you suffer addiction is enough to gain the help you need for lasting recovery. Both types of dependence require the same rehab treatment. So call Beaches Recovery now at 866.605.0532 for more information about how to find your way out of dependence and addiction.