Kratom Addiction = Kratom Tolerance + Compulsive Behavior
According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine, the main characteristic of addiction is the:
“inability to consistently abstain, impairment in behavioral control, craving, diminished recognition of significant problems with one’s behaviors and interpersonal relationships, and a dysfunctional emotional response.”
People who have a Kratom addiction are those who have built a tolerance and will experience withdrawal symptoms if they stop taking it. To avoid the pain of withdrawals they will not be able to abstain from using Kratom even if they really want to stop.
If you would like to stop using Kratom but don’t because you don’t want to experience withdrawals, then you have a Kratom addiction.
The Negative Stigma of Addiction Makes This Worse
Nobody wants to admit they are an addict. It’s a dirty word. I know it was for me. The thing is, it’s not something people should look down on. It can happen to anyone who doesn’t understand what they’re doing when using addicting substances.
If you have an addiction and are afraid to admit it to friends and family, that’s okay. You don’t have to. You can find a lot of support online from other people who have been exactly where you are. Here are some fantastic resources for finding people who understand your troubles and can help keep you accountable on your journey to freedom from addiction.
When Kratom Use Becomes a Problem
A person can use Kratom for a long time and not consider it a problem. Even if they build up a tolerance, it can still be managed and used effectively. The same goes for coffee and cigarettes. Just because you have a tolerance to coffee doesn’t make you a coffee addict. Like coffee drinkers, there are many people who use Kratom over long periods of time and are highly functioning in society. I wouldn’t classify these people as addicts just because they have developed a tolerance. Addiction happens when you want to stop but can’t.
If you are addicted to Kratom or another substance, it’s okay! Admitting that it is a thing is the first step to overcoming it. People often are in denial about being addicted to something because of society’s view on addiction. For instance, the organization Alcoholics Anonymous says that anyone who is an addict now will always be an addict even if they quit. I think this is nonsense. If someone can’t quit something because they can’t suffer the withdrawal symptoms, they are an addict. If they aren’t addicted to anything, they aren’t an addict!
If you find yourself with an addiction, know that it is something you can deal with and move on from. The first step is educating yourself about the problem so you can come up with the best solution. That is what this website is for. Let’s get you fully educated on the problem and show you how to overcome it so you can move on with your life addiction free.
