How To Recognise Euphoria As An Addiction Symptom

Euphoria, at first, seems like a harmless experience. A rush of intense pleasure and feelings of ‘intense excitement and happiness’ does not seem inherently negative. However, euphoria is very different from ‘organic’ feelings of positivity – the use of substances often drives euphoria or can be related to specific mental health conditions. For this reason, euphoric episodes can be identified as one of a cluster of addiction symptoms. Euphoria can carry some risks. Therefore, management of this symptom is a key component of successful addiction treatment.

Addiction and Euphoria: Why are they linked?

Defining addiction

An addiction is ‘a state of psychological and/or physical dependence on the use of drugs or other substances, such as alcohol, or on activities or behaviours, such as sex, exercise, and gambling.’
Addiction can take hold when an individual develops specific substance or behaviour-seeking tendencies. When this happens, addictive stimuli can cause a rush of euphoria – and, therefore, relief. This can lead people to use substances – or engage in specific behaviours – for a rush of positive feelings that can temporarily alleviate distress.

Defining euphoria

The American Psychological Association defines euphoria as ‘extreme happiness and an elevated sense of well-being. An exaggerated degree of euphoria that does not reflect the reality of one’s situation is common in manic episodes and hypomanic episodes.’

Euphoria can be catalysed by neurochemical stimulation (when there is a rush of serotonin and dopamine in the brain). But it can also be a symptom of specific mental health conditions, such as:

• Bipolar disorder
• Manic depression
• Cyclothymia
• Psychosis
• Schizophrenia
• Schizoaffective disorder

For this reason, any comorbid mental health conditions you or a loved one may have must also be addressed during addiction recovery.

Signs of euphoria

Euphoria can manifest differently from person to person; however, clinical presentations are usually considered to have both behavioural, psychological and physical signs.

Behavioural signs

• Smiling lots
• Laughing
• Reduced impulse control
• Increase in energy
• Increase in libido
• Speaking fast or struggling to speak
• Interrupting or talking over others

Psychological signs

• Appearing generally jovial
• Sudden shift in mood
• Decrease in anxiety and agitation
• Struggling to focus

Physical manifestations

• Lightheadedness
• Gasping or struggling to catch breath
• Appearing hot or flushed
• Pacing or struggling to stay still

Euphoria can also be paired with irrational thoughts or delusional beliefs. When this occurs, it can indicate a higher level of risk as it suggests a manic episode.

Triggers of euphoria in addiction

There can be specific triggers of euphoria in the context of drug and alcohol addiction. This is typically related to engagement with addictive stimuli and subsequent reactions in the brain’s dopaminergic system, a system that governs our feelings of pleasure and reward. When we rely on a specific stimulus to feel pleasure, we may find that we need to increase our engagement in order to achieve the same euphoric ‘hit.’ This can not only increase our interactions with our addictive substance of behaviour but it can also ‘dull’ our feelings of reward in other contexts.

This means that other forms of happiness feel harder to come by, making the euphoria more and more desirable to achieve. It is important to remember that this isn’t only the case for substance addiction. The object of behavioural addictions (such as shopping, gambling, porn, internet and sex) can also catalyse this type of euphoric cycle.

Separating experiences of euphoria from feelings of happiness

When we are in a moment, it isn’t easy to evaluate it objectively. This means it can be hard, during recovery, to know what euphoria is and what true happiness is. In addiction rehab, you will spend some time identifying your core values. This way, you can identify what in your life matters to you the most and, therefore, ascertain what brings you organic happiness rather than what provides you with temporary euphoria. An example of values include:

• Adventure
• Authenticity
• Caring
• Connection
• Creativity
• Curiosity
• Family
• Justice

Risks of euphoria

Whilst on the surface, euphoria seems like a relatively mild symptom, it does come with a range of potential risks, such as:

• strained relationships
• financial issues linked to overspending
• legal issues linked to engaging in criminal activity
• occupational or academic issues
• injury or accident due to reduced impulse control

Seeking evaluation and support

Rehab is a crucial intervention for both behavioural and drug addictions. If you are dealing with an addiction, it is very important to access professional support. This can include a thorough evaluation to consider the root cause of euphoria in order to identify if support for a dual diagnosis needs to be incorporated into your treatment plan. Honestly reflecting on your experiences of euphoria with a therapist, addiction specialist, or healthcare professional can give you the best opportunity to begin comprehensive treatment tailored to your own needs. For more help and to discuss your options, please call our rehab referral service.