What is Psychological Dependence?
The use of alcohol or a drug may become a habit for reasons other than physical need. For example, one may drink alcohol before a party to ‘loosen up’ or to ‘get in the mood’ for a social event.

Once this becomes a habit, the tables may turn - you may come to believe that you ‘need’ a drink or two before attending a social function. If you then try to attend without a drink, you may feel awkward - anxiety may arise and you do not have much fun. This provides further ‘evidence’ that you ‘need’ to drink before or at a social function. This is Psychological Dependence.

“I used to think I was the life of the party. It took me a year in recovery before I was comfortable around people again. It wasn’t even me at those parties. It was me swimming in alcohol.”

The social use of alcohol or cannabis may be used to hide social anxiety. Self treatment of anxiety or other distressing emotional symptoms creates a fast path to Psychological Dependence.

Psychological Dependence is really a form of self treatment that may certainly lead to a worsening cycle of Addiction. Psychological Dependence is just a term that is sometimes used to refer to a cause of Substance Abuse. Most people who Abuse substances have some degree of Psychological Dependence.