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January 13th, 2025

Steroid Addiction | Signs, Symptoms and Effects

Steroids can be a lifesaver when used for the right medical reasons but when misused for muscle gains or performance enhancement, they can cause far more harm than good. Steroid addiction can leave you looking ripped on the outside while it rips your life into pieces. It can affect everything from your heart to your mental health, turning your fitness journey into a dangerous downward spiral. If steroid use has become a compulsion you can’t control, it is important to understand the potential harm you are doing to yourself and the potential routes out of steroid addiction.

What are steroids?

Steroids are a powerful group of compounds with a unique four-ring chemical structure. This chemical makeup allows steroids to serve different bodily and medical functions. Steroids come in a few major types, each with its own role.

Types of steroids

Corticosteroids

These are man-made drugs that act like cortisol, the hormone your body releases in response to stress. Corticosteroids are commonly used to treat inflammatory conditions like asthma and arthritis, reducing inflammation and suppressing immune responses.

Anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS)

Often referred to simply as anabolic steroids, these synthetic versions of testosterone help build muscle mass and boost physical performance. They have gained a reputation for their use in bodybuilding and sports but steroid abuse can have many dangerous consequences, including steroid addiction.

Topical steroids

Topical steroids are applied directly to the skin to reduce inflammation and irritation, making them useful in treating conditions like eczema and psoriasis.

What does steroid abuse involve?

Steroid abuse often involves people taking AAS in ways that go far beyond what any doctor would recommend. While steroid abuse is usually associated with athletes and bodybuilders looking to pump their muscles or get ahead in sports, it can also result from people trying to cope with body image issues or improve their self-esteem.

There are various forms of anabolic steroid abuse, with some of the most common including:

Cycling: Taking steroids for a set period, stopping and then starting again after a break.
Stacking: Using multiple types of steroids at the same time to enhance their effects.
Pyramiding: Gradually increasing the dosage, hitting a peak and then slowly reducing it.
Frontloading: Taking a large initial dose to quickly feel the effects before returning to a lower dose.
Bridging: Taking lower doses between cycles to maintain muscle mass during breaks.
Megadosing: Taking extremely large doses of steroids to intensify their effects quickly.

All of these techniques can push your body into dangerous territory and increase your chances of developing a steroid addiction.

What is steroid addiction?

Steroid addiction usually means anabolic steroid addiction and it is when AAS use moves from being a choice to a necessity in your mind. When you are addicted to steroids, you feel like you can’t stop even as your health, relationships, and well-being start to suffer.

Anabolic steroid addiction is not like traditional drug addiction, where you start out chasing some high; instead, it usually begins with some kind of physical or sporting goal. Steroid addiction can sneak up on you, starting with relatively casual use and escalating as you feel the need to keep improving or stay competitive.

Even though steroids aren’t physically addictive like some other drugs, the mental pull can be just as powerful because you fear losing the results you have worked so hard for.

Steroid addiction signs to be aware of

Spotting steroid addiction symptoms can be tricky because they are often hidden behind the expected results that come with steroid use. However, if you notice certain patterns, it may be time to take action:

Obsessing over muscle gain, body image or workouts
Draining your bank account to buy steroids or prioritising them over essentials
Hiding your steroid use or lying about it to friends or family
Relying on steroids to feel good about yourself
Struggling with relationships because of mood swings or financial problems
Facing legal trouble because of steroid-related activities
Underperforming at work or school because steroid use takes priority
Experiencing withdrawal symptoms like fatigue, sleeplessness or intense cravings if you stop taking steroids
Ignoring these steroid addiction symptoms and continuing to use them anyway

If any of these steroid addiction signs sound familiar, it’s important to get professional help to avoid any further damage.

Steroid addiction UK

Steroid abuse and addiction have quietly become major issues in the UK, with nearly one million people now using anabolic steroids. While not all of these people will develop a steroid addiction, the sheer number of users is alarming. While people of all walks of life abuse steroids, the most vulnerable group is young men aged 20-24, who are often driven by societal pressures, body image goals and the pervasive influence of social media.

Why are steroids addictive?

Steroid addiction isn’t just about wanting bigger muscles; much deeper issues often cause it. Each person will have their own unique combination of these underlying causes which lead to steroid abuse and increase the risk of addiction:

Body dysmorphia: For those with BDD, even small perceived flaws can lead to extreme measures, like using steroids, to try to “fix” their appearance.
Low self-worth: If you struggle with self-esteem, it is easy to think that a stronger, more muscular appearance will make you feel better about yourself.
Social influences: Friends, trainers or the broader fitness culture can make steroid abuse seem normal or necessary, contributing to addiction.
Performance pressure: For athletes, bodybuilders or those in appearance-focused careers, the pressure to look or perform better can make steroid abuse appealing.

Mental health concerns: Anxiety, depression or past substance abuse issues can all increase the likelihood of turning to steroids as a coping mechanism.

The dangers and side effects of steroid addiction

Steroid abuse doesn’t just push your body to the limit – it can push your life to the very edge. Here are some of the biggest dangers and side effects of steroid addiction:

Heart problems: Steroid abuse can cause heart disease, strokes and heart attacks, even in people who are young and physically fit. It can also lead to high blood pressure, altered cholesterol levels and heart enlargement.
Liver and kidney damage: Oral steroids can lead to severe liver problems, including tumours and life-threatening cysts filled with blood and kidney failure.
Mental health impacts: Users often experience extreme mood swings, aggression (known as “roid rage”), paranoia and depression, which can be worsened by steroid addiction.
Reproductive harm: Men may suffer from testicular shrinkage, lower sperm counts and infertility, while women might experience deeper voices, changes to their menstrual cycles and increased body hair.
Infection risks: Non-sterile injection practices or needle-sharing can result in dangerous infections like HIV, AIDS and hepatitis.
Stunted growth in teens: Steroid use in young people can stop bone growth prematurely, leaving them shorter than they would have been.

Legal trouble: It is illegal to sell steroids or to use them without a prescription in the UK, both of which can have serious legal consequences.

The steroid addiction treatment process

Getting over steroid addiction is about transforming your whole approach to health and self-image. At Recovery Lighthouse, we take a full-circle approach to treatment that covers every base. Here is what you can expect:

Drug detox: First, you need to clear all the steroids from your system to begin physical recovery. Steroid withdrawal can be a little nasty but our medical team will help manage symptoms and keep you safe and sound.
Drug rehab : Once steroid detox is behind you, our steroid rehab programme is where the emotional work happens. You will be introduced to different forms of therapy to work through the underlying causes discussed earlier to break your reliance on steroids and help you plan your future without them.
Aftercare: After you leave Recovery Lighthouse, we will provide weekly group therapy sessions to support you for the long haul and help you stay focused on your goals.

Begin steroid addiction treatment today

If steroids are weighing you down, Sanctuary Lodge can help you drop the burden and build a healthier future. Through steroid detox, rehab and aftercare, you will see physical, mental and emotional gains like you have never experienced before. Contact us today to begin steroid addiction treatment and a whole new life.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it possible to overdose on steroids?

While steroid overdose is not the same as overdosing on something like opioids, you can definitely take too many steroids, especially AAS. Steroid overdose can lead to serious health problems like heart issues, liver damage and psychological effects like aggression and extreme anxiety or depression,

Is steroid cream addictive?

Steroid creams, or topical steroids, aren’t usually addictive in the way some drugs are but you can develop something called topical steroid addiction. This happens when your skin gets too used to the cream and you feel you need more to keep your symptoms at bay. It is important only to use these creams as prescribed and give your skin a break when needed.

Are steroid inhalers addictive?

Steroid inhalers are not typically addictive but can cause topical steroid addiction if they are overused. The good news is that when used properly for things like asthma, they are generally safe and help keep your lungs working well. Just make sure to follow your doctor’s instructions to avoid any unwanted side effects.

(Click here to see works cited)

UK-Rehab. “Steroids Addiction | UK Rehab.” UK-Rehab, https://www.uk-rehab.com/stimulant-addiction/steroids/. Accessed 26 February 2024.
NHS. “Anabolic steroid misuse.” NHS, https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/anabolic-steroid-misuse/. Accessed 26 February 2024.
NCBI. “Topical Corticosteroid Addiction and Phobia – PMC.” NCBI, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4171914/. Accessed 26 February 2024.
National Institute on Drug Abuse. “Anabolic Steroids and Other Appearance and Performance Enhancing Drugs (APEDs).” National Institute on Drug Abuse, https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/anabolic-steroids. Accessed 26 February 2024.