First thing’s first, you must admit you have an addiction.
If you are feeling discomfort or guilt from your actions, or if your bad habits conflict or restrict your everyday activities, it’s time to consider help.
Dr. Elizabeth Hartney, PhD agrees, “There are many factors, physical, mental, and emotional, that make quitting difficult.
This is why so many people find treatment helps to guide them through the complex process of quitting.”
Find a sponsor at your local rehab center or even a close friend or family member can help keep you in line. When you know someone is checking in on you, you’ll feel less prone to succumb to your addiction.
“There is no depression buster as effective for me than exercise,” says mental health advocate Therese J. Borchard. Not only will you improve your overall health and well-being while working up a sweat, but you’ll also feel endorphins being released naturally.
Remind yourself of the reasons why you want to, and more importantly, need to break the habit. See HelpGuide.org’s 5 steps to addiction recovery for even more valid reasons.
CBT groups can help Olympia House residents manage impulsive, self-destructive behaviors.
“When a craving arises”, states Brittany Tackett, MA, “you may choose to redirect your attention to something else or distract yourself until the craving inevitably passes.
Visualization techniques can also help you relax during a craving as you may imagine yourself in a relaxing setting.
Finding a new hobby can not only help you build up your character, but also provide yourself a great means of distraction during a drug or alcohol craving.
There’s a single line from a well-known article by Addiction Center that reads, “We’ve all made mistakes in the past. Today is the day to learn from them.” Once you begin to learn to live your life without your addiction, you will no longer feel the need for it in your life.
Take control. You are in charge. You can and deserve to be free from addiction.
This won’t be a feel-good exercise, but seeing the list on paper in your own handwriting, can certainly help with resolving to stop the addiction process in your life.
Take a few minutes and brainstorm a list similar to this one of as many negative effects you’ve experienced that you can recall.
SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders.
Their number is (800) 662-HELP (4357) or you may call a rehab center near you at (888) 795-1965 now.
