Overcoming and defeating your addictions is never going to be easy, no matter how hard you try. However, just because it isn’t easy doesn’t mean that you can’t do it. The most important thing to remember when you are preparing to fight your addiction is that you must do it in a way that is healthy and coordinated.
This article will tell you how you can fight addiction the healthy way:
Recognize Your Addiction
You will be unable to overcome your addiction until you recognize that you have one. This can be very difficult to do, especially if you rationalize your addiction as a ‘harmless habit’ as so many people do. If you find that you can’t function without a substance, then you might be addicted to it.
Admit Your Addiction
When you’ve recognized that you’re addicted to something, then it’s crucial that you admit you have an addiction. Acceptance is the first step to recovery. It might be hard to admit to the people that you love that you have an addiction, but there is a very strong chance that they already know. Once you’ve admitted and accepted your addiction, the real work starts.
Desire to Change
If you do not have a desire to change, recognizing and admitting that you have an addiction will have been in vain. It’s not easy to change; any ex-addict can tell you that. So you have to have something motivating you to want to change.
It can be as simple as just wanting an ordinary life, or it can be as complex as wanting to be present in your children’s lives free from the shackles of your addiction.
Rehabilitation Centres
Rehabilitation centers are a great way to overcome your addictions. According to the addiction specialists from irecover.ca, and keeping in line with our last point, the only requirement to getting into a rehabilitation clinic is that you possess a desire to change. They can cost a lot of money, but more often than not, financial plans are available. You can also get into some rehabilitation centers under government-backed schemes. If you are from Canada, Toronto rehab facilities provide unmatched comfort and results with their rehab programs.
Exercise
Getting outdoors and exercising is a fantastic way to defeat your addiction. While exercise alone will not do the job, it can be a great way to start living healthily. Replacing your addiction with exercise can be very effective. It has worked for millions of people. It’s important never to replace your addiction to a substance with an addiction to exercise, however. You mustn’t take things to extremes. Exercise in moderation, and don’t let it consume your life.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Cognitive-behavioral therapy has proven to be very effective in overcoming addiction. There are various charities and organizations that offer free CBT therapy to recovering addicts. If you check yourself into a rehabilitation center, you might also get CBT therapy there. If you decide to pay for it privately, then bear in mind that it can cost a lot of money.
Find a New Hobby
When you are well into your recovery, you might want to look for some hobbies. If you do not occupy yourself, you will be more susceptible to relapse. Sitting around all day doing absolutely nothing is not only physically unhealthy, but it will wear away at you mentally. If there are things you enjoyed before your addiction, consider taking them up again. If not, then involve yourself in local community groups and network with other ex-addicts. Once you find a hobby you enjoy, stick to it.
Do You Love Yourself?
You should do that. Drugs and alcohol have a very negative impact on our self-image. They can leave us hating ourselves. You must always remind yourself how great you really are and that any mistakes you have made in the past are in the past. If you have hurt people, do your best to rectify the situation and make amends. However, just because you have made mistakes, you shouldn’t punish yourself and live in the shadow of your errors. Move on and keep your head up.
Study the Impact of Drugs and Alcohol
Researching and studying the impact of drugs and alcohol can be a very powerful way to stay away from them. Often, people fall into addiction through ignorance. Once you understand how dangerous these substances are for you, it’s your duty to stay away from them. Unfortunately, a lot of addicts know how dangerous they are, but they simply do not care. This is because they do not love themselves. Once you love yourself and your life, and you understand how dangerous addictions can be, you will never want to succumb to them again. Take time to research how these substances impact you and your body.
Find a Job
If you aren’t a hobbyist, then you might want to consider finding some work. A job is a great way to occupy yourself, earn some money, and forget about your addictions. Don’t force yourself into work too quickly, however. A lot of people find work too stressful and end up relapsing. Give yourself time to recover.
Eliminate Toxic Friends
As human beings, we tend to surround ourselves with people who enjoy the same things as us. If you are an addict, there’s a strong chance that your friends are too. These are the people that you need to cut out of your life, but when you feel strong enough once you are recovered, you can gradually let them back in (assuming that they keep addictions and your friendship separate).
Reconnect with Family
Addictions have a habit of pushing people away from their families. If your addiction has done this to you, then when you are well into your recovery, you could try reaching out to your family and explaining to them that you are trying to work through your problems. Having your family around to support you can be a great way to work through your problems.
Call Somebody for Help
If you feel that you are struggling with drugs or alcohol, don’t hesitate to call for help. A lot of people suffer, needlessly, in silence. There are thousands of charities and services available to help you. Don’t let addiction destroy your life anymore.
Addiction can be soul-destroying. With the tips listed in this article, you should be able to make moves toward overcoming your addiction once and for all. Good luck.
