Breaking Free Of Addiction

Whether you’re suffering drugs and alcohol addiction or sex addiction, it’s quite challenging to overcome addictive behaviour. While developing a bad habit or addictive behaviour isn’t a sign of weakness, it takes more than willpower to overcome the problem.

It isn’t something that goes away in a day. You also have to deal with the dark side of drug relapses, and it isn’t that easy to get through this.

However, this doesn’t mean there isn’t a way out. So long as you’re willing to deal with your drug problem, you’ll always find help. It’s possible to overcome addictive behaviour through a change of character, but it’s more effective to seek addiction treatment. Letting a professional handle your addiction issue makes the recovery process less daunting for you. Moreover, you’ll start experiencing some changes within a short time.

Whether it’s a long term or short term addiction, the truth is, you need to get out of your way to regaining normality. To help you overcome your addictive behaviour, we’ll look at some simple tactics on how to break an addiction. Even so, don’t hesitate to walk into a treatment facility if you feel your drug problem is getting out of hand.

 

Make a decision to change

When it comes to dealing with any addictive behaviour, it all begins with you. The very first step towards recovery is recognising that you have a drug problem, and deciding to make a change. For most people struggling with drugs and alcohol addiction, this is normally the toughest step. Well, it’s quite normal to feel uncertain if it’s the right time to open up to your drug problem or if you have what it takes to call it quits. However, you must make tough decisions if at all you want to change.

Expect to feel conflicted about giving up a drug, even if you know it’s affecting your life negatively. Nevertheless, it’s still possible to get over such conflicts by committing to change. This will motivate you to begin the journey to overcoming your addictive behaviour, and, in the process regain control of your life.

 

Highlight reasons for quitting

Not unless you have solid reasons for quitting addictive behaviour, it may not be possible to make progress. Moreover, your reasons for change must outweigh the ‘benefits’ you reap from drugs and alcohol use. Start by keeping track of your drugs and alcohol use, including the amount and frequency of use. This will give you a clearer picture of the severity of your drug problem. From here, you’ll decide whether you’d like to continue with your addictive behaviour or call it quits.

Consider the things that are important to you and find out how your drug problem is affecting them. For instance, how is your drugs and alcohol use affecting those close to you? Are they happy about it, or they long for a change? How about your career? Is it affecting your productivity at work? This forms the base for deciding to quit your addictive behaviour.

 

Prepare for change

You’ve already listed down your reasons for changing your addictive behaviour, but how do you get prepared for it? Overcoming drug problem isn’t something you can achieve easily. It needs some serious actions. Before laying down your plans, think about your past attempts at recovery, and see what worked and what didn’t. With this in mind, you don’t have to waste time on something that won’t add any value to you. From here set specific, measurable goals, such as the date you’d like to start dealing with your drug problem, or your desired limits on drugs and alcohol use.

When setting a date, ensure it’s not too far. If you keep yourself waiting for long, you may end up changing your mind. To avoid this, aim for a date in the next couple of weeks. This is enough time to get you mentally and physically prepared.

Having set your goals, it’s time to gather courage and let the people close to you know that you’re committing to recovery, and ask for their support. To your family and friends, this would be the best news ever, and, therefore, they’ll be so willing to support you in every way.

Additionally, make sure you remove anything that reminds you of the drug or alcohol addiction, whether it’s in your home, workplace or any other place you frequent. Remember, out of sight out of mind. So, doing away with the reminders of addiction will make the recovery journey smooth.

 

Seek professional support

While it’s possible to deal with your drug problem on your own, with time, you’ll appreciate the need to consult an expert concerning your addiction. Some addictions need professional support, and you may be required to seek addiction treatment. It isn’t easy to open up to a stranger about your addictive behaviour, but when worse comes to worst, you’ll find yourself walking into a treatment facility to seek addiction treatment.

If you decide to seek professional support for your drug problem, make sure you explore the available treatment options. Different types of addictions require different treatments. Therefore, addiction treatment varies for everyone. As such, work closely with your doctor to choose the addiction treatment that best suits your needs.

 

Find support to overcome your addiction

Don’t walk the recovery path alone. You need support to carry on to the end. If you have someone you can turn to for support, help and sharing, your chances of recovery are very high. Consider leaning on close friends and family. They best understand what you’re going through, and won’t judge you in any way. If this isn’t working out, try building a social sober network. You can join a church or civic group, or attend some community events. By this, you’ll keep off the bad company and avoid anything that may ruin your recovery journey.

Most addictions result from stress and depression. Even after you get over an addictive behaviour, you’ll continue to experience stress, anxiety, and feelings of depression. This doesn’t mean you fall back. Instead, look for better and healthier ways to control your stress level. Learn how to handle your issues without falling back on your addiction.

Therefore, besides knowing how to break an addiction, it’s important to find ways of preventing addiction relapse. It’s part and parcel of your addiction treatment and recovery.

If you need additional support in overcoming your addiction, then consider our drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre – then call us on +44 (0) 800 012 6006 for confidential advice. Or fill in the enquiry form below.