How to Stop Using Drugs and Alcohol

Substance abuse is a symptom of another underlying conflict. This is one reason (among many) why recovery efforts become life long for so many people.
Consider that the longer you allow substance abuse to progress, the more of your heart & soul it will consume.

As you read through the steps below, let your heart be your guide.
Realization may come immediately or it could take days, weeks, years, or even never. Since your the only player here, that is completely up to you. Clarity and solutions will be found if you allow yourself truth.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Time for yourself
• Honesty
• Sincerity
• Support

1. 

   Begin to think through the course of your life. Focus in on the true nature of what your issues really are. Beginning the recovery process won't be possible until after you pinpoint these issues. You cannot accept, rectify, make amends, or heal if your not willing to face the pain.
   
   Perhaps you have an issue that is recent, or life long, deep rooted, or compounded, habitual, humiliating, ingrained, or emotional?
   
   Maybe you actually a have combination of several problems?
   
   Evaluate where you stand with yourself. The following questions will give you an idea where to begin.
   
   Why did I begin using?
   Why am I drawn to mild altering substances?
   Am I grieving for someone or something? What can I do to find ways to cope with it?
   Am I a victim of something? What can I do to find ways to cope with it?
   Am I carrying some kind of awful secret around?
   Am I remorseful or sad about something I have done?
   Is my life problem ridden? Am I somehow compounding them? What can I do to start minimizing further problems?
   Do I blow off the people that really love me or the people I really love?
   Am I accomplished in the things that I have a passion for? Have I made the decision to pursue those things?
   Am I in touch with myself enough to know what I love about life?
   Am I consistently depressed? Have I seen a Doctor about it?
   Am I full of bitterness or rage? Why? Do I misguide it?
   Are there people in my life that cause me deep pain? Can I muster the courage to peacefully, but firmly draw the line and if necessary, completely cut them off regardless of who they are?
   Do I need room to grow? What can I do to get that space?
   Can I forgive myself for mistakes that I have made even if I know others will never let them go?

2. 

   Accept that it is time to grow up. Show respect for yourself and nurture your decision to live sober. Contemplate the idea that life is a precious gift and everyday really counts. Update your social circle to allow new friends. Choose supportive, sober minded people. You will begin to think this way to. Don't allow anyone (including family) to inhibit your recovery.

3. 
   before & after meth

   Clean out your closet. Substance abuse fuels guilt, shame, and denial. Understand that anger is a product of heart break. These are such destructive, debilitating emotions. Stop the snowball effect of self destructive thinking and behaviors.
   
   Free yourself. Accept nothing but the plain truth about where your actions have led you. Face the hurt it is causing you. Seek spiritual comfort, it will be there for you. Let your higher power be your strength.

4. 

   Evolve. Reinvent your self by making your life have the peace and the meaning you desire. Strive to become the person you want to be and find the courage to pursue your passions. Accept that everyone trips up in life at different stages. Learn to trust your own sound thinking and listen to your instincts.
   
   If you are experiencing an identity crisis, you no longer have to wander in powerless confusion. The magic message is to create an identity. Much like recovery, identity is earned, they go hand in hand. Get busy.
   
   Consistently re-evaluate every perspective of your life. Recovery is a habit forming process and takes time.
   
   If you know you will crash from drug or alcohol with drawl, check into the hospital. Don't attempt to ride it out alone, it is very dangerous.
   
   Be aware of your triggers, avoid those situations. If you should relapse, don't give up- Go back to step #1!

5. 

   Go to (AA) Alcoholics Anonymous or (NA) Narcotics Anonymous meetings. They will help guide you by way of the Twelve Step program. They can also help you find a sponsor and additional therapy.
   
   Print out the Twelve steps below and keep them with you at all times.
   
   *************************
   The Twelve Steps of (NA) and (AA)
   We admitted we were powerless over alcohol - that our lives had become unmanageable.
   Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
   Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
   Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
   Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
   Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
   Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
   Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
   Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
   Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
   Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
   Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

[nicole2000]

on 10/22/2009 I have recently relapsed on crack and I was clean for 7 months before mt relapse HELP!!!!!!!!!!!I just want my life back

[codymorphone]

on 10/1/2009 http://www.orange-papers.org/

[codymorphone]

on 10/1/2009 I'm an alcoholic and drug addict and I don't have "deep" issues; trust me, I've been over this with about 100-150 "professionals." Bottom line: I just like to get f**ked up!

[favefive]

on 12/17/2007 What a great article...this will be of help to those who are alcoholic and do drugs.

[philltop]

on 12/13/2007 Excellent article. I was/am an alcoholic. It seems everyone seems to think that all you have to do is attend AA meetings or just stop drinking, but there is always an underlying issue. I drank for 4 years straight, then I had a partial hysterectomy and did not drink again for 26 years. I married for a second time. The guy was an excellent actor, mental abuser, and sexual abuser. The marriage triggered something, and I began drinking again for 4 years heavily. Divorce, breakdown, and therapy which finally revealed a blocked memory of sexual abuse from a baby to age 5. It took time, but I eventually was able to understand my different than others' views about sex, marriage, women/men relationships, fears, etc. Obviously, I quit drinking and never have drank since. Do you realize that most women drug abusers or women alcoholics were sexually abused?