How To Overcome an Addiction

Addiction can take on many forms. The most commonly known addictions are those to alcohol and drugs. Addictions cause people to act in compulsive and unhealthy ways. These behaviors are carried out uncontrollably around the use of substances or stimuli such as drugs, alcohol, gambling, food, cigarettes, exercise, caffeine, working, video games, the Internet and relationships. The signs a person is addicted to something are the persistent need to use the drug of choice and a failure to reduce or stop the addiction even though the addictive behavior is creating a problem in his or her life. Addiction is a chronic disorder. There are no cures for addiction. However, addiction is treatable.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

1. Admit you have a problem. Since denial is the main symptom of addiction, admitting there is a problem is the first step toward overcoming an addiction.

2. Admit that you cannot recover from your addiction by yourself or by your own willpower. Addiction is a paradox. It may seem like the answer is to control and use your own willpower to stop the addiction; however, the need to control sets the emotions in place that lead to the next relapse.

3. Find a therapist or psychologist that deals with your specific addiction. Many doctors and therapists use behavior modification techniques, which help addicts recognize and address the physical and emotional aspects to addiction.

4. Start going to appropriate 12-step meetings to overcome an addiction. Twelve-step programs have high success rates for those who make them an everyday and integral part of their lives. Seeing a therapist and going to 12-step meetings together helps addicts increase their odds of overcoming an addiction.

5. Take a holistic approach to your addiction by addressing underlying emotional issues that are relevant to your addiction. Most people who suffer from addictions come from dysfunctional families where their basic needs---such as having a loving and nurturing environment---as children were not met. Recognizing and addressing childhood issues from an adult perspective can help alleviate many of the unconscious desires to act out inappropriately through addictive behavior to assuage unconscious feelings of resentment and fear.

6. Replace the addiction with a positive behavior. Giving up an addiction creates a vacuum. It is important to replace addictive behavior with something that promotes positive and healthy attitudes, especially toward building self-esteem.

7. Become willing to let go of situations, social activities and friends that encourage the use of your drug of choice to overcome an addiction.

8. Learn to live life in the moment. It's hard to give up an addiction if you're thinking about how impossible it will be to quit the addiction forever; however, giving up your addiction for this one moment in time will seem more plausible and more realistic.

References

• eMedicineHealth.com - Addiction
• National Institute on Drug Abuse

Resources

• The Addiction Recovery Guide
• 12Step.org