There are all sorts of things that you can get addicted to, and many ways in which it can happen. In any case, however it does take place, it’s something that you are going to need to make sure that you are aware of, and in particular that you are aware that it is always possible to overcome an addiction. This is something that is really important to bear in mind, especially if you are feeling as though it is not possible and all is lost.
That simply isn’t true. People have overcome all kinds of addictions, and it’s always possible to improve your life in this way. So let’s take a look right now at what the process actually is for doing so, and how you can ensure that you are able to overcome your addiction, whatever it may be, more quickly and effectively.
Recognize The Problem
The first step is to recognise that you have a problem, which is actually one of the harder elements to this entire process. Usually you will keep yourself stuck in a loop because you haven’t even yet noticed that you are stuck in one! So it takes a certain ability of mindfulness and awareness to step outside of the moment and see what is really going on. If you can do that at any point in your addiction cycle, you are going to start to see what is going on.
Once you have identified the problem and taken the first step, seeking help with substance abuse is crucial. Many resources are available to those struggling with addiction, including support groups, counseling, and therapy. It is important to remember that you are not alone and that help is available. Multiple treatments and cures are available to those looking to make a lasting change in their lives.
Often, that moment of recognition can be shocking, and this is why you need to make sure that you are prepared for it. You might feel all kinds of emotions once you really come to terms with the fact you are addicted, and many of these might be quite difficult to handle. Regardless, that is an important part of the process and one that you are going to find quite useful going forward.
You can’t force this recognition but when it happens, you need to make sure that you take action as soon as possible.
Learn To Cope With Cravings
Next up, you’ll need to start thinking about how you are going to try and cope with your cravings, and the more effectively you can do this, the better it is going to be for you and the easier you will find it to overcome your addiction overall. As long as you can cope with your cravings effectively, you should find that you can much more easily overcome your addiction. Cravings are something that can feel powerful, but very often all they really need is to be managed in a particular way.
One way is to carry out a process known as urge surfing. Here, you are developing a particular detached mindfulness where you simply watch the cravings, or the urge, as it rises and falls away. The important thing to note here is that the craving does always pass, and once it does and you have not given into it, in that moment you were more powerful than the addiction. In one formulation, all it takes to overcome an addiction is to do this a few times.
It’s helpful though if you have some means of coping with cravings, at least at first. These need to be healthy ways, lest you simply fall into a new kind of addiction or unhealthy pattern of behavior. So you might take yourself outside, go for a run or do some push-ups, or really anything else you can think of that might be a healthy alternative to giving in to your addiction. Whatever it is, this is going to be a bedrock of your practice from now on.
Seek Therapy
A lot of people in your position have had a lot of success with overcoming their addiction by seeing a therapist. There is no shame in seeking therapy, and it’s the kind of thing that you will find you are going to have to think about if you want to overcome your addiction more effectively. A lot of people really swear by it, and this is especially powerful if you opt for a therapist who deals in your specific addiction. You can find sex addiction therapists like Lifeworks Recovery, for instance, as well as heroin addiction specialists and so on.
However you approach that, once you have a therapist you can trust and you have a good relationship with, that is a moment when you will probably suddenly feel that anything is possible again. That’s a great feeling, and something to be savored and enjoyed. Make sure that you are thinking about how you can make the most of that and use it for the fruition of your path as best as you can.
Remove Yourself From Dangerous Situations
One of the main reasons people go back to their addiction is because they simply find themselves in the same old situations where that addiction was present a lot of the time. In other words, you might still hang around with the other people who used to take the same drug, or you might be in a part of town where it is still really common. It is not always a simple matter to move home or estrange yourself from friends, but sometimes that is what’s necessary in order to remove yourself from those kinds of situations - and if you are taking your addiction recovery seriously, this is something you will often need to think about.
Start taking steps in this direction, and you will find that even just doing that is going to help you to overcome your addiction a lot more quickly and effectively. All in all, then, that is the kind of thing that is really going to help you out here.
Those are just some of the major steps that you should aim to follow if you want to overcome your addiction of any kind. As long as you have done that, it’s going to mean that you are in a much better position in general, so it’s definitely something to aim for.
