Overcoming Addiction-Tips On Kicking The Habits That Keep Us Bound

Welcome back to Arise! Glad to see you were motivated in last week’s discussion on mental healthcare and the ways to help combat the ailment.

Anything can become an addiction; it is not solely isolated to substance abuse or recreational activities. When you need something to constantly fulfil a need to the point of obsession and dependency it has become an addiction, be it shopping, eating, exercise, alcohol etc.

At the onset we delude ourselves into believing, that we’re not really addicted, because we can quit at any time. This is a very dangerous idea to believe. Dangerous in the sense that you often do not see the lasting detrimental results immediately, it takes years for you to see the damaging effects of the addiction and often at that point it may be irreversible.

I struggled with several addictions that started of at first as menial interests that I readily disregarded as inconsequential. I was addicted to cigarettes and alcohol for almost 12 years. I was also addicted to reading, addicted to the escape each novel gave me, to the point where all I ever did in my free time away from work was read nonstop. I could read almost 10 books in a day and willingly stayed up throughout all hours of the night to finish a book just to start another one immediately after.

You might think, excessive reading, what’s wrong with that? Anything used as a vice and done in excess is an addiction.  My life was held up by vices, so much that I could not imagine standing upright on my own without them.

Addiction is extremely difficult to overcome, and when you think you have a problem, I would urge you to get the help you need with the help of a professional. Below are some important steps in overcoming addiction:

NB – These are steps I suggested based on my history with addiction. If you are struggling with severe addiction and need help overcoming your addiction, I urge you to consult a professional.

Make The Call.

Like many choices in life, we need to actively decide and be intentional in our decision making. The harder the choice, the harder the decisions will be. A change is only possible when we admit that we need to do things differently. In the words of Albert Einstein-, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results.” If the choice is already niggling at you, this is a good indication that your addiction is proving to be a concern to you. Do not discount these nudges especially when they keep coming back to you, this step alone is possibly the biggest and most commendable one because we often do not think we have a problem to begin with. When you realize you have a problem, it’s time to make the change.

Implement The Change

You need to be clear on your goal before you begin the process, this is key in changing an addictive behavior. We need to know and understand that a realistic and obtainable change is a process, and you need to be committed and patient throughout the journey. The goals to recovery that you set for yourself should be realistic and not too ambitious. A cold turkey approach is not always best, it may result in a relapse which may be more dangerous than continuing.

A list of ways that helped me implement these changes are as follows:

• Remove addictive substances from your house- Anything that may trigger your addiction needs to be discarded.
• Change your social routines- the places you used to frequent, or the circle you were surrounded with.
• Get in touch and reach out to people who can support and encourage your change.
• Read and Research- Become knowledgeable in combatting your addiction. Know what to expect and be prepared.

Withdrawal Symptoms – How to cope

Adjusting and trying to do life without a vice that helped you get through life is extremely challenging. Not only are you faced with what you were trying to run away from through your means of escape, but you also must manage the constant itch and pull of reverting back to what helped you manage the struggle of life and find a balance is extremely challenging. Cravings are normal and should not be viewed as a form of weakness or failure. Even to this day, certain urges still revisit my mind, but I do not let them dictate my progress.

Withdrawal symptoms vary greatly from various addictions. Please consult a medical practitioner or professional in dealing with these symptoms.

However these are some of the ways in which I managed to cope through my withdrawal symptoms:

• Exercise- The exertion offers a well needed distraction and replaces the cravings with a rush of endorphins from a healthier activity.
• Have a plan- If you find yourself in a compromising surrounding, know who to call, what to eat or drink ahead of time.
• Keep busy- Find ways that keep you engaged and productive.
• Music- can be therapeutic and calming depending on the genre.
• Talking about your cravings- Enlists support and helps you move through it.

Managing The Fear of Relapsing

Your fear of relapsing should not be reason to throw in the towel. We are only human as the saying goes. Should you find yourself in a moment of relapsing the first thing to do is to identity the why. Once I understood what my triggers and weakness were it became a lot easier to manage a possibility of a relapse.

Steer Clear of Replacement Addictions.

I went through various replacement addictions before I knew or understood what was even happening. This road to recovery is trial and error at every turn, but a persevering heart prevails. To avoid a replacement addiction, you need to address the core reason of an addictive personality to begin with. The tip here is to find satisfaction in the experiences of normal life. These experiences may not offer the same adrenaline, or intense emotions your addiction offered but rather introduce a new level of calm that you have never experienced before.

Benefits of Avoiding Replacement Addictions Are:

• Addressing underlying mental health problems
• Dealing with past trauma, that addiction tends to worsen.
• Identify your triggers.
• Surround yourself with positive and supportive people.

The road to recovery is not an easy journey. It is a long-term commitment that tests you at every turn, but the payoff is more than worth it. With the above steps as a guide, I highly encourage the reader to find a motivating factor to help them keep their resolve. A motivator that will not sway your mind regardless of how difficult and grueling the journey is. My motivation was my love for Jesus Christ.  Whenever I think back on my past and all the unfavorable choices I made, I just look to Him and His unfailing love for me. This motivates me to live the life God intended for me, peacefully and truthfully, where vices are no longer needed.

Lets meet up next week where I share more inspirational ways to Arise!