Best Ways To Get Rid Of Addictions

By clicking on this article, you have already completed the first step in getting rid of any addiction. That step, of course, is admitting that you are suffering from an addiction. Many addicts refuse to admit that they have a problem in the first place, as they enjoy what they’re doing so much that they don’t see it as an issue.

So now that you have admitted to yourself (and potentially others) that you have a problem, let’s move on to step two. Keep in mind, as you’re working through these steps that there could be other things you need to do dependent on your specific addiction, or the order may need to change. The halfway point, Step Five, will help you identify anything else that you need to know.

1. Write down harmful effects.

As the title suggests, this step is where you write down every single harmful effect your addiction has had on your life. Do not leave anything out. These effects may include a decline in your physical health, mental health, quality of relationships, and time spent on healthy activities and hobbies. You want to be as specific as possible here.
Listing out the harmful effects helps to reinforce your admission that you have a problem, and will help you move forward in this process of getting rid of your addiction, no matter how small it may seem.

2. List positive changes.

What will you be able to do when you have started to recover from your addiction? Will you have improved physical health like a reduced risk of cancer, healthy body weight, or increased fitness levels? Maybe your self-esteem will be higher and you can finally ask your crush out on a date.

Maybe there’s a trip you’ve always wanted to take, and now you will have enough money to afford it. Or maybe you will be able to spend more quality time with your family and repair any damaged relationships along the way.

This is the time to write down all of the positive things that can come from you recovering from your addiction. Doing this will help remind you that you do have at least one thing to fight for.

3. Write down your commitment.

This can be as simple as writing down “I want to quit [addiction here].” Write it many times if you need to, and return to this step if you need help to remind yourself of the commitment that you are making. You can even add reasons why you want to quit.

4. Get help.

No one can recover from addiction on their own, no matter how strong they might be. Everyone needs support, whether it is personal, professional, or both. If you are in doubt, seek professional help from a psychologist or addiction specialist. They are trained to handle situations like yours, so they will know what you can do from this point forward even if you do not.

A common suggestion for recovering addicts are support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous to help with your recovery. These groups are filled with people who are going through the same things that you are. Often, they are the only ones who can even begin to truly understand how hard it can be.

You should also look for personal support through your family and your closest friends. Although it may not seem like it at first, you have people who love you and will do anything to help you get better. You only need to ask. Sometimes their support can be silent, but it’s still there. Even talking through your feelings to someone you trust can take a huge amount of stress off your shoulders.

5. Understand your triggers.

What causes you to want to engage in your addiction? Is it something that you can physically see or touch, or is it a situation or emotion?
Understanding what can trigger your addiction is very important. This is beyond knowing what triggers you. You can know what triggers your urges, but you may not understand why they do this. If you understand why, you stand a better chance of dealing with the problem for good.

6. Change your environment.

From drugs to video games, there will be a number of changes that you will have to make to your physical and emotional environments in order to move forward in your recovery. This might mean getting rid of physical triggers like the presence of video games in your bedroom, or any trace of alcohol in your house.

Additionally, some changes to your environment may include cutting out people who enable your addiction. This often takes some time and can be very emotionally and physically challenging, so it is important to rely on your support systems to help you through.

7. Scale it back.

At this point, you should scale back on your addictive behaviour. For those addicted to video games, this might mean forcing yourself to only play for three hours per week instead of eight. For some people, quitting completely (often termed “cold turkey) can be harder than slowly scaling back and then stopping.

If your psychologist (or other medical professional) thinks that you can afford to slowly scale back, you can do so. If they don’t, you should follow that recommendation.

8. Stop it all.

Now you should stop engaging in your addiction quit it completely. This means no more alcohol or drugs of any kind, and no items like sharp razors if you have been self-harming. Once again, you should rely on your support system as this stage can cause severe withdrawal symptoms.

As well, in order for you to stop completely and have the best chance of recovery, you may need to check yourself (or have someone else do it) into a rehabilitation program designed to help people with your addiction. Keep this in mind!

9. Don’t worry about relapses.

Despite all of you efforts and willpower, there can still be relapses and you may find yourself giving in to your desires even years after you initially started recovering. The most important thing to remember is that a relapse doesn’t mean that you failed.

Everyone experiences setbacks in their lives, regardless of if they suffer from addiction or not. Try not to be discouraged from this moment, and remember you can always go back to talk to a psychologist or trusted friend to help you pick yourself back up. Don’t let it turn into a downward spiral.

10. Keep moving forward.

The final step in your recovery really isn’t the final step. It is something that you should try and make resonate through your mind every step of the way. Just keep moving forward.

If you have to, just take it one day at a time. Maybe you need to take it one minute at a time for a while. That is perfectly fine as long as you keep your head up and keep moving forward. Keep believing in yourself, and you’ll be crushing that addiction in no time.

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