It’s often said that most people are addicted to one thing or another. But, no matter what you’re addicted to, breaking free from the shackles of addiction can be challenging, especially if you feel too embarrassed to open up about it. Addiction comes in several forms, and each can bring down its ‘victim’ over a while. For some people, any mention of addiction implies either drugs or alcohol consumption. But even technology can be addictive, albeit subtly.
So how do you release yourself from the chain of addiction? Here are a few tips you can use.
Find a purpose greater than the addiction
One of the easiest ways to remain under the power of addiction is lacking a purpose that outweighs your addiction – something that means more to you than the addiction. Your purpose could be your kids, a loved one, your future dreams, etc. If you’re finding it difficult to find a greater purpose, take the time to ask yourself what your dreams are. Where do you wish to see yourself in a couple of years? What impact do you want to make?
Decide to change
First, you will have to admit to yourself that you have an addiction problem. Once you do, make the conscious decision to change. Afterward, create a specific goal to help you quit. For example, you can decide to stop your addiction entirely to reduce how much time or money you spend feeding your habit over some time. With the latter option, you can take as much time as you will need (or feel comfortable with) to quit the addiction gradually.
For example, suppose you’re addicted to drugs in a way that is affecting your relationship, marriage, or even career. In that case, you can decide to either quit entirely or gradually limit how much you spend on the drugs.
Seek alternative sources of pleasure
The more you try to stay away from your addiction source, the greater the temptation to go back to it, especially during the first couple of weeks. Start looking for alternative sources of pleasure to replace the destructive ones with. For example, if you’re addicted to sex, try engaging yourself in hobbies that occupy your mind. You can also opt for sex addiction therapy if you’re struggling to come up with or think of other interests.
Coping with withdrawal symptoms
Withdrawal symptoms are usually one of the most challenging parts of overcoming an addiction. Depending on the habit you’re trying to withdraw from, the symptoms can have psychological, physical, and even emotional implications. We have already mentioned the need to find alternative sources of pleasure. But that does not automatically get rid of the urge to stray towards your source of addiction. Therefore, beyond alternative pleasure sources, you should also find ways to cope with the withdrawal symptoms. And this is where your support system comes in. confide in someone you trust about your condition and trust them to help you cope with all the manifestations of withdrawal. The good news is that acute withdrawal symptoms usually pass after a couple of weeks.
