Overcoming addiction is a hard battle. Not only does it affect the addict, but also the people who love and support them. Struggling with triggers and cravings are all part of fighting addiction, but with a little help from people who care for you, overcoming your addiction can be done. Of course, it will require hard work and dedication, but it is completely possible. Here are some tips for fighting addiction:
Have support system
Having a group or team of people who are there to help you is very important in your fight against addiction. This team will be composed of your family, friends, and even your therapist. Talk to them, let them know what’s going on with you and most importantly, confide in them if you are struggling.
Knowing that you have the support of others can help immensely in your recovery. Make sure to have friends who are not going to drag you back into your old habits. Friends who really care will always look out for your well-being. Lastly, see a therapist who can help teach you ways to cope or recommend a good treatment program. This way you have the guidance you need and not have to overcome your addictions alone.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
One of the best ways to fight addiction is to go through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or CBT. This therapy provides you with different coping strategies that you can use to fight your cravings when they arise. These techniques include distraction, redirection, and visualization.
When your cravings surge, you can choose to redirect your attention to something else or learn ways to distract yourself until your cravings pass. Through visualization techniques, you can divert your cravings by imagining yourself in a relaxing setting. This therapy also helps spot cognitive distortions in your mind or the way you think. One of the most common forms of distortion during drug cravings is what we call as catastrophizing. This means that during your drug cravings, you may catastrophize a situation by thinking thoughts like “I’m not going to make it through this” or “This feeling will not go away if I don’t use drugs”. With the help of CBT techniques, you can disarm these thoughts and see the situation more objectively.
Find a new hobby
Finding a new hobby is important in terms of fighting addictions. In fact, there are a lot of things to do if you make time for one. A hobby will not only build your character, but it also encourages joy, especially if you are struggling with addiction. It is also an excellent distraction to use when you have drug cravings, and at the same time helps you stay focused on not using any substances.
You can choose the hobby you want to do. If you don’t have one yet, then this is a perfect time to explore new things and find which ones suit your lifestyle and bring you joy. You can try painting, craft-making, cooking, dancing, fishing, rock climbing, and tons of others if you are into these types of hobbies.
Make time for self-care
Self-care includes (but is not limited to) taking care of your personal hygiene, getting enough sleep, having an exercise routine, and eating a healthy diet. Doing all of these can help promote your emotional well-being and physical health, which will not only help you avoid using drugs but will also teach you how to discipline yourself and be resilient. Taking care of yourself should be your priority because when you feel good on the inside, your happiness will greatly improve. So make sure to eat right, exercise and sleep well enough to keep your brain healthy and yourself happy.
Know your triggers and avoid them
Triggers could be a place, person or thing that makes you want to use drugs or alcohol. Knowing what your triggers are can help you prepare for taking action in situations in which you may encounter them. Once you know what triggers your addiction, you can avoid them or at least develop a plan to cope. In order to do this, you must list what these triggers are and come up with solutions or strategies on how you can deal with them in case your cravings arise.
Reach out to others like you
Sometimes, the best way to heal is to reach out to others who are going through the same situation as you. Attending a support group for people with drug addictions is the best place to start healing. Here you can talk with other recovering addicts about your own experiences and commit to being sober together. You can also reach out to a sponsor, someone who you can talk to in case you have the desire to use. In case you don’t have a sponsor, you can always ask for your group leader to help you on this. You may be struggling to overcome your addiction, but you don’t have to do this alone.
Remind yourself that you can make it
You can have all the help you need when it comes to overcoming your addictions, but if you don’t help yourself, you will still be in the same rut. So remind yourself that you can make it. Remind yourself of the hard work that you have put in and how far you have come. Encourage yourself to make it through the day without using drugs. Fighting addiction is not going to be easy but if you give up midway then you won’t make it at all. Remind yourself of your goals and why you are here. Use the people who love and support you as your inspiration to get better. Healing comes when you help yourself so make sure that you put in 100% of your effort. You are a few steps away to a healthy, happy life.
Be Realistic
Living with an addiction is not sustainable, and if you understand this concept then you will realize that using and abusing drugs is a habit you must break. Keeping this simple rule in your mind will help you overcome your addictions. There’s no real consequence than the ones you are in right now so always remember why you are here and why fighting your addiction is an important thing.
In Closing
Yes, there will be times when you feel like giving up. Avoiding drugs is uncomfortable and painful especially if you have been using for years. But if you want to live a healthy life, would you still choose to put drugs in your body knowing the consequences? Of course not. Fighting your addictions will take a while and getting used to not taking drugs will take even longer but if you choose to love yourself and take care of it, everything is possible. Keep in mind that you only have one life, so make sure to put it into good use and find your purpose in this world.
