Addiction is not something that easily goes away. Many people struggle with it for most of their lives before either succumbing to their disease or overcoming it. The first step to kicking the habit is to be willing to admit you have a problem. It’s never easy to admit you have a problem and that you need some help. It takes a lot of courage for anyone to recognize their level of addiction and then reach out for help.
Realize the Repercussions
Regardless of the addiction, there are always repercussions if you continue on this path. You can end up losing a lot, including your job, money, family, friends, and even your life. For those with a substance abuse problem, there’s always the risk of overdosing. If you get behind the wheel when under the influence, you put yourself at risk of getting a DUI or getting into a car accident. By continuing a life of addiction, you might soon find yourself losing everything with no idea how to get it all back again. Not only are the mental consequences of addiction bad, many physical ones are too. It can also take a toll on your hygiene.
Determine What Type of Help You Need
The fact that there are so many treatment options available to help overcome addiction means you’ll be able to find something suitable for you. If you try one and do not benefit from it at all, you can always try something else. Some options to consider include:
- Long-term residential treatment
- Short-term residential treatment
- Faith-based treatment
- Drug and alcohol detox
- Individual drug counseling
- Addiction treatment medications
- Group counseling
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Dialectical behavior therapy
- Holistic therapy
Depending on your specific addiction, you may need something that’s more intensive or less, but a healthcare professional will be able to assist you with finding the right one. They can also take the time to answer any questions you may have, such as how long does crack stay in your system?
Find a Strong Support System
To overcome your addiction, you’re going to need a strong support system to help you along the way. If you do not have any friends or family that you can count on for support, there are still many options available to you. Calling the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Information (SAMHSA) can put you in touch with someone that can help you. You can also find people you can trust at meetings or groups you attend. If you attend AA meetings, you can find a sponsor, someone you can turn to when things get hard for you. Sponsors are people who have been where you are right now, so they can relate.
Recognize Your Triggers and Avoid Them
When you’re trying to stop doing something, you need to learn how to stay away from the things that make you want to do them. Sometimes it’s who you have in your life. If you keep the same friends that encourage addictive behavior, you might want to find a new set of friends. It may be hard to cut ties with certain people, but you need to focus on you. Addiction is hard, but even thinking about taking the steps toward recovery is something anyone should be proud of. During your recovery, it is important that you find something you’re passionate about, and use that as a healthy distraction. Reading, writing, art, sports, photography, there are so many things you can turn to that will help keep your mind off any cravings you have.