How To Beat Drug Addiction

Everyday revise at least 5-10 times all harmful effects you have written. When you feel that your addiction has more disadvantages than advantages, you will easily quit that addiction. If you don’t want anyone to read what you have written, you can use mnemonics. When you use drugs, recall all disadvantages of drugs.

Keep a log of how you feel and how your addiction is affecting you physically. Depending on the drug you’re using, it might be causing skin damage, organ damage, dental problems, and other physical issues. Even if the physical effects are subtle, like you’ve lost a lot of weight or your face is aging more quickly than it should, write them down.

Write down how often you’ve been at work or school lately. Reflect on how attentive you are to your responsibilities. Think about whether the addiction has taken a financial toll. Write down how much money you spend to feed it every day, week, month, and year.

There may even be confrontations about the frequency of your drinking or drug use. These are all signs of an addiction. [5] X Research source

Lying goes hand in hand with the secretive nature of drug addiction as well as the shame the addict feels for their behavior.

Anyone who can still concentrate on their hobbies is not in the grips of an all-consuming chemical addiction.

You may have been arrested for a DUI (driving under the influence) or for possession of a controlled substance. Your relationships may be in trouble or they may have failed. If you have an addiction, friends and family may not want to be around you.

The doctor will then likely recommend that you check into a detox facility to begin the withdrawal process under medical supervision. This is especially important if you are withdrawing from alcohol, opiates or benzodiazepines. Withdrawal from these substances can have agonizing and sometimes life-threatening symptoms. [6] X Research source , [7] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source

Even if the substance does not have any life-threatening withdrawal symptoms, there are other side effects that can make withdrawal very uncomfortable, such as anxiousness and even hallucinations. Experiencing the withdrawal symptoms is part of what keeps you in the cycle of addiction. The best place to recover is in the hands of the professionals who can help you deal with all the effects of withdrawal from the drug. If you’ve been arrested, your probation officer might allow you to attend treatment in lieu of jail time. Take advantage of this opportunity.

Many people with a drug problem also have a co-occurring mental health issue like anxiety, PTSD or depression. A counselor trained in co-occurring disorders can address both your addiction and mental health at the same time. A counselor might also use motivational interviewing to help you see where you are still ambivalent about making the commitment to change. [8] X Research source To find a counselor that specializes in drug addiction counseling, get a recommendation from your doctor or rehabilitation facility.

You may also want to seriously consider working with a family therapist, a life coach, a job coach, a fitness coach, a financial advisor, or any other type of expert to help you navigate those areas you need help in that you want to turn into strengths.

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a very well-known program. AA and other 12-step programs outline twelve specific steps “that are guidelines for nothing less than a total personality transformation. ” Narcotics Anonymous (NA) is geared towards supporting individuals recovering from drug addiction. [11] X Research source There are other peer-based groups that offer excellent support, such as SMART Recovery. This group is a 4-point program that addresses all types of addictions and compulsions. [12] X Research source Don’t be afraid to try several options before you find what works best for you. Search the Alcoholics Anonymous Narcotics Anonymous websites to find local support groups. Recognize that your addiction is a disease. Addiction is a disease that alters brain structure and functioning. When you acknowledge that you’re suffering from a disease, you can address your addiction more readily.

If you get stuck, have a place for notes where you write down who can help you with this. Never give yourself a dead end. If you don’t have any family or friends to help you with completing the things on your list, it’s perfectly acceptable to bring your list to your counseling session and work out your difficulties with your counselor or psychologist.

For example, don’t try to talk yourself into going to places where you used to hang out to test your own strength. Likewise, don’t think that it is okay to see a person you did drugs with all the time. These are just rationalizations, or ways for you to convince yourself to go back to using drugs again. Don’t fall victim to these rationalizations.

You can also choose people who have been through a similar situation. They can help you stick to your goals. [14] X Trustworthy Source Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration U. S. government agency whose mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America’s communities. Go to source Choose people who do not drink or do drugs, so that you won’t have to put yourself in tempting situations.

It can be a good idea to join a gym or work with a personal trainer. This will help make you more accountable to improving your health.

Find a comfortable and quiet spot to sit for 10-15 minutes. Focus on your breath, inhaling deeply and steadily. As thoughts pass through your mind, release them without judgment. Turn your attention back to your breath.

Check with your health insurance provider to determine if acupuncture treatment is covered by your policy.

Think about how you will address each of these aspects of life in order to remove drugs from them. Write down ideas of how you will handle situations, such as stressful conversations, social gatherings, and so on.

Keep track of your progress on these goals every week. Even small accomplishments are worth noting. You will start to see improvement and progress, which will motivate you to keep going.

Recognize the urges that you feel about your addiction. Be conscious about the feelings and thoughts that you experience. Rate your urge from 1 to 10 (1 being hardly any urge to 10 being a pressing urge). Wait for 10 minutes. Busy yourself with an activity, such as cleaning the junk out of your car, or writing a list, or putting away laundry. Check with your urge again to gauge its level. If you still experience a high level of urge, continue busying yourself with another activity. [16] X Research source

The flip side here is to frequent places that you don’t associate with drugs or drink. You may develop new hobbies, such as rock climbing, knitting, hiking or gardening.

Deposit your paychecks in the bank and save the money. You might also think about volunteering if you don’t want to get a job. Having commitments to other people will help you stay on track.

During this time, you should continue going to meetings with your support group and continue meeting with your therapist. The process of beating a drug addiction is not a quick one, so don’t declare yourself cured when things start to go well.