Drug use destroys families, loving associations and sane minds. A vast number of people and associations in America have tried to help addicts overcome their addiction. There are thousands of programs in the United States alone that are trying to help addicts live a life free of drugs, but the success rate for these programs is extraordinarily low taking into consideration the immense effort and investments that have been made.
The majority of drug treatment and rehabilitation facilities adhere to the misguided idea that if the belief system of an addict could be compromised, that addict may perhaps bury their addictive behavior and once again lead a productive life free of addiction. Treatment facilities base their observation only on that which is apparent, or that which they can philosophically comprehend. This superficial outlook has persuaded treatment facilities all across America that an addiction is the product of poor decision making, poor religious values, a lack of integrity on the part of the addict, and bad personal choices.
Although specialized help is considered necessary to help one in dealing with and understanding addiction, they do not offer a guarantee that their program will end the addictive cycle. But there are several things that you can do to destroy addiction in your life.
There is no easy way to kick your habit. You need help to defeat your addiction, but please understand that you have the awesome responsibility of helping yourself. Here are some tips that will help you win the battle:
1 – Stop denying that you are addicted
Denial is a excuse mechanism. It is a psychological tactic that addicts use to cope with reality and to preserve self-image. Denial is the one thing that all people have in common. When a person is challenged with a reality that is too uncomfortable to acknowledge they deny it, insisting that it is not true regardless of any overwhelming proof that may be set before them.
When in defiance an addict may deny the actuality of the unpleasantness of their addiction altogether, like I did; while others may admit that they are addicted but deny the seriousness of their addiction. Some addicts on the other hand, acknowledge that they are addicted and that their addiction is a life-threatening dilemma, but deny the fact that it is their task to seek assistance.
2 – Determine in your mind that you will defeat your addiction.
I spent many days feeling defeated and for a long time I acted in accordance to the way I felt rather than reacting to reality. This is a distinction that is most difficult for someone under the sway of drugs.
At some point in your addiction you will come to the place of being sick and tired of being addicted. This usually happens when you have hit rock bottom. But why wait to fail before you start to fight? Just as a person thinks in their heart, so it shall be in their life. Don’t surrender to your addiction. Think that you can overcome it, because you can.
3 – Change your habits
Look at carefully at your addiction and learn the things that make you more vulnerable to your craving. When I smoked crack one of the things I noted is that my habit was greatly affected by the time of day, certain things I did and places I went.
I was more vulnerable at night than during the day because the drug was more available during the night hours. Whenever I would smoke a cigarette I wanted to smoke crack. If I traveled to particular neighborhoods where crack was abundant I would become obsessed with getting high, by and large because almost everyone I saw was high. So what do you do in such situations? You must avoid the things that make you want whatever it is that you are addicted to and your odds of giving up your habit will become better with time.
4 – Attend to your nutritional needs
The last thing an addict is trying to do is watch their food intake. Drugs are chemical substances and they cause a chemical imbalance to occur in the body, depleting some natural chemicals while making an abundance of others.
If it is at all possible you should try to at least eat a good nutritional meal several times a day. I smoked crack with a guy who would not use the drug until he ate a good meal and for the next 4 hours he would smoke relentlessly. For years no one knew he smoked crack because he never lost weight, and the quality of his skin was normal.
The reason nourishment is essential is because it gives your body the ammo it needs to work against the drug. Of course if you smoke meth for example, all the nourishment in the world won’t stop your teeth from decaying.
5 – Find new friends
Finding new friends is an important aspect of gaining your life back. As long as you hang on to those old relationships you will remain addicted. You have got to let go and move on to the next level. Find someone whom you would consider a good role model and attach yourself to them. Learn from them and replicate the things they do. Be up front with them and tell them that you have a problem with drugs and you seriously want to transform your life. I did and I have been clean since 1994 and not once have I desired to return to my old life of drugging.
6 – Increase your knowledge
Knowledge is power and if you want to be empowered to defeat your habitual drug use you should increase your knowledge. There is a chapter in my book titled, “The House That Crack Built” in which I talk about the devastating effects that drugs play on the body. You would be surprised to know the reality of the slow but sure death that you are inviting into your life. The more you know, the more you will grow.
Please be mindful that these 6 steps alone will not break your addiction but it is an excellent place to start your restoration and healing. Drug addiction is serious and no one must face this enemy alone , therefore, you must do all that you can to help yourself but seek professional help and counseling.
Author Resource:-
Eric Dunbar is the owner and editor of Golden Entrepreneur, where you will find outstanding resources to help the online entrepreneur excel in business. Eric Dunbar is also the author of THE FACE OF A DEMON, referred to by many as “The Recovering Addict’s Handbook”, and editor of X-JOURNAL Blog
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