How To Quit Addiction
Just reading an article about how to quit addiction means you have taken the first basic step to restoring physical wellness and mental sanity. Sure, alcohol, drugs, sex, food and credit cards can be a lot of fun. But when you cross over from indulgence to obsession, that is when the addiction process has the potential to take hold of you and ruin your entire life. Fortunately, even if you don't want to join a 12-step program, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, you have a number of methods available to get out of your addiction and back into your life!
- Talk to your doctor or a mental health care professional. This is crucial when the addiction factor relates to alcohol and/or drugs. Your doctor may be able to advise you on rehab centers (if your addiction is that serious) or prescribe a medication to help you get over potentially uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms.
- Consider attending meetings of 12-step and non-12-step support programs designed to support the lifestyle changes associated with how to quit addiction. All 12-step programs, including Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Sex Addicts Anonymous, Nicotine Anonymous, Cocaine Anonymous, Debtors Anonymous, and Overeaters Anonymous are free of charge. Most communities also offer non-12-step programs such as SMART Recovery or general support groups to help you quit your addiction. Your doctor and/or counselor or minister may be a great resource if the "Anonymous" addiction quitting tools just aren't right for you.
- Be honest with the people you're close to, even the women to whom you're attracted. If the hot girl of your dreams doesn't want you to quit your addiction, she may not be worth keeping around for more than one night. Granted, you shouldn't spill the fact that you struggle with an addiction on a first or even second date. But a key to avoiding temptations associated with any addiction is to tell people you're close to that you can't be in certain situations for the time being. This might include a temporary hiatus on barhopping, all-you-can-eat buffets, credit cards or strip clubs, depending on the specific way you need to live to successfully quit your addiction. Remember, it's always one day at a time.
Resources:
National Institute on Drug Abuse: Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment
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