How to overcome addiction: 9 tips to help you

Intro

Addiction is the repeated use of a substance or an activity, even though it may be harmful. Life with addiction can be hard, not only for you, but those around you too. Making the decision to quit is a difficult one, but continuing life with addiction is even more difficult. If you are reading this blog post, you have made the decision to give up your substance of choice. And that is amazing, you have already taken the first step in the right direction. In this blog post I’m going to share tips on how to overcome addiction. These tips helped me recover from addictions like cocaine and benzodiazepines.

To understand more about my story with mental health and substance abuse, click here.

9 tips on how to overcome addiction

1. Want to change for yourself

Change comes from within. Not external influences. If you want to overcome your addiction, wanting to change for yourself is often the first step. In the past you may have tried to quit unsuccessfully, as people around you were telling you to. I know I did. I’d give it a go for a little while to please those around me, but as soon as times got tough, I went straight back to the substances. When you want to change for yourself, you’re accepting the position you’re in and you’re realising you know longer want to live life in the way you have been.

2. Seek professional help

To overcome an addiction with alcohol, opioid pain killers or benzodiazepines, it’s safest to do so with the help of a medical professional. This is because these substances can have intense withdrawals which can lead to seizures, or in extreme cases death. Rather than quitting these substances cold turkey, you’ll be given a tapering plan. Which will wean you off the substance in a safe way, minimising withdrawal symptoms. Also, having the support of a professional can make overcoming your addictions a much easier process.

3. Set a date you intend to quit

Rather than just saying you’re going to quit; set a date you intend to do it and take action. You can also speak to a friend or family member to hold you accountable for this. Setting a quit date gives your mind and body a clear intention of what you want to do. And can make it easier to get the quitting process started. It should also give you time to research tips on how to quit or arrange help from a medical professional. The more knowledge and support you have in place, will help you overcome your addictions more easily.

4. Remove temptation from your environment

Your environment has a huge impact on you. It can make overcoming addictions easier or harder. To make it easier, remove any temptations you have around you. Pour any alcohol down the drain, throw away cigarettes, or flush any drugs down the toilet. The harder it is to access your substance of choice, the easier you’ll find it to overcome your addictions. Another tip I found helpful when overcoming my drug addiction, was to delete dealers’ numbers off my phone. If I ever had the urge to buy drugs, it was extremely difficult as I had no contacts to do so.

5. Avoid people and places that trigger you

Similarly, to removing temptations, another tip to overcoming addiction is to avoid certain people or places that trigger you. If you’re someone who drinks and takes drugs, often you will do so with a group of people at a bar or a pub. When trying to quit it’s best to avoid these people and places as they can hold you back. The temptation can become too much and can stop you from making progress. I get that you may see these people as your friends, so I suggest you explain to them what you’re trying to achieve. And if they try to convince you otherwise, it’s time to re-evaluate that friendship.

6. Discover new hobbies

Overcoming addiction can leave a huge gap in your life that used to be filled with substances. This can lead to boredom which can then lead back to substances. Finding new hobbies that bring you happiness can alleviate that boredom. And make it easier to change. Not only will new hobbies help keep you on track, but they will also help you learn and grow further as a person. Here are some ideas of hobbies you can try:

• Going to the gym
• Joining a sports club
• Cooking
• Learning a new skill like woodwork

7. Join a support group

When you decide to overcome your addictions, it can feel lonely. You’ve stopped hanging around with certain people or going to certain places to avoid temptation. It can feel like you’re walking on your journey alone, but it doesn’t have to be like that. Joining a support group is a great way to meet like minded people who are trying to achieve a similar goal to yourself. Support groups will offer you a safe space to talk about the highs and lows of your journey, as well as providing valuable information you can use to help you quit.

8. Understand you may relapse, and that’s okay!

Overcoming addictions isn’t a straightforward process. You may suffer a relapse, but that’s okay! Having a relapse is part of the addiction recovery journey. Forgive yourself if this happens, so you can continue to move forwards. Think about why you might have relapsed to help you identify what you can do to prevent it happening again in the future. Overcoming a relapse will make you stronger and it also reaffirms to yourself that you want to change.

9. Celebrate any progress you make

One of the most important tips on the list. Overcoming addictions is hard. You should feel extremely proud of yourself for every step that you take, goal that you hit and milestone you reach! When you reach a goal, or hit a milestone, plan to do something nice for yourself. Treat yourself to a nice meal or buy something that you’ve wanted for ages. But also remember to take it one day at time, it is not a race to get to your desired destination.

Conclusion

Making the decision to overcome your addictions is one of the best things you’ll do with your life. Remember that you don’t have to take this journey alone, having the help of professionals or a support group can make this journey a lot easier. And I strongly suggest reaching out for some help if you haven’t done so already. The path I took to overcoming my addictions was a long one with a lot of ups and downs. But I persevered and got there. And you can do it too! Be proud of yourself for taking the first step.

Disclaimer

The tips on how to overcome addiction in this blog, should not be perceived as medical advice. Should you need medical advice please seek out a professional or do your own research. These tips are all from my own experience with addiction. I’m sharing them to raise awareness around addiction and substance abuse.