Addiction is a sickness that is very difficult to break free from on your own, but there are a few ways that can help you to regain control over your life. Those who attend a rehab centre have a greater success of recovery, but there are also many things that you will need to learn to do on your own.
Decide What You Value
It is important to first decide what is most important in your life. It may be your children, spouse, other family members. It may be your job that you worked hard to get, or it may be your home that you built and filled with all of your favourite memories over the years.
It could be a pet or anything else that has great significance to you. When you are battling an addition, you are putting what you truly value at risk, and you may lose what you hold most close to your heart. It is important to identify what you don’t want to lose because you can use it as a motivating factor to quit an addiction that has overcome your life.
Fill the Void
When you get control of your addiction, you will need to fill the void that is left behind with something new. It could be a hobby or a new skill that you are working on developing. It could be anything, but it should help you to become a better, more advanced you. It could be something that helps you to help others. For example, if you learn how to play the piano, you could share your skill with others so that they can enjoy it too. You will need to learn how to cope with stress with alcohol treatment or whatever addiction you had and to manage your life without your addiction.
Become Stronger Than Your Addiction
You’ll also need to be stronger than yourself to be able to control your urges. Using distraction is a great way to do this. Whenever you feel the urge to turn to your old addiction, you’ll have to do what helps you to forget it. Whether it is painting or writing in a journal or even going for a walk around the block. Try to focus on the moment and on what you’re currently doing, which is replacing your addiction.
Learn to Appreciate the Little Things
You’ll learn how to appreciate the little things in life that you may have missed while you were under the influence of alcohol. Literally, stop to smell the roses and to notice the small things in life for what they are. You’ll begin to appreciate the clarity that comes with sobriety.
Mend Your Relationships
You may need to do some relationship mending and to take the time to invest in your relationships that may have become damaged when you were struggling with your addiction. Take the opportunity to reach out to others an to talk about your struggles as well as how far you’ve come. Your story will help others who are struggling with addiction and will strengthen others who have also overcome addiction. Addiction is a life long struggle, but it does get easier with time.
Plan for the Future
It is important to make goals for the future and to know what direction you are heading in. Make plans for the future and include those you love in it. You may want to sit down with your family and map out an upcoming summer vacation or create a bucket list. It is important to have things to live for as well as things to look forward to doing.
Go Through the Changes
Just as a chrysalis goes through many changes emerging into a beautiful butterfly, you will also bed to go through many changes both physically and mentally as you emerge as a new you. You will need to take baby steps and to learn to walk again without the crutch of addiction. It will take time, and there is always the chance of slipping up, but the important thing is to keep going and to surround yourself with a support system. You want to be around people who will support you in your new life and to break free from those who aren’t helping you.
A treatment centre can be very beneficial and you can also lean on your friends and family for support. It’s necessary and even vital to get treatment. Be sure to attend support groups, call a support hotline, and seek out other resources. There are plenty of online resources to turn to and even reading material that you can get from support groups or from treatment centres that you visit.
Photo Credit
Image is from Health.mil
Guest Author Bio
Laura Graham
My name is Laura Graham. I am a Sydney-based food & wine lover and am constantly trying to satisfy my travel bug. I like to impart my knowledge and share insights on my culinary and travel experiences.
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