How to Overcome Substance Addiction

There are many types of addiction that you can fall victim to. The most prevalent addictions include drugs, alcohol, sex, gambling, food, television, and social media. People with an addiction to any substance, behavior, or activity usually want to experience something that makes them feel pleasure and escape reality.

After experiencing that “high” feeling for the first time, the person becomes hooked to that substance. That’s because of the release of dopamine into the part of the brain that registers pleasure. The first step to overcoming a substance addiction is to admit that you have a problem, even though it’s not easy. After that, you can make a plan for quitting. If you want to learn how to overcome your substance addiction and live a normal life, continue reading this article.

Decide on quitting

The first step is to decide that you want to stop. It’s tough to overcome addiction if you aren’t ready to quit. You can write down some of the harmful effects of your addiction. You might not acknowledge how the addiction is affecting you, but if you have them on paper, you can decide to stop as soon as possible.

You should also list the positive changes you want in your life after kicking out this bad habit. The positive changes can be the freedom you will enjoy, the money you will save again, or the more time you will have to spend with your loved ones or on your hobbies. Lastly, you can make a list of solid reasons as to why you are quitting. This will make you stick to the plan until the end.

Identify your triggers

Everybody has a particular set of triggers that automatically pushes them to indulge in their behaviors. For instance, if you have an alcohol addiction, you might find it hard to visit a particular restaurant without feeling the need to drink. And if you are struggling with drug addiction, meeting up with your friends doing the drugs might make you indulge in them. Knowing your triggers can help you manage them when you decide to quit.

Get busy

For you to quit your substance addiction, you need distractions. You can try a new hobby, exercise, cook, or hang out with friends. You can also join a new club or any other type of community group that will enable you to make new friends and start a new chapter of your life that has no addiction.

Seek personal and professional support.

To overcome substance addiction, you really need professional support. Because there are so many people struggling with addiction, wonderful institutions such as Malibu detox and residential treatment center  have been created to serve as support systems, help you stay motivated, provide you with tips for success, and encourage you to try again if the first attempt to overcome addiction fails.

Celebrate your achievements

You should treat yourself to something nice when you meet your goals, no matter how small. Quitting an addiction is not an easy task, and you should reward yourself for that.