How to end addiction on your own terms
If you are struggling to control compulsive behavior, then you could be addicted to that behavior. An addiction is something that you can’t help but consistently think, obsess, and/or dream about, sometimes to the point of interfering with your social relations. When it goes unaddressed for a long time, it can even take over your life, leaving you helpless and miserable.
However, not everyone who engages in a behavior that hooks other people end up getting the addiction. Some people can drink alcohol on a daily basis, from morning to evening, and still not develop an alcohol addiction. That complicates matters because such people can drag their friends into alcoholism (or any other addiction) unknowingly.
On the other hand, there are people who are unable to quit pot after prolonged use of medical marijuana, despite the fact that they smoke it on a smaller scale than recreation marijuana. That is to say that it doesn’t matter how much of the addictive substance or activity you partake; an addiction can develop from small intakes or not develop from massive consumption.
The greatest regret that people living with a negative addiction is that they are always clouded by tons of shame and guilt. It is even hard for such people to make any meaningful progress in life as they are constantly bombarded by low self-esteem and lack of self-confidence. This is, unfortunately, true in almost all forms of behavioral addictions. But after all is said and done, recovering from an addiction should be the ultimate goal for every addicted person.
Getting rid of compulsive behavior sets you free and gives you more life choices. Most importantly, it hands you back the control of your life and the ability to manage your time in a more constructive and productive way. An addiction-free life means better evaluation and handling of difficulties and fears that could be plaguing your life?
Is It Possible To End An Addiction On Your Own Terms? Certainly, yes! Here is how:
- Know your addiction
When you know which addiction is ruining your life, its prevalence, and the part you have been playing in fueling it, you are able to address the problem holistically. If you can, go ahead and list down all the reasons why you must quit the behavior today. A roadmap to complete behavioral change is also of paramount importance.
- Decide to quit the addiction
The second step is to find as many convincing reasons that will compel you to quit your addiction. Motivate yourself through these reasons to start making positive changes in your life.
- Create a vision for your life
With the help of a life coach, you will be able to achieve immediate clarity on your actions and goals, which will then lead you to the speedy achievement of your goals. You will be able to easily define where you want to go and identify the right steps in your journey. With that in place, you will be able to reassess your life and realize the extent to which addiction has ruined it.
The clarity of vision leads to increased confidence and self-esteem. If you feel stuck or lost somewhere along your journey to addiction recovery, therefore, a coach will always offer you a helping hand.
- Be your #1 cheerleader
You are in charge of everything that happens in your world. You are a resourceful person; you are very capable of achieving great things. If you set your mind to quit your addiction and cheer yourself along the way, you will do it eventually. Always remind yourself that many addicts before you have walked the same path as you and succeeded in the end. Tell yourself that it is possible for you as well.
Fighting addiction is as intense as any other fight, so you are going to need a cheerleader in your corner. But before you get that person, be your own cheerleader and celebrate your victories, no matter how small. A step at a time, you will emerge victoriously.
- Adopt a new behavior
Because your addiction is a habit that you developed over time- to the point that it became deeply ingrained in you, you will need to be patient with the recovery process because it might take tons of time as well. To expedite the process, however, you need to replace that bad habit with a better, productive, and satisfying habit. Your new behavior should be giving you as much pleasure as the addictive habit, only that this new-found pleasure is going to be constructive, beneficial, and healthy.
