How To Stop an Addiction

Addiction is a severe problem, and many suffer from substance addiction. It is not wrong to say that addiction to any substance is life-threatening and can ruin relationships.

You may have heard that addiction is impossible to overcome, but that is not true. It is possible to beat an addiction. There are some practical tips that you can follow to live an addiction-free life.

Everyone deserves to live a sober and healthy life. So, if you are suffering from addiction and do not know what to do, this article is for you. Keep reading the article to learn how to stop an addiction.

Key Takeaways

Overcoming an addiction is a process that includes making the decision to quit, preparing how to quit, dealing with withdrawal symptoms, and preventing relapse.

• Addiction is a fairly common condition, and you may become addicted to various things.
• Addiction can negatively affect your life and the people around you.
• There are many tips available to help you beat addiction.
• Overcoming an addiction is a time-consuming process, but recovery is possible.

If you or your family member is trying to beat addiction, get help with The Haven Detox-South Florida. To get on the road to recovery, contact us at (561) 328–8627 and learn more about our addiction treatment programs.

Addiction is a Disease

Addiction is a persistent failure of one or more brain functions, including motivation, reward, and memory. It is about the human body’s need for a substance, particularly if it leads to a compulsive pursuit of “reward” without regard for effects.

People who are addicted will:

• Be unable to abstain from the drug or quit engaging in addictive behavior.
• Show a lack of self-control.
• Have an intense craving for the substance or habit.
• Ignore the possibility that their behavior is producing issues.

Addictions may drastically disturb your daily life over time. People who are addicted are prone to relapse. That means they may alternate between heavy and light use. 

Regardless of these cycles, addictions often deteriorate with time. They can result in ongoing health concerns and negative consequences such as bankruptcy.

Signs of Addiction

Various signs point to an individual’s inability to self-control. When you quit using a drug or engaging in an activity you are addicted to, you may suffer withdrawal symptoms. 

These symptoms briefly ease when you resume taking the substance or engaging in the action. However, they return whenever you stop. 

After stopping, the symptoms fade and eventually cease.

Physical Signs

When you quit smoking, you usually suffer unpleasant physical withdrawal signs. These signs may make quitting harder. Your physical withdrawal signs will vary depending on the nature of your addiction. 

However, some common signs may include the following:

• Changes in appetite
• Muscle aches
• Continuous tiredness
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Shaking
• Stomach problems
• Aggression

Psychological Signs

You may have psychological problems in addition to the painful physical signs of withdrawal. These may include:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Irritability
• Mood swings
• Sleeping problems (insomnia or excessive sleeping)

Even if they know the challenges their addiction is producing, someone with an addiction will not change their behavior. In other cases, they may also exhibit a lack of control, like using more than expected.

Moreover, addiction is also related to the following behavioral and emotional changes:

• Inaccurate or bad assessment of the benefits and drawbacks of taking drugs.
• Blaming other people or things for their troubles.
• Increasing anxiety, despair, and melancholy.
• Greater sensitivity and severity of stress reactions, difficulty recognizing sensations.
• Difficulty distinguishing between sentiments and physical manifestations of one’s emotions.

Causes of Addiction

Multiple variables can and typically do contribute to drug abuse, like many other mental and physical health disorders. The following are the most recognized contributing reasons for drug addiction:

Genetics

Someone with a family history of drug or alcohol abuse is more prone to use drugs or alcohol. This is especially true if the child grew up in a family with someone addicted to drugs or alcohol. 

This is because drug and alcohol addiction has become acceptable in their minds, and they are less scared to try them.

By doing this, their family is teaching them negative coping skills. A kid who sees their parent use drugs or alcohol to feel good may try to find the same coping strategies in the future.

Environment

If drug use is widespread in the family, a person may get desensitized to it or accept it as normal. 

When children observe the good effects of drug use (euphoria, partying, having fun, etc.), they learn that using drugs leads to happiness and will naturally want to emulate this behavior.

However, if children encounter the negative impacts of drug use (abuse, unemployment, destroyed relationships, etc.), they may feel sad or nervous and turn to drugs as a coping strategy owing to their availability.

Brain and Body

Addiction is an illness that affects both the brain and the body. A healthy person’s brain is flooded with dopamine whenever they eat, have sex, or engage in any action that contributes to survival.

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter or chemical messenger that tells the brain that your actions are excellent and must be done again. 

Dopamine is released abnormally as a result of drugs. As someone uses drugs, the brain begins producing less and less dopamine on its own as the dopamine surge dominates the brain.

During this phase, people have overcome their natural dopamine production and are now dependent on the drug.

Why it is Difficult to Beat Addiction

Addiction impairs your impulse control and judgment by affecting your brain’s prefrontal cortex. The brain’s reward system is also changed, so the memory of prior joys may stimulate cravings for drugs, even if the effects are bad.

These brain changes may make quitting difficult, but it is crucial to realize that you can treat addictions. Recovery is achievable with the right approach and resources.

The good news is that you can quit, it will be a difficult journey, but recovery is possible. Many causes, including physical, emotional, biological, and mental aspects, make quitting difficult. 

This complication is why many individuals discover that therapy can help them quit smoking. Even yet, various people succeed in stopping on their own.

Helpful Tips To Overcome an Addiction

It is no doubt that it is very challenging to beat the addiction. However, if you follow all of the tips below, it will be easier to beat an addiction.

Decide To Change

One of the most critical stages in recovering from an addiction is making the decision to change. Recognizing the need for change means that you realize the existence of a problem and wish to solve it. 

This is known as the contemplation stage because it involves deciding whether or not to change.

However, lofty objectives are not necessarily the best. It is better to create a goal you can attain rather than aim to quit “cold turkey” and end up relapsing, which can be riskier than merely continuing as is.

Consulting a doctor, addiction counselor, or psychologist at this point is very beneficial since they can assist you in understanding the hazards and what may help relieve them.

Prepare To Change

Even if you have a clear objective, you may still need to prepare to change. Preparation includes removing addictive drugs from your house and stopping triggers that may increase your likelihood of using those substances again.

This sometimes entails removing substances that may arouse your urge to take a substance or participate in dangerous conduct. You may also need to alter your schedule to have less interaction with individuals or environments that trigger cravings.

Other preparation strategies include deciding on a strategy for overcoming your addiction and gathering the tools you’ll need to succeed.

For example, a person attempting to quit smoking would first decide whether to quit cold turkey or slowly reduce their nicotine consumption. 

Following that, they would obtain the tools they require to stop smoking successfully, such as joining a support group, purchasing nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products, or speaking with a healthcare physician about prescription smoking cessation drugs.

Consider Why You Began Using It

When drug addiction first manifests itself, it is frequently in response to the difficulty in one’s life. What was the issue for you? Is it still unresolved? 

Short-term substance misuse, for example, might occur in response to a traumatic life event, such as the death of a loved one. People gradually reclaim control of their life and rely less and less on substances as those feelings fade.

However, rehabilitation might be more difficult if addiction develops due to a mental health problem or if life events produce unpleasant sentiments that haven’t been handled. In these cases, it is best to seek professional therapy for co-occurring illnesses. 

With this level of therapy, you may receive expert attention for both your addiction and the underlying mental health issue. If you’re wondering how to end an addiction, this may be a crucial step in your recovery.

Create a Comfortable Space

Get rid of the objects or substances that feed your addiction, such as cigarettes, alcohol, and narcotics. Keeping triggers close at hand can only complicate matters.

Surround yourself with people who will encourage you on your path and avoid those who will criticize you and your addiction. Allowing toxic friends into your life increases stress, which may have a negative influence on your health. 

Having individuals working toward the same goal, on the other hand, might make your journey simpler and lighter.

Manage Distractions

Managing your distractions is one of the best ways to overcome an addiction. You can keep yourself engaged in doing your favorite activities to divert your mind. This may assist you in forgetting about your addiction.

Sports with friends, volunteering, or starting projects can keep you occupied throughout the day. Include a few activities in your care plan to enhance your health and boost your confidence.

Believe In Yourself

Gaining confidence in yourself requires time and effort, but do not be discouraged. Begin by reaching out to people who care about you, reading affirmations, and looking for activities that excite you or that you can enjoy in a healthy way. 

Believing in yourself is crucial to achieving something that you really want.

Seek Social Support

Some relationships with people also dealing with addictions may focus on addictive behaviors.

Setting limits in relationships with other people dealing with addictions and joining a self-help organization can help you devote your time to like-minded people. Keep in touch with friends and relatives who will support you in your endeavors.

Stay Committed

Things may be difficult at first, but consistent follow-up will help your aspirations and objectives become a reality. Remember that, other than starting, the only way to get to the finish line is to be consistent.

Seek Professional help

An addiction specialist will examine your condition and type of addiction and suggest treatment accordingly.

Some of the most common approaches included in addiction treatment are cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness therapy, motivational enhancement therapy (MET), medication-assisted treatment (MAT), and support groups.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Overcome Addiction with The Haven Detox-South Florida

If you or someone you love is suffering from addiction, get addiction treatment at The Haven Detox-South Florida.

Our medical experts understand that you need continuous support and guidance. Our staff ensures a safe and friendly environment for every patient so that their recovery journey is smooth.

We offer various levels of care, including medical detox, residential treatment, and SMART recovery.

Don’t wait for things to get worse. Contact us at (561) 328–8627 and seek help today.