How I got rid of my addiction ?
Quitting smoking, drinking, dieting or getting out of a behavioural addiction can be very difficult, especially when it affects our daily well-being.
Humans have always used products or behaviours to treat themselves or to relieve suffering. That’s a very good thing! There is indeed nothing wrong with doing yourself good. The problems begin with the abuse and then the installation of an addiction. Almost all the products concerned by addiction have a double face: if they are pleasant, useful, beneficial and therapeutic, on the one hand; they are equally harmful, pathogenic and destructive, on the other hand.
It is therefore essential for me to make you understand what an addiction is in order to get rid of it better.
What is an addiction and how do some people become addicted ?
An addiction is understandable as a very strong dependence on a harmful substance leading to compulsive behaviour.
Addiction is a chronic, recurrent brain disorder characterized by compulsive drug research and use, despite the knowledge of its harmful consequences.
An addiction corresponds to the installation of two phenomena :
- The stimulation of pleasure by activating the brain’s reward system (the most famous element of which is the nucleus accumbens). This is a powerful positive reinforcement of addictive behaviour with the multiplication of pleasure-seeking behaviours.
- The relief of a state of lack or suffering, which activates the limbal structures, the most famous of which is the amygdala. This is a very effective negative reinforcement.
Because we are not all born equal, some people have a higher risk of developing addiction due to genetic, educational and social factors. In addition, some products are more addictive than others, such as nicotine, cocaine, heroin and quickly become highly addictive. Other products are less addictive, such as alcohol or cannabis. This means that many more people who smoke tobacco, or use cocaine or heroin will develop an addiction than people who use alcohol or cannabis. However, when alcohol or cannabis dependence is established, the consequences are just as serious.
Moreover, almost all addictions begin gradually at the time of adolescence during a particularly important time for the development of the personality, with friends, buddies, often to better integrate into the group, sometimes to avoid confrontations and relationships.
In this case, fear of social exclusion, fear of being judged by others, is very common. Addictive products or behaviours are therefore used either to feel more comfortable with others, and to take refuge in order to better cope with anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, family problems or academic, sporting or social competition problems. The benefits of the products are then very important and the consequences are much less painful. Addictive subjects easily lose control of themselves, their addiction interferes with their academic or professional activities, and despite the awareness of the consequences, they do not stop their addiction because they are incapable.
How I overcame my addiction ?
Inreality, you never know how to overcome an addiction because our addictions have had time to take root in our lives and are part of our habits; because determining why we need to get out of an addiction can be difficult and finally, the dependence is always comfortable.
1. Start facing your addiction
Having suffered from addiction, the first thing to do is to start by facing your addictions.
The first step towards change is consciousness, the second is acceptance.
Whatever the form of your addiction, look it in the face. Getting out of an addiction requires an acceptance of your own case. Be fully aware that you are under the influence of an object, person or substance. List the reasons why you want to get out of an addiction and the benefits it will have on your life.
2. Start to turn away from your addiction
Concrete actions must be put in place. For example, you can:
- Eliminate your stocks (addictive substances, unhealthy foods), because how to get rid of an addiction if you stay tempted;
- Limit your access (limit browsing on the social network to 2 hours a day, limit the SMS messages to be sent to your spouse to 2 per day), because limiting access to the object of his dependencies is already overcoming his dependencies ;
- Charge your schedule properly so that you no longer have time to devote to your addiction.
3. Start to substitute your addiction
When you don’t know how to get rid of an addiction, you can always substitute it. Be careful, this is not about acquiring a new bad addiction. On the contrary, you shoul replace bad actions with actions that could be profitable for you. For example, you can:
- Practice breathing exercises and a few minutes of meditation instead of smoking ;
- Learn to cook healthy meals so that you don’t have to eat any more. Read this article to get inspired about it ;
- Act alone for personal development instead of relying heavily on his or her spouse’s affection ;
- Saving money to carry out a short or long-term project instead of spending money on cigarettes or alcohol or other things ;
4. Surround yourself with inspiring people
Psychological support is essential in stopping an addiction. It is therefore better to surround yourself with people who can support you in your approach. On the other hand, a person who has already tried to stop 20 times and who discourages us or a well-meaning person, but too strict or guilt provoking, will not be of much help.
5. Alternative treatments (Psychotherapy, hypnosis, acupuncture…)
For example, acupuncture and hypnosis have recognized placebo effects in smoking treatment, but they do not really have any effect on physical dependence. On the other hand, psychological and physical dependence are intertwined. So, if we are extremely motivated, the mind can supplant the lack. You can be so happy to quit smoking that you can forget the unpleasant aspects. Hence the importance of also working on the motivations of your desire to put an end to your addiction.
6. Consult an addictologist
As a general rule, the addict is not able to manage his problem himself, he needs external help and it is the addictologist who can become this help. His role is to ask questions to his patient, to listen to him, to help him to reach the right reasoning without judging or advising him. His ultimate goal is to encourage his patient to understand and fight his addiction so that he does not relapse afterwards.
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