How To Quit Any Addiction

What is addiction? 

Before we talk about how to quit an addiction, let’s first all look into the meaning of addiction.

Addicted simply means having a strong inclination to use or do something repeatedly without having the will to control your urge.

So in essence when you become addicted to something like coffee, sex, or gambling, it becomes difficult to control, even if it has a damaging effect on you.

Addiction can be very difficult to stop, just as Dr. George Koob director of NIH’s National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism explained that; it is not a choice or moral problem that you can just stop, he went on to explain that the brain actually changes when one is addicted to something and it will take a lot of effort to be able to revert it back to normal.

However, below are some of the steps that you can adopt today to quit any addiction and recover back your willpower.

Acknowledge that you have a problem 

The first step to overcoming an addiction is to admit that you have a problem and to seek help from a professional. 

This could be a therapist, counselor, or addiction specialist who can provide you with the support and guidance you need to quit.

Develop a plan

This can be achieved easily by working with a therapist or counselor that can help you craft a plan or a road map for quitting your addiction. This plan can also have milestones with which you can measure your progress over time.

This may involve setting goals, identifying triggers and coping strategies, and developing a support system of friends and family members who can help you through the difficult process of quitting.

Gradually reduce your intake/exposure

This is totally dependent on what type of addiction you are suffering from, if it is from substance abuse, then you will need to reduce your intake of the substance while if it is a behavior, then you just have to reduce your exposure to whatever that triggers that urge to repeat the behavior.

Your therapist or counselor can help you to develop a plan for gradually reducing your intake or exposure.

Seek support

Quitting an addiction can be a difficult and emotional process, so it’s important to seek support from friends, family, and professionals who can help you through it. 

There are so many support groups online like on Facebook that can be of immense help if you join them and also and going for therapy can be particularly helpful during this time.

Be patient

Completely quitting any addiction takes time and so you have to be patient through the process. It’s important to be kind to yourself and to remember that setbacks are normal and can happen. 

Continue to work with your therapist or counselor and seek support from others, and eventually, you will be able to overcome your addiction.