How to Get Over an Addiction: A Patient’s Guide

Addiction is something that affects close to 21 million Americans. Since the 90s, overdose deaths have tripled. Unfortunately, only 10 percent of individuals ever get professional treatment.

There is a silver lining to all of this. If you or someone you care about wants to know how to get over an addiction, there are effective steps that you can take. This article will share several of them.

Get Some Professional Help

Some people prefer to go cold turkey instead of entering into a treatment program or seeing an addiction treatment professional. Cold turkey can pose both physical and emotional risks. That’s why it’s best to see a professional therapist or counselor.

Professionals are trained in how to deal with addiction. They can also offer various treatment options. Plus, professionals are knowledgeable in the kind of rehab facilities that will best suit your personality and preferences.

Do Productive Things with Your Time

During your addiction treatment, you may hear that you’ll have to learn how to live a “new normal”. In other words, you will have to find creative things to do with your time. This might require getting a new job, changing your social circle, and finding some new hobbies.

Basically, anything that encouraged you to partake in your addiction will have to be a thing of the past. Your time will have to be filled with different people, places, and activities so that you won’t be tempted to go back to what’s familiar to you.

Have a Solid Support System

There’s data to support that your friends can influence you to make good or bad decisions. So, whether you’re going through addiction treatment, or it’s been years after an addiction, surround yourself with positive and sober individuals. They can celebrate you on your good days and strengthen you on your stress-filled ones.

Meditate

Meditation is beneficial on a few levels. It decreases stress. It helps you to release negative thoughts and feelings. It also increases patience levels and helps you to stay mindful.

These things are necessary when you’re in a treatment plan for addiction recovery. That’s why you should consider signing up for a yoga class or devoting a few minutes to daily meditation at home.

How to Get Over an Addiction: Deactivate Your Triggers

Anything that causes you to want to return to your addiction is a trigger. It could be a person, place, thing or idea. The help of a reputable counselor or therapist (or an inpatient drug rehab program) can get you to the root of your triggers so that you’ll know how to avoid them.

Pamper Yourself (Often)

As you’re learning about how to get over an addiction, it can be easy to be hard on yourself. Something that you can do on the days when you’re not feeling your best is pamper yourself.

Schedule a massage or pedicure appointment. Treat yourself to your favorite meal at your favorite restaurant. Indulge yourself in something that makes you smile.

Getting through an addiction isn’t easy. Self-pampering reminds you that you should reward yourself for putting forth the effort.

Our Site Is Full of Great Content and Ideas

No one said that learning how to get over an addiction would be easy. But as you can see, it is possible. It’s all about being serious about sobriety and committing to the necessary steps.

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