Addiction, according to The American Society of Addiction Medicine, is a medical condition that is chronic and can be treated. It is marked by intricate connections between a person’s experiences, environment, genetics, and brain circuitry.
Despite the detrimental consequences, people persist in engaging in detrimental behaviors due to addiction, which changes the brain’s reward system, intensifying the craving for the activity or substance. These modifications in brain function also affect decision-making and self-restraint, making it challenging to break free from the addiction.
Recovering from drug addiction may pose challenges, but it is important to remember that addiction is treatable. By adopting a positive mindset and accessing the necessary supportive tools, individuals can overcome the mental and physical obstacles they encounter in their journey toward recovery.
Beginning the Process
Based on a particular model called the transtheoretical model, addiction care involves a series of stages. The process starts with pre-contemplation and then moves on to contemplation.
During this phase of recovering from addiction, it is possible that you are refusing to accept the adverse effects of your addiction. As you acquire a better understanding of your situation, you might experience difficulties in dealing with doubt and become more aware of the urgency to overcome your addiction in order to enhance your life.
When you make the choice to conquer your dependency, you can initiate the journey by preparing yourself to take proactive measures.
Decide to Change
Making the choice to transition represents a pivotal stage when it comes to overcoming an addiction. By recognizing the need for change, you are essentially admitting the existence of a problem and the importance of seeking an appropriate resolution.
The decision to modify and establish the specifics of that modification is a time-consuming process known as the contemplation phase. During this stage, individuals must deliberate on whether to make a change and consider the best approach to do so.
It is not recommended to have overly ambitious goals. It is preferable to set an objective that is realistic and achievable rather than attempting to quit an addiction and ultimately experiencing a relapse, which can be riskier than making no changes at all.
At this stage, seeking guidance from a psychologist, addiction specialist, or medical professional can be highly beneficial in terms of gaining insight into potential risks and learning effective strategies for their management.
Prepare to Change
Once you have a clear understanding of your goal, it is essential to make the necessary arrangements for transformation. This usually entails eliminating any addictive substances present in your living space and eliminating any factors in your daily life that may contribute to the temptation to sustain your addiction.
To effectively address harmful behavior or addiction, it is important to eliminate any objects or belongings that may incite the urge to engage in such behavior or substance use. Additionally, modifying one’s daily routine to minimize exposure to environments or individuals that provoke cravings may also be necessary.
To effectively prepare for a change, it is important to consider the approach you will use to overcome addiction and gather the necessary resources to accomplish your goal.
To illustrate, someone who is trying to stop smoking can start by determining if they will slowly cut back on their smoking or quit altogether.