What Is Samhsa’s National Helpline
SAMHSAs National Helpline, , or TTY: is a confidential, free, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year, information service, in English and Spanish, for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance use disorders. This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations.
Also visit the online treatment locator, or send your zip code via text message: 435748 to find help near you. Read more about the HELP4U text messaging service.
Addiction: What Is It
Addiction is a common problem, but help is available.
Addiction is defined as not having control over doing, taking or using something to the point where it could be harmful to you.
Addiction is most commonly associated with gambling, drugs, alcohol and smoking, but it’s possible to be addicted to just about anything, including:
- work some people are obsessed with their work to the extent that they become physically exhausted if your relationship, family and social life are affected and you never take holidays, you may be addicted to work
- internet as computer and mobile phone use has increased, so too have computer and internet addictions people may spend hours each day and night surfing the internet or gaming while neglecting other aspects of their lives
- solvents volatile substance abuse is when you inhale substances such as glue, aerosols, petrol or lighter fuel to give you a feeling of intoxication
- shopping shopping becomes an addiction when you buy things you don’t need or want to achieve a buzz this is quickly followed by feelings of guilt, shame or despair
Prepare For Potential Alcohol Detox
People who are more dependent on alcohol may start to experience whats known as alcohol detox when they significantly cut back on or stop drinking. This happens as your body begins to remove alcohol from your system. Detox can bring on alcohol withdrawal symptoms such as:
Talk with a healthcare professional if youre concerned you may experience detox symptoms when quitting drinking or cutting back. Together, you can come up with a plan to get through it.
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Maturity Growing Into Self
ADDICTION is a search for immature gratificationsit is an over-concentration on oneself resembling that of a dependent child. As a result, overcoming addiction requires growing up and assuming adult roles. In this process you learn to take responsibility not only for yourself and your own behavior but for other people in your life. One natural outgrowth of this mature outlook is that you may no longer see yourself as powerless or label yourself an addict. You may no longer feel any need for the addiction, so it ceases to have any presence in your life.
The addiction field has an evocative term for this phenomenonmaturing out. Many people once addicted to heroin or other so-called hard drugs often use this term. The typical reason former heroin habitues give for outgrowing their addiction is that they are tired of the lifestylebeing on the outside, being cut off from normal life, the constant hustling and evading the law, the absence of anything new or better stretching out before them.
Certainly, maturing out is not limited to heroin it happens with all addictions, including alcohol, sex, and gambling. As you mature, you become dissatisfied with your limitations. You develop more connections to life, through marriage, parenthood, or career accomplishments. While undergoing these external developments, you simultaneously experience critical internal emotional changes. At the same time, your self-image and identity change.
7.1. Gaining a Positive Identity
Understanding The Reasons For Relapse
When you relapse, you focus on the failure part that you could not do it. This is the biggest mistake because it deprives you of your ability to recognize why you relapsed. Understanding the reasons for relapse and what triggered it can help you avoid the situation in the future and avoid relapsing again.
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Best For Women: Women For Sobriety
Women for Sobriety
Women for Sobriety is a nonprofit organization that was founded in 1975 to help women overcome substance abuse. WFS was founded by a sociologist who wanted to treat addiction by examining the role of women and how identity loss, guilt, and depression could play a role.
WFS programs are based on “acceptance statements” that help women to achieve emotional and spiritual growth and engage in better thinking patterns. Members are given a list of 13 statements that they must review each morning. They are also asked to choose one statement for the day that they will focus on.
WFS offers both in-person and online support groups. They are run by certified moderators and leaders . Phone volunteers also provide one-on-one support.
The program is based on healthy coping mechanisms , positive reinforcement, and cognitive restructuring. The goal of the program and the groups is to empower women to make changes in their lives to achieve sobriety.
Meetings and chat groups are free to attend. Donations of roughly $2 to $5 per meeting are suggested, but no one is ever turned away if they can’t afford to donate.
Dont Replace Your Addiction
It may be tempting to replace your substance addiction with another. For instance, chronic drinkers and smokers, after quitting, usually start overeating and gaining weight. It is quite common for people trying to overcome addiction to replace these bad habits.
Enjoying the calmness of life without that high you get off addiction, may sometimes be more rewarding. Meditation and maintaining a gratitude journal can be ways to help you avoid replacing your addictive behavior.
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Know What To Expect During Detox
Before you begin the process of overcoming alcohol addiction, you should be familiar with the potential detox symptoms. These effects can make detox difficult and lead to a relapse, but knowing what to expect can make all the difference.
When the body begins to remove alcohol from your system, you may experience symptoms like:
A healthcare professional can help you devise a plan to address these detox symptoms. In fact, its advised that you have a proper support system in place rather than attempt to deal with the effects on your own.
Keep Drug Triggers And Cravings In Check
Your recovery doesnt end at getting sober. Your brain still needs time to recover and rebuild connections that changed while you were addicted. During this rebuild, drug cravings can be intense. You can support your continued recovery by avoiding people, places, and situations that trigger your urge to use:
Step away from your friends who use. Dont hang out with friends who are still doing drugs. Surround yourself with people who support your sobriety, not those who tempt you to slip back into old, destructive habits.
Avoid bars and clubs. Even if you dont have a problem with alcohol, drinking lowers inhibitions and impairs judgment, which can easily lead to a relapse. Drugs are often readily available and the temptation to use can be overpowering. Also avoid any other environments and situations that you associate with drug use.
Be upfront about your history of drug use when seeking medical treatment. If you need a medical or dental procedure done, be upfront and find a provider who will work with you in either prescribing alternatives or the absolute minimum medication necessary. You should never feel ashamed or humiliated about previous drug use or be denied medication for pain if that happens, find another provider.
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How Do You Cope With Withdrawal Symptoms
The most challenging aspect in the process of overcoming addiction is the withdrawal symptoms. Some symptoms may pass within a week or two when you quit substance use, yet others could take months or even years.
Just as people experience different symptoms, there are various ways to cope with withdrawal.
No coping mechanism will work for everyone. Some of these coping methods include:
- Engaging in physical activities
- Having close people such as friends and family around to talk to
- Getting prescription to medication that helps with withdrawal
At this stage, you may also experience an intense craving for the drug you decided to quit as your brain needs time to recover from changes you are making. You can keep away these cravings by:
- Staying away from the crowd you used to abuse substances with
- Avoiding the places you used to frequent like clubs
- Exercise caution when taking prescription drugs
- Involving in distracting activities such as watching movies, exercising, etc.
The Source Of Addiction Is Within Us
The problem is rarely in the mood-changer itself as much as it is in the person himself.
Most people believe that addictions, such as drugs, are responsible for the problem. However, even when these addicts get rid of their source of addiction, eventually they pick up another addiction.
Moreover, people are getting addicted to different activities such as work, TV, shopping, which proves the problem cant just be the chemical impact of a drug on the brain.
In other words, recovering from addiction takes more than just stopping the habitual behavior it takes changing lifestyle and attitudes .
Related:
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Identify Your Weak Spots
When are you most likely to indulge in addictive behavior or consume a drug? Do you like doing it in the morning? Do you do it in your car? Or in the bar? When you stop engaging in these behaviors, your brain will start going crazy.
Therefore, its important to make plans early enough to avoid sinking in the same act again and again. For instance, if you usually smoke in your car before walking into your office, you can think of doing something that will benefit you in the long run during that period.
It could be something like drinking some juice, calling someone or chewing gum. By replacing the negative behaviors with the positive, youll feel more positive about yourself and youll start recovering.
How We Chose The Best Ways To Quit Drinking
The best ways to quit drinking were chosen based on accessibility , the use of evidence-based practices, and overall community support. If you are trying to choose the best method for yourself, it’s important to consider your situation and what level of support you will need.
For example, Alcoholics Anonymous is one of the best options for group support because of its long history and wide availability. For those who prefer a comprehensive program that addresses mental health, The Recovery Village was chosen as a top pick because of the breadth of services that it offers. Self Recovery is ideal for combating underlying causes of addiction for busy people.
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Why Is Adolescence A Critical Time For Preventing Drug Addiction
As noted previously, early use of drugs increases a person’s chances of becoming addicted. Remember, drugs change the brainand this can lead to addiction and other serious problems. So, preventing early use of drugs or alcohol may go a long way in reducing these risks.
Risk of drug use increases greatly during times of transition. For an adult, a divorce or loss of a job may increase the risk of drug use. For a teenager, risky times include moving, family divorce, or changing schools.35 When children advance from elementary through middle school, they face new and challenging social, family, and academic situations. Often during this period, children are exposed to substances such as cigarettes and alcohol for the first time. When they enter high school, teens may encounter greater availability of drugs, drug use by older teens, and social activities where drugs are used. When individuals leave high school and live more independently, either in college or as an employed adult, they may find themselves exposed to drug use while separated from the protective structure provided by family and school.
Because the brain is still developing, using drugs at this age has more potential to disrupt brain function in areas critical to motivation, memory, learning, judgment, and behavior control.12
Visit A Support Group
A 2016 study shows that peer-delivered support groups, including 12-step programs, could be helpful when in recovery from addiction.
These groups are designed to help you stay sober through mutual support provided by people who are also in recovery.
Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous are two well-known peer-delivered groups for individuals in recovery from substance use disorder.
Though helpful, 12-step programs arent for everyone. If they arent the right fit for you, consider searching for recovery support groups near you.
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Exactly How To Find A Specialist Specialist For Your Needs Best Way To Stop Addiction
Locating a therapist can be hard. Its tough to know what you are seeking, and there are way too many options to pick from. As a result, you might feel overloaded or unclear where to start.
This is why we produced this guide to help you find the appropriate therapist for your needs.
Our goal is to save you money and time by making the procedure of locating the appropriate therapist as simple as possible. This thorough guide will educate you exactly how to locate a therapist, what questions you need to be asking, and also exactly how to recognize the best one for you.
Relevance of discovering a specialist that suits your demands as well as exactly how they can assist with your mental health issues.
Discovering a therapist that fits your psychological health requirements is one of the most essential points you can do to boost your psychological health and wellness. Your specialist will certainly be somebody that pays attention and understands and also can make you really feel comfortable and also confident about your progression. Best Way To Stop Addiction
Why Is Quitting Drugs And Alcohol So Hard
When people first try to quit and cant, its easy to feel like theres some kind of personal failing. People may ask themselves Why arent I strong enough to quit? or Whats wrong with me? But the truth is that its normal to not know how to stop an addiction. In fact, there are many complex biological and psychological factors that make quitting so challenging.
Over time, addictive substances make gradual changes to your brains neural pathways that control feelings of success and accomplishment. This happens because each time you take these substances, they activate your brains reward system. So when you try to quit using, your brain remembers these feelings of accomplishment and starts to crave them. This can be partially responsible for the intense cravings that people receive when they try to stop an addiction.
Another major cause of trouble stopping an addiction is related to your bodys tolerance. The more you use over a long period of time, the more your body gets used to it. This is why chronic drug and alcohol users need so much of their chosen substance to get as drunk or high as they used to when they started.
Of course, continually increasing amounts used is a recipe for overdose, which is part of why substance abuse can be deadly. But lowering your tolerance can be challenging, since quitting cold turkey can lead to withdrawal symptoms. And the issues that withdrawals create can be a variety of things, including:
- Anxiety and paranoia
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Young Brains Under Study
Using cutting-edge imaging technology, scientists from the NIDAs Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study will look at how childhood experiences, including use of any drugs, interact with each other and with a childs changing biology to affect brain development and social, behavioral, academic, health, and other outcomes. As the only study of its kind, the ABCD study will yield critical insights into the foundational aspects of adolescence that shape a persons future.
Abstain From All Other Mood
Recovering from addiction means learning healthier ways to cope with frustration, anger, and emotional pain.
When you have a problem with addiction, your addiction can be triggered by any mood-changer.
So while you might be able to quit your current addiction, you might pick up another one if you dont change the belief system that turned you into an addict.
How do you know if youre picking up another addiction?
If youre using something to anesthetize your feelings, it falls into the category of a mood-changer.
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Anticipate Changes In Relationships
Your relationships and friendships are likely to change as you overcome your addiction. It may take time to appreciate a new normal. However, it can also take time and effort for trust to be re-established if you have hurt friends or family while you were actively involved in your addiction. Strengthening positive relationships with the supportive people in your life can play an important part in your recovery and continued abstinence.
How Divine Love Can Heal Addictions
My good friend and colleague, Robert Fritchie, Founder of The World Service Institute, has helped many people overcome addictions using Divine Love healing energy. In fact, he helped a well-known rock star who had a cocaine addiction and didnt want to risk media exposure by entering rehab!
Divine Love healing uses the Creators Love to facilitate healing. Using a Divine Love petition in which you direct your energy toward your healing, you are able to bring the Creators Love to you. It works for everyone because we are all made of energy that is influenced by our experiences and our thoughts. So just as our energy can manifest as disease, including addiction, it can be influenced to heal. Divine Love petitions give you the power to readjust your energy to maximize your health.
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