Addiction is a progressive and debilitating illness that takes over the very systems of discernment that are supposed to guide us through life and renders them hostile to our wellbeing. Disturbingly, addiction is far more pervasive than we would think, with many people suffering in silence.
According to national surveys, unhappiness and depression rank among the top reasons people turn to drugs. Other causes listed by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) include chaotic homes, parent’s drugs use, abuse and peer pressure. The survey also identifies young adults between 18 and 25 years in the US as at high risk, with 1 in 7 people, about 5.1 million battling substance abuse disorder in 2017, and experimenting with multiple drugs simultaneously. Drugs like cannabis, alcohol, and cocaine are the top abused drugs. However, what is worrying is that amphetamines and hallucinogenic drugs have also steadily risen over the last decade, exposing people to grave consequences.
You know that you’re addicted when substance use completely takes over your life. Ask yourself whether the quality of relationships in your life is the same as it used to be before. Are you able to enjoy life without turning to a substance? Is your work ethic what it used to be, or do you find yourself cutting corners to meet deadlines? If your life has become unmanageable, it may be time for a change.
Not sure where to begin? Here are the steps you can take to quit:
Table of Contents
1. Decide Where to Quit
People struggling with addiction have to be content with varied circumstances and adopt different paths out of this predicament. So, the first decision you’ll need to make is whether to quit on your own or seek addiction help at an in-patient rehab facility.
Recovery will be an arduous journey no matter what substance you have been hooked on, usually beginning with detox. In this recovery phase, your body will start flushing out the substance and any harmful metabolites to return you to good health. The symptoms you experience during detox will depend on the frequency and duration of your use. They can range from mild insomnia and irritability to full-blown bouts of psychosis, replete with seizures or delusions.
If you have been addicted to hard drugs, please don’t attempt to detox without medical help. Rehab centers like Ledghill for women will help you with detox and recovery. Professionally trained and certified medical staff are operating the facility. Its gender-based programs and quarters create a safe and judgment-free space for everyone. You have many options available to you, so pick up the phone and call as soon as possible.
2. Create A Quit Calendar
Addiction may have left you unable to string thoughts together, so don’t pressure yourself to create a perfectly calibrated quitting outline. Cut yourself some slack, honor the brave step you are taking, and jot down some milestones to set targets for yourself. These should include:
- Informing your loved ones that you are quitting.
- Deleting phone numbers of other users and dealers.
- Throwing away paraphernalia.
- Calling in to take time off at work.
- Checking into rehab or a safe space to detox.
Writing out these things will ensure that you don’t feel overwhelmed and can focus on taking recovery one day at a time. Seeing your thoughts laid out will help you stay accountable and track progress.
3. Start Carrying Out Your Quitting Steps
You didn’t get addicted in a day, so please don’t burden yourself with getting it perfectly right in a short amount of time. Begin by acknowledging that you’re aiming for progress, not perfection. Some days you’ll exceed your expectations, while on others, you may not, and that’s okay. As long as you don’t succumb to impulse and don’t use drugs, all will be well.
Make sure you involve others who care about you in your recovery. You may have isolated a lot of people in active addiction. Still, you’ll be surprised how many of them come to your aid if you show genuine remorse for your actions and commit yourself to sobriety. Your friends and loved ones may be able to get you off the streets, shelter you from negative influences, and connect you with resources to help you on your journey. Don’t let shame push you away; instead, reach out to someone.
You should erase all reminders of drug use from your life if you are to recover well. Quitting a substance means completely reorienting your life so that substances become irrelevant. It means that you will have to change the lens through which you are accustomed to viewing the world. You will have to avoid people, places, and things that remind you of using drugs. So, throw away paraphernalia, clean every inch of your residence, and make sure you cordon off every way another user or dealer can use to reach you. If you have opted for an in-patient rehab, check in with just the bare essentials.
Remember that you aren’t depriving yourself, as hard as that may seem right now. Addiction has an insipid voice that whispers hurtful untruths in your ear to try and wear down your resolve. Refuse to listen. You’re doing the right thing and choosing your wellbeing over your pain, so stick to your commitment to move on from drug dependencies.
4. Commit Wholeheartedly to Recovery
Nobody chooses to get addicted, and you may uncover some harsh truths that push you to your drug of choice as you get clean. While this clarity may be excruciating initially, please know that this too shall pass. Try not to dwell upon the guilt and shame characteristic of early sobriety as hard as it is. Instead, commit yourself to do all you can to get well.
Joining a support group of some kind is a tried and tested way of quitting addictions. 12-step programs such as NA and AA have had great success in turning the lives of many addicts around, so make sure you find a meeting near you, even a virtual one. If your rehab offers group therapy, attend with enthusiasm, listen to others with empathy and try to find commonalities rather than differences. Share what’s in your heart and try to be as honest and open-minded as possible.
In the first few months of recovery, you will have a lot of time on your hands, whether you are at a halfway house or recuperating in your parent’s attic. It will be an uphill trek, but it doesn’t have to be stern and unforgiving. Make sure you put this time to good use with healthy routines and habits that help you fight off cravings or temptation. Eat a balanced diet, exercise, and pick up a hobby. Start some spiritual practice, such as mindful meditation, and see if you can learn to love yourself again.
Final Thoughts
Addiction is a disease of the spirit that can completely derail your life. However, once you decide to quit, you will find more help available than you thought possible. Step forward to a better you with compassion, acceptance, and courage, and you will not be disappointed.
Decide how you will quit, considering the severity and frequency of your substance use and your drug of choice. Jot down a broad outline of events for your quitting journey, and once you begin, give it all you’ve got without looking back. You deserve love, happiness, fulfillment, and all the joys that life offers, so trust yourself and begin today.