How To Quit Addiction On Your Own

So you’ve decided you want to stop drinking or using, but aren’t really sure the necessary steps to get there. Well, I’m going to tell you right now that it is not easy. Sorry. But it is possible.

Before spending time and money on treatment, many people try to find their path to recovery on their own. While this method isn’t the most successful without professional therapy, it can be done. Especially if you follow all of these simple steps.

1. Join a Support Group

This is usually everyone’s first move when they decide they want to be sober; and it should be yours too. Local support groups like AA and NA offer valuable connections and resources during your initial stages of recovery. These support groups can offer you a platform to express your feelings and experiences without judgment. These support groups also do exactly that - offer valuable support and advice.

2. Find a Sponsor

A sponsor is someone you can always go to in times of need. These could be times when you feel like you want to use, times when you’ve relapsed, or just in any social scenario where you need advice. Sponsors should have a few years of recovery already under their belt and therefore has credibility to their words. The typical place you are going to find a reputable sponsor is at your local support meeting. Don’t rush the process. Feel around and find out which person you can connect the most with. But remember, a sponsor should not necessarily be your friend - but someone who can hold you accountable and sees your recovery as a priority.

3. Experience Emotions Instead of Avoiding Them

Much like exposure therapy, learning to accept emotions is a large part of the recovery process. By doing this, you learn to deal with these emotions in an effective and healthier manner; rather than covering them up with drugs and alcohol.

If you’ve been drinking or using for years, there can be a lot of underlying baggage that will eventually need to be addressed to move on. Take note of this and be prepared. The road to recovery is always under construction, but the first few miles are always a little more rocky than the rest. As long as you are serious about your recovery and have motivation to get there - anything is possible. Believe in yourself and we all can get there!

4. Keep Track of Triggers

This will help you understand yourself better and in the long run you’ll be more knowledgeable on the situations and environments that put your recovery in jeopardy. Triggers can range from people, places, phrases, scenarios, and even pet-peeves.

5. Find Your Passion

Find something in your life that makes you excited. This could relate to your job and provide career motivation, but often times this starts with a hobby. Dig deep and find what really makes you tick. These types of things could range from helping people (volunteering), art, family, sports, or just having fun.

The goal is to get you happy to wake up each day and start the day with a goal. By occupying your time with this endeavor, you’ll have less time thinking about other things and using. You’ll notice that the more you focus on this activity, the less you think about using.

6. Avoid Toxic People

On the same line as keeping track of your triggers, removing toxic people from your life is essential. This process will not be very easy and many of these people could be long-lasting relationships; but put your physical and mental health first. Focus on yourself and where you want to be instead of focusing on lost relationships.

7. Journal

This habit will help you think clearly about the past, present and future. You’ll slowly develop a better outlook on life and notice yourself becoming much more healthy and productive during your day-to-day. The benefits of journaling are endless - but all in all, it creates the self-efficacy to develop the necessary skills needed to become strong and resilient in recovery.

8. Meditate

Meditation is a great way to align your thoughts like journaling, but it is also proven to reduce mental health illnesses like anxiety and depression - the most common co-occurring disorders in addiction.

You don’t have to meditate very long, but just for 5-10 minutes, focus on your breathing and only that. In. Out. In. Out. Now bigger breaths. In. Out. In. Out.

Your mind will inevitably wander, but try to bring it back and focus. From time to time, let your mind wander and see where it takes you. Then bring it back to breathing. Once you are finished, you will feel an overwhelming sense of peace. The hardest part of meditation is starting and keeping up with it. (I always set and alarm or a reminder in my calendar at the beginning of the morning when I know I will always have time.

9. Exercise

This one is big! For most people in addiction, they aren’t very active and this is a problem. In modern society, we live very sedentary lifestyles at home, work, and traveling. This is something very new (in the last .0001% of human existence) and our bodies are not meant to function this way. Exercise allows our bodies and even our minds to grow and stay in tip-top shape. Exercise is a natural and healthy way for our bodies to release endorphins like serotonin that makes us feel normal and happy. Exercise can be a great way to supplement the endorphin rush we are used to when using.

13. Yoga

Combining the benefits of meditation and exercise is probably going to reap good benefits. This is why Yoga therapy is so common in many addiction treatment programs.

14. Healthier Diet

During the initial stages of recovery, our bodies needs a lot of nutrients. When we use, we often neglect our nutritional health. Add this to the toxic substances we feed our bodies on the regular, our bodies are not in good shape. Add that to the fact that when we stop, we feel even worse because of the withdrawals. We need all the help we can get, and nutrients are vital in replacing many of the nutrients lost when using and helping us restore our mind and body back to normal.

15. Get Enough Sleep

You’ve heard it before, your going to hear it again. Sleep is essential for us to not only live and function, but function to the best of our abilities. When little ones are cranky, it is often because they need a nap. After that nap, they’re often in much higher spirits. Well, this doesn’t just go away when we hit adolescents, it just evolves. When we don’t get enough sleep (especially consistently) we feel in a chronically bad mood, always irritable and always bothered by people. When we are this way, it's hard to be likeable and this only adds to the problem. All of these things can eventually lead to depression. So, remember, it's not about sleeping in, it's about going to sleep earlier. Trust me, the show isn’t that good to sacrifice your well-being.

By trying all of these techniques, you can attempt to find recovery on your own. If you still struggle to find sobriety, that is ok and natural. Rarely do people find long-lasting recovery on their own, but it is only going to help you if you give it a shot. Besides, if you do decide to eventually attend a drug and alcohol rehab like Coalition Recovery in Tampa, Fl, you will already have a leg-up on your process. You’ll know what your triggers are, you’ll have already started many of the healthy habits in your day to day – while even though you might not still have them, implementing them is half the battle.

If you do happen to decide on a treatment center, find one with a board-certified psychiatrist. Also, make sure they practice evidence-based therapies like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Medication Assisted Treatment. This will ensure you are receiving the best type of care available. Not all treatment centers are created equal.