The Decision To Change
Addiction is not a sign of weakness. It is not a sign of low moral character or flaws in your personality. Addiction is a medical condition that is both a physical and emotional attachment to alcohol or drugs.
Overcoming addiction takes more than the willpower to say no. It requires that you address the issues that led to the addiction and that you can find a way to overcome those issues without the use of drugs or alcohol. For most people, overcoming an addiction will require the use of an addiction recovery center.
Drug rehab centers help you overcome the physical dependency on the substance you were abusing. They will also help you discover what led you down the road of addiction and come to terms with these issues. Drug rehab now addresses things like anxiety and depression and how these can lead to addiction or keep a person in an addicted state.
Many rehabilitation centers also address physical health and its contributing factor in remaining clean. Many people who have had long term addictions forget how to be physically healthy.
However, before any of these problems are addressed, the decision to break the addiction must be made.
Making The Decision To Become Sober
The decision to become sober is never easy. You may have found yourself in a position that makes you realize the addiction is bad. You may have finally discovered everything you have lost as a result of your addiction. You may even have been forced to make the decision by the actions of your loved ones. Whatever the case, you have now made the decision to break your addiction.
Although others may think that the decision to break an addiction is easy, the truth is, you are showing a lot of courage in deciding to break your addiction. Substance abuse gives us a way to ignore our problems while providing physical rewards (pleasure) for ignoring these issues. Deciding to give up that pleasure and face the world is difficult. You should be proud of yourself.
There are five things that you should remember during this decision-making process:
- 1 – Take Small Steps: Every single decision you make about getting sober should be cherished because it leads to the next step—every small step matters.
- 2- Set Reasonable Goals: Enter into a rehab program and set small, realistic goals. Even something as simple as getting up and saying “good morning” with a smile today is a positive goal. You will feel the natural reward (pleasure) that you used to receive from the substance for each thing you achieve.
- 3- Make A List of What Matters: Sit down and make a list of what matters to you. Your family? Your pet? Going back to work? Changing careers? Discover what you truly want in your life so that you can start achieving those dreams.
- 4- Everyone Has A Bad Day: It is important to understand that everyone has a bad day. You may feel miserable mentally or physically or just angry at the world. Maybe overwhelmed by cravings. You may feel scared and alone. This happens to everyone, with or without addiction. Speak with your substance abuse counselor about what you are experiencing so that you can learn new ways to cope with these feelings.
- 5- Share Your Decision With Others: One of the best ways to make a decision final is to share that decision with someone you care about or love. Telling someone that you will seek help with your addiction maybe a little scary, but it is worth the effort. Once your loved one knows, you will have a new level of emotional support from your loved ones as you start your journey into sobriety.
The Time To Act Is Now
When you are struggling with an addiction, it may seem impossible to make any decision, especially when it comes to breaking that addiction. But the great news is, you have already made that decision, you need to act upon that decision. Acting on the decision is the first step to recovery. The even better news: Once you make the decision to act on overcoming your addiction, each new decision will be easier to make.
