Addiction and the decision to overcome
Addiction is a disease. It affects millions of Americans and has touched every single one of our lives in some way. Whether it is you who is struggling with addiction or someone close to you, the impact can be devastating. It affects us on psychological, physical, social, financial and emotional levels. And when we decide to overcome this disease it takes strength - more strength than most can fathom. We must have grace for ourselves because we are only human and our journey will not always be smooth sailing (especially if we are dealing with mental illness). But please know that there are resources out there for you! You don't need to feel stuck in your addiction. You can get out and live the life you deserve!
What is Substance use addition
Substance use is the use of drugs, alcohol or other substances in a way that causes or threatens harm.
Addiction is when a person uses a substance compulsively, despite knowing that it may cause harm to themselves or others around them.
Recovery refers to the process of recovering from an addiction and making lifestyle changes so that you can live healthily without using any substances at all (and if you do choose to use, it’s for medicinal purposes only).
Substance use isn’t always considered an addiction. However, if your substance use has harmful consequences for yourself or others on a regular basis – such as missing important commitments like work due to hangovers; driving under the influence; getting into fights over money spent on bingeing – then it could be time for some reflection about whether what you’re doing fits with how society expects people should behave in public spaces.
Who is impacted by
Addiction is a disease that affects everyone. Anyone who uses drugs or alcohol is at risk for addiction, including you. In addition to being personally impacted by this illness, you may have a family member or friend who struggles with addiction and needs your support. You may also work with people who use drugs or alcohol on a regular basis and want to help them break their cycle of substance abuse. If you live in a community where drug use is prevalent—for example, an area where there are many bars or clubs—you might be more likely to suffer from the stressors that come along with living in such an environment (see “How does my environment affect my risk?”).
The strength it takes to address substance use
The decision to overcome substance use is not easy. It takes courage and strength, the willingness to take the time to heal, the need for honesty with yourself and others, patience with yourself and others.
It’s important to have a plan in place before you begin your journey of recovery. This means having a support system that includes family members or friends who will be there for you on your road back from addiction into sobriety; it also means setting aside some money so that when things get tough or you don’t see results right away, you won’t resort back to using drugs or alcohol as an escape route from stressors in your life.
Treat yourself with grace as you go through this process
I'm sure you've been told to be gentle with yourself in your recovery. It's important to remember that it's okay to make mistakes, and that each time you do so is an opportunity for growth.
Don't beat yourself up—it will only serve as another barrier between you and the life-changing changes that you want. But also don't let yourself off the hook completely; self-forgiveness should never come at the expense of holding yourself accountable for bad choices or destructive behaviors.
Don't be afraid to ask for help from friends, family members, therapists or other professionals who can provide guidance and support during this vulnerable time in your life. You deserve all of these things! After all, no one is perfect—and everyone deserves some compassion along their journey toward wellness.
Stay Committed
Be patient with yourself. It can take a long time to make progress, and that’s okay. You might have times when you feel like you’re backsliding or putting in more effort than you see results. Don't beat yourself up over it: these feelings are normal and don't mean that your recovery is failing; they just mean that things are taking longer than expected.
Don't let setbacks derail you. Your recovery may not be linear—it might involve several steps forward followed by one step back (or several). That doesn't mean it's not working; it means your addiction is stubborn and doesn't want to give up without a fight. If this happens, try not to let the setback get into your head: instead of thinking “I'm so far from where I should be at this point in my life," think about what caused the setback and how you can overcome it next time around.
Don't let your own emotions get in the way of achieving sobriety or overcoming an addiction—your anxiety won't help anyone! Instead of panicking over negative thoughts such as "I can't do this" or "This will never work out," remind yourself why getting sober matters so much: because having an active substance abuse problem has become an obstacle between yourself and happiness, healthiness, success--and most importantly--the people who love us most dearly on earth (our family members.) With sober living skills under our belts we're able to rebuild trust between loved ones who have been hurt before by our behavior while under the influence...
Keep your goals in sight and do what it takes to achieve them
The key to long-term success is persistence. If you keep your goals in sight, do what it takes to achieve them, and don't let setbacks get you down, then you're on the right track!
Here are some other tips that may help:
Don't worry about what other people think of your decision or how they might react. Sometimes we need to take care of ourselves first before we can help others (even if they want us to).
Don't give up on yourself or the people around you who might be struggling with addiction. Keep trying new things! It's okay if something doesn't work out—try another tactic instead. And remember: sometimes all it takes is asking for help from someone else who has been through this situation themselves before; otherwise known as "experience" in this case :) Be brave enough not just because YOU love yourself but also because YOU want THEM too :)
Conclusion
It is important to remember that this is a journey and that you are not alone. Surround yourself with positive people who will support your goals and build your confidence in yourself. Each time you reach another goal, celebrate that achievement and take it as motivation for the next step. Addiction can be a very serious issue and it does not happen overnight so do not expect to overcome it in one day. The key is to keep moving forward and stay committed no matter what challenges may come along the way