Coming Clean

There’s no one cut-and-dry way to end an addiction but the following tips can make it easier:

-    Replace your old habit with another activity that you enjoy. Each time you’re tempted to make a break for the mall to purchase another pair of shoes, sit down and start researching the trip you’ll take using the money you’ll save from cutting down our your shoe dependency.

-    Figure out where and how you’ll be tempted. If your Achilles heel is drinking obviously stay away from bars and pubs but also change your day-to-day activities and interactions. Clear your cupboards of booze and spend time with people who aren’t prone to drinking to enjoy themselves. Most of the struggle is to get it out of your mind and a big step in the right direction is to just get it out of sight.

-    Relax. Addictions are usually a way to deal with anxiety. Relaxation techniques such as meditation and yoga are extremely useful to those who are willing to try. Try yoga studios that are recommended by people with similar personalities, rather than the one that is most popular.

-    Make it difficult to give in. If you’re a social smoker and the experience of smoking around other people is partly why you’re addicted, only let yourself smoke alone. Similarly, if Cheetos and Haagen-Daaz are constant cravings, put them in hard to reach places so they aren’t just “something to do” when you’re bored. You’ll have to put in the extra effort so when you do dig in you’ll know you really wanted it.

-     Reward yourself. With every little bit of progress that you’re making, treat yourself with something that you sincerely enjoy. Addictions are not necessarily pleasurable habits.  They just become compulsions so an effective way to get rid of them is to replace them with something you can look forward to. Treat yourself to a gourmet latte or a walk in the park.

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words of wisdom

Just remember, these are just guidelines and helpful tips but ultimately, not the sole steps to ending a serious addiction. There are many more psychological and physical factors involved and if an addiction is seriously jeopardizing something important like your health, family or career, speak to a professional and seek medical treatment. Especially for smokers and those dependent on alcohol, there are medical and psychological options for treatment.

What’s most important is regaining control of your life.