To achieve long-term sobriety, you have to process and heal underlying traumas that may be triggering the addiction. These problems are obvious to almost everyone; the solutions, less so. Some experts propose taxation to help curb digital overuse, similar to the way the government discourages tobacco use. Others say the only way to beat an addiction is to quit cold turkey and go device-free.

Individuals experiencing emotional difficulties, chronic stress, financial problems or relationship issues may use alcohol or drugs to help them escape their problems or self-medicate. Someone struggling with mental health issues or unresolved trauma may also turn to a substance to escape from the negative emotions. Chances are, you are not quitting because you set a goal too high; you feel like quitting because you have not set appropriate steps to achieving that goal. Breaking a bad habit might take longer than forming a new one, but in the process of forming a new positive habit, you are slowly breaking the bad one along the way. Set a goal, and follow these steps to break bad habits and form new positive ones for the long term.

Preparing for change: 5 keys to addiction recovery

It’s also normal to feel conflicted about giving up your drug of choice, even when you know it’s causing problems in your life. Recovery requires time, motivation, and support, but by making a commitment to change, you can overcome your addiction and regain control of your life. Substance use disorders (SUDs) cause brain changes that result in an urge to use alcohol or drugs. It is a chronic mental health disorder, but with the proper treatment and support, it is possible to achieve sobriety. Because change is so difficult, it’s important to have a guide while attempting to quit an addiction to alcohol, drugs, or behavior.

• “These routines can become hardwired in our brains,” Volkow says.
• In addition, addictions can sometimes mask underlying mental health problems, such as anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, and even psychosis.
• These forms of therapy include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and psychodynamic therapy.

Whether it’s a loving family member or the addict themselves, many people try to break the cycle of addiction by starting from a place of knowing. While it’s important to be certain about some things, you also have to be willing to admit what you don’t know when you’re trying to break the cycle of addiction. Relapse is a common part of the recovery process from drug addiction.

5 action steps for quitting an addiction

This can set up potentially harmful routines, such as overeating, smoking, drug or alcohol abuse, gambling and even compulsive use of computers and social media. This may help explain why 90 day rehab has a higher success rate than short term treatment. As the current gold standard of treatment, 90 day rehab gives your brain time to reset itself, allows you to then master the skills of recovery, and allows time for those new patterns to become habits.

Our Outpatient Program allows clients who have completed previous addiction treatment programs to continue their recovery in a supervised and safe environment. This level of care helps clients learn to live sober while providing a safety net and much-needed structure. Our Outpatient Program for addiction in Massachusetts allows clients who have completed previous addiction treatment programs in MA to continue their recovery in a supervised and safe environment. Our Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) in Massachusetts provides our highest level of care for clients who need more structured outpatient addiction treatment.

Explore your addiction treatment options

Replace your addiction with drug-free groups and activities. Volunteer, become active in your church or faith community, or join a local club or neighborhood group. Yes, pets are https://stylevanity.com/2023/07/top-5-questions-to-ask-yourself-when-choosing-sober-house.html a responsibility, but caring for an animal makes you feel loved and needed. Think of a sandy beach, or a fond memory, such as your child’s first steps or time spent with friends.

• Take an honest assessment of the benefits you get from your social media presence, and document times when scrolling through your Instagram or TikTok has made you feel anxious or depressed.
• “Everybody’s level of athleticism and pain tolerance is different,” Czerwony notes.
• In this article, we take a closer look at what makes the video-sharing platform so addictive and suggest effective strategies to help you or a loved one have a healthier relationship with YouTube.

It can be challenging; however, the benefits of seeking help and beginning the journey far outweigh the risks of continued substance use. Lembke warns that you’ll probably feel a lot worse before you start feeling better. A dopamine hit brings about pleasure, and then is quickly followed by pain, or a come-down, in order to keep us motivated.

During these early stages of the process, you might be in denial about the effects of your addiction. As you become more aware of the problems you are facing, you might then struggle with feelings of ambivalence even as you become more aware of your need to overcome your addiction. Addiction leads to changes in the brain that make quitting more difficult. Fortunately, addiction is treatable and there are things that you can do to improve your success in overcoming your addiction. In some cases, your loved one with an addiction may refuse the treatment plan.

A successful intervention must be planned carefully to work as intended. A poorly planned intervention can worsen the situation — your loved one may feel attacked and become isolated or more resistant to treatment. A sugar detox involves cutting all added sugars from your diet for a set period of time, from as little as a week to as long as a month.

How to Break YouTube Addiction

Stay away from friends and situations linked to problem drinking or drug use. In a sense, then, parts of our brains are working against us when we try to overcome bad habits. “These routines can become hardwired in our brains,” Volkow says.