6 Top Tips for Beating Any Addiction

You can become the victim of a range of addictions. The most common types of addictions that we see are smoking, alcohol, gambling, drugs, sex, and food. Whatever the activity or substance, it usually leaves you wanting to experience a feeling of pleasure with the main purpose of escaping your reality.

This kind of compulsive behaviour arises when the brain responds to this substance or activity with pleasure. It then stores these as positive memories, which leaves you craving more. This being the case, it may leave you wondering if you can ever gain control over your addiction. But you absolutely can. You can learn to overcome your addiction by using simple evidence-based methods – thousands of individuals have done so across the world.

Let’s take a look at 6 powerful tips to help you get started towards beating your stubborn addiction once and for all.

1. Take a look at your life

It is possible to enjoy your life without having to feel high from drugs or throw away money at the casino. Unfortunately, some people believe that the only way to feel happy is to seek unhealthy pleasures and the more they do so, the harder it becomes to quit. One of the first steps to beating any type of addiction is to sit down and evaluate your life. Try to learn why you began in the first place. Many times, people find that the reason was to cover over some form of pain, hurt or emptiness they were feeling. Once you know what in your life caused your addiction, you can take vital steps to create change in that area.

2. Get creative
   

   What are your hobbies? Music, painting, running? Doing more of what you love is important because it allows you to feel good, have fun and enjoy life without the use of substances or destructive behaviours and the unpleasant side effects that follow. Think about what you love doing and use this as your new source of pleasure.

3. Exercise

Research has shown that physical exercise will improve your overall wellbeing by reducing your risk of developing health problems such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. What’s more, as physical exercise energises you, it will help you to sleep better and feel better about yourself too. Exercising regularly, whether that’s a jog, a walk or a bike ride will help improve both your mental and physical health. Remember, always consult your GP before you start any new form of exercising.

4. Be accountable

It’s a good idea to find an accountability partner who can help you to overcome your addiction. This person will help keep you sober and increase your rate of recovery – but it must someone who you can respect and fully trust. Find the time to chat with your accountability partner at least once a week and share your progress, along with your thoughts and emotions. Doing so may help you to remember that before you gamble, drink or smoke that cigarette, you will be accountable for your actions.

5. Know your weak spots

Think about when you are most likely to engage in your addiction. Maybe it’s during a quick break or after a stressful day at work. Whenever it is that you are most vulnerable, it’s important that you prepare in advance for when you face these situations. For example, if you regularly smoke on your lunch break, try and replace this habit with something useful such as reading a book, calling a friend or going for a walk – it could even be something as simple as chewing gum instead. By continually replacing these negative habits with positive behaviours, you will begin to overcome your addiction.

6. Avoid people who encourage your addiction

No matter what your addiction, you will struggle so much more to make progress if you are surrounded by others who are engaging in that activity or behaviour. Instead, associate with like-minded people who are health-focused and who have good positive habits such as eating well, exercising, and achieving their goals. These types of friends will spur you on and not drag you down. Remember, your friends are a reflection of who you are.

Final word 

While overcoming an addiction is not easy, it is possible. In addition to implementing the tips above, you will likely need some professional help too. Please don’t hesitate to seek help when you need it. You may be able to do it alone, but it would be best to have someone who you are able to share your emotions and thoughts and who can provide you with helpful strategies. Lastly, be kind to yourself and remember that addiction takes time to recover from. Also know – everything that is worthwhile takes time and effort.

If you decide that you need help to overcome a destructive habit, Positive Mind Works can help. We have a team of psychologists who are experienced in providing support for addiction of all kinds. To learn more, call our friendly reception team on 1800 327 477 (AU) or 1800 327 477 (NZ) or click here to book your first appointment and get started on your road to recovery today.