Effective Addiction Management Techniques

An addiction is an inability to control one’s desire to partake in a particular activity, even if it’s harmful.

People tend to associate addictions with only drugs and alcohol. However, anyone can be addicted to anything. For example, eating, sex, computers, gadget, work, shopping, pornography, etc.

We don’t intend to scare you, but truly, getting over an addiction is not an easy task. There’s always the risk of relapse by falling back into addiction after making progress in recovery.

Notwithstanding, it’s not impossible to get over an addiction. Here are 6 techniques you can apply to get over an addiction, once and for all!

1. Make a conscious decision
   Whatever actions we make start first from the mind. Therefore, the first step to getting over an addiction is to acknowledge that you have a problem, then to make a conscious decision to stop it.

   Getting over an addiction is not as easy as it might seem, and a firm resolve to succeed will count in the long run.

2. Go for a total detox
   Detoxification is all-encompassing. It’s not enough to decide. It’s equally important to make deliberate efforts to achieve your goal: sobriety. For instance: if you’re dealing with substance (drugs, alcohol, or narcotics) addiction, it’s a good idea to rid your body of those substances.

   It’s best to do this in a safe environment, as substance withdrawal can result in unpleasant or fatal physical symptoms, so you need to involve medical personnel. If possible, try to visit a community health center or primary care clinic near you.

3. Be intentional about your space
   Often, the most important way to overcome addiction is the hardest. And that’s ridding yourself of relationships that fuel your addictions.

   This involves cutting off people who encourage addictive behavior, or changing your environment totally. In overcoming addictions, there’s the risk of relapse, and you’d need people you can trust around to help you if you slip.

   So, contact family and friends whom you trust, and are willing to support you. Tell them about your addictions, and your willingness to overcome them.

   Also, reach out to other people who deal with the same addiction, and form a support group. It can be lonely to heal alone.

4. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
   Cognitive activity medical care (CBT) is an effective addiction management technique because it isn’t limited to drug dependence alone. it is also used for different kinds of addiction, like food addiction, medicine addiction, and alcoholism.

   It helps you recognize your unhealthy behavioral patterns, identify triggers and develop skills that can help you cope. Plus, it can be combined with other therapy techniques.

5. Contingency Management
   According to drugabuse.com, Contingency Management is the application of the three-term which uses stimulus control and consequences to change behavior. This means to change a negative behavior for the better by attaching rewards to it.

   It can be used to treat numerous addictions effectively, like alcohol and narcotic abuse. In fact, the National Institute of Drug Abuse says it has been used to resist relapses successfully

6. Twelve-step facilitation therapy
   Twelve-step facilitation therapy is a form of behavioral therapy formed under the premise that: addiction is progressive, and it’s influenced by many factors, like spiritual, biological, and psychological causes.

   It integrates 3 core objectives:

   • Acceptance: Clients have to accept that addiction is a progressive disease. Therefore, willpower alone will not aid recovery. And abstinence is the only way to be rid of any addiction.
   • Surrender: Individuals should also understand that they must surrender to a higher power, as well as accept support from other individuals in their shoes, as these are key factors to healing.
   • Active involvement: Furthermore, clients must participate actively in all activities throughout the 12-step therapy

   So, individuals form a support group and partake in a 12-step program, and each of the factors and objectives is addressed. Examples of such programs are the popular Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA).

Conclusion

There are various ways to manage addiction, and it’s always advisable to seek professional help for whichever you choose. Don’t hesitate to contact us for professional insight and help. Don’t be ashamed of reaching out for help, you are not alone.

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