How To Heal From Drug Addiction

Healing from drug addiction is tough, but it is possible if the person truly wants to change. Here are three essential principles to get your recovery started, as well as some simple information about addiction that is crucial to know. 

What Is Addiction?

First, it's important to know what addiction is. Addiction is a disease or a personality trait. People with addiction often get lost in various activities, whether good or bad, like drugs, gambling, work or even exercise. This behaviour becomes harmful when it is linked to past trauma. To quit, a person must address both their addiction and the trauma behind it.

What Is Trauma?

Trauma refers to events that cause lasting emotional harm. These experiences can change how a person thinks and behaves. For example:

• Sexual abuse may lead someone to believe that sex equals love.
• Abandonment can make someone feel unworthy of love.
• Physical abuse might lead someone to believe that hurting others is a way to show love.

These painful experiences can fuel addiction, so healing from trauma is crucial for recovery.

How Does Addiction Work?

Addiction often starts when someone discovers an addictive behavior that helps them escape the pain of their long lasting emotional trauma. For instance:

• A lonely teenager might start drinking to forget their loneliness.
• A woman in a stressful job might use weight loss pills to feel better about herself.

These behaviours provide temporary relief for a long lasting problem, making it hard for the person to let go of them.

The Denial Factor

Addiction thrives on denial. This is when a person cannot see the harm their behaviour is causing because they want to hold on to their “cure” for emotional pain. For example, an alcoholic father may not realize how his drinking affects his family because, in those moments, his own pain disappears.

Three Essentials To Start Your Healing Journey

Quitting addiction involves three main steps:

• Admitting You Have a Problem: Often, this happens after reaching a low point in life. This moment can help someone see the consequences of their actions.
• Seeking Help: Many resources are available, including free twelve-step programs and professional support. The key is to ask for help and accept it.
• Finding a Compelling Reason to Stay Clean: Since addiction often masks emotional pain, it’s important to find a purpose that outweighs that pain. This could be love for one’s children, a supportive community, or a spiritual journey.

Getting Help

By understanding addiction and seeking help, it is possible to break free from its grip.

There are many resources for addicts and their loved ones. Look for local twelve-step programs or rehab facilities. Addict, published by Penguin Random House, shares my personal story of overcoming addiction and provides crucial insights into recovery. 

Further reading: What Causes Drug Addiction?