What Are Three Ways To Overcome Addiction?

For many, addiction seems impossible to beat, but that is not the case. This article lists the three main things a person must do to overcome addiction.

What Is Addiction? 

Addiction is a system of behaviour that has become so entrenched in a person that it functions just like a disease, and in fact it is officially classified as one. A person with addiction experiences craving - a longing for a drug, drink, or behaviour that they will do anything to have, even if it causes damage in their life.

When a person is in the grip of addiction, it’s important to remember that they have little control over themselves in that state, and it is almost always only through hitting a rock bottom, and then with help from others, that they will be able to come out of it.

What Causes Addiction?

It is proven that addiction has biological factors that make a person more susceptible to it, but this is really immaterial as addiction is an emotional and spiritual affliction, and must be treated there.

In my experience, the three main causes of addiction are:

• The disease or personality trait of addiction itself - This is the biological aspect. People with the disease of addiction are naturally inclined to seek out intensity, to push life to it’s limit in areas that they choose. This does not always have negative consequences. For instance, some use their addictive natures to motivate them, but this nature needs to be taken into account.
• Buried pain or emotional trauma - This aspect is what fuels the intensity of addiction. Addiction begins when a person discovers a substance or behaviour that takes their nagging emotional pain away - whatever that pain might be - and then combined with an addictive personality, the cycle kicks off. 
• A lack of satisfying meaning in life - At the root of addiction is feeling like using drugs or alcohol or food, sex or gambling makes life better than it is. People with addiction suffer from a lack of their life making sense. They do not have an ideal or goal or belief system that is more satisfying than the brief feeling of relief that their addiction gives them, even though their addiction is killing them. As human beings we must have satisfying meaning in our lives - we cannot live without it.

The three ways to overcome addiction, then, are by treating each aspect of the disease.

1. Treat The Addictive Cycle

To stop addiction you have to stop the cycle that causes an endless loop. This means getting sober by any means necessary, just for a little while, so that small changes can get made that will lead to longer lasting sobriety.

Some options for stopping the cycle are:

• Enforced isolation - either on your own accord or with help from friends or family. If you are desperate enough, you will be able to isolate yourself for a time. Do what is necessary.
• Going to a detox, hospital or rehab facility.
• Attending an outpatient program with a detox component.
• Attending a 12 step fellowship, and asking other fellows for their support and advice as you put yourself through a short period of sobriety.

2.  Confront Buried Pain Or Emotional Trauma

Any sort of self work will start to take you on a journey within, and this journey will become the thing that ultimately keeps you sober, because self discovery and healing leads to the meaning you are looking for.

On your journey, it is important to remember that you are doing this in order to stay sober. You will see that if you allow yourself to use your substance or behaviour again, your therapeutic journey will stop as the addictive cycle will start again.

In order to overcome addiction, you need to understand yourself, and to do that, you need to be sober. Step one and two work hand in hand. Here are some ways to start your journey of self-discovery:

• Work with an addiction based therapist or psychologist
• Join a 12 step fellowship in your area
• Take on a writing project with a meaningful outcome to you
• Do an extended stay in addiction rehabilitation, anywhere from 3 months to a year, where you can learn about yourself and your disease while transitioning back to your work life
• Read literature or watch Youtube or podcasts that speak to you on these topics. These can be extremely helpful.

3. Find A Compelling Reason To Stay Clean

This is where you create new meaning in life. The truth is that addiction is a problem in the spirt, and it is there that the solution lies. It might be that religion becomes something that satisfies you, or discovering that you have a calling for a particular profession, or to be a parent, or to follow a deep held dream to travel. Whatever it is, your reason needs to be deeply meaningful to you, and it needs to require you to be sober to do it.

DO NOT CONVINCE YOURSELF THAT IT IS OKAY TO USE WHILE YOU GO ON YOUR QUEST! All your work will be undone.

Because remember, you still have the disease of addiction. If you convince yourself that you can find meaning in life and use your substance, the addictive cycle will begin all over again, and you will almost certainly be lost.

Here are some options for finding meaning in your life:

• Join a group like a 12 step fellowship that requires you to be sober.
• Join a religious community that you find appealing, and attempt to understand their conception of God.
• Study different religions on your own, finding your own truth in them.
• Pray to a God of your understanding, asking for guidance. Simply opening yourself up to something new, and trusting that something good will come to you, will lead you in a direction that unfolds magically as you go.
• Nurture a hobby or activity in your life that brings you joy, that brings you no harm, and requires you to be sober. Develop the hobby until it becomes a spiritual practice or source of great comfort.

Conclusion

Healing from addiction is a lifelong process, and one that is infinitely rewarding. In essence, addiction happens because of becoming disconnected from yourself, and through that connection, to your rightful and meaningful place in the world.

If you follow the path of self discovery, are humble enough to look for new ideas to replace your old ones, and open yourself up to the possibility of peace, a life of integrity and wonder can be yours.

There are no quick fixes in overcoming addiction, but each day spent in pursuit of it, is reward in itself.

Further Reading: How To Quit Drug Addiction