Addiction
Tayyab explains how to quit substances such as addictive drugs and alcohol.
For years man has continued to invent and discover ways for his pleasure. Often, these worldly pleasures end up becoming a great peril. One of the best examples of this is substances such as addictive drugs and alcohol. While medications are mostly illegal, alcohol is available quickly and readily. Not only available but alcoholic breweries are also considered essential in most societies and are often looked up to as a symbol of status and class. Regardless of the quality of wines and whiskeys that you consume, they will have some effect on your mind and body sooner or later.
People may start drinking at an age as young as adolescents and may even begin post middle age or at a very old age. Regardless of when one starts to drink, once it turns into addiction, the effects would be there on your mind and body sooner or later. There are various reasons why people might get into alcohol. Most people start as social drinking at parties and gatherings and eventually too much, and regular alcohol consumption leads to addiction. Peer pressure and impulsive drinking is other common reason, especially among young adults.
Besides social reasons, many people also resort to alcohol as a coping strategy to deal with stress, pain, or sorrow. Depression and other mental illnesses also trigger some people to opt for alcohol consumption since it makes one high. Whatever the reasons might be, alcohol addiction is perilous to both physical and mental health. It does not only affect your life as an alcoholic but also the life of your family and other people that care for you. There are numerous examples of couples separating and homes falling apart because one of the partners became alcoholic and too difficult to live with.
Unfortunately, many people accept defeat easily and accept isolation and disowning an alcoholic. A bit of effort and the right support system can help an alcohol addict quit drinking and come back to a normal life. Here are some key tips that will help you stop drinking and come back to a healthy and happy life.
Be Determined
The first step to a successful rehabilitation journey is to believe in yourself and be determined that no matter what, you will come out of it. Know that your body is designed to function best without alcohol. Therefore any withdrawal symptoms will be temporary, and you will eventually be able to reap the fruit. You are going on a journey that will take you back to a normal, healthy, and alcohol-free lifestyle, and you will have nothing to lose in that attempt. All you need to have is the right kind of mindset and willpower to achieve the target.
Surround Yourself with Positivity
Negative energies can come to you in various forms and can quickly get to your head and pull you down. It could be negative people around you, negative and mean comments, or negative situations. Negativity is one of the worst triggers that will create an urge in you to find solace in your wine glass. It would be best if you stayed away from that urge by all means. Surround yourself with positivity as much as you can. Try to imagine happy things, surround yourself with positive and happy people, and watch a light movie or a show with a positive message, anything that makes you happy.
Identify Your Triggers
There will always be some triggering situations that will urge you to drink. You need to kill your urge, and to do that, you need to kill your triggers. The first step to do so is to identify what pushes you to drink. It could be a specific group of friends who go clubbing every weekend. It could be a negative comment coming your way. Avoid any such people or situations that could result in a meltdown or push you towards drinking. If you usually feel tempted to drink while you are alone, then avoid being alone and try to be in company as much as possible.
Sleep Well
Adequate sleep is essential for a healthy mind and body. Try to go to bed as early in the evening as possible and get a night of good uninterrupted sleep, preferably 8 to 10 hours at a stretch. A well-slept and well-rested body will feel relaxed and rejuvenated, and you will feel less stressed out.
Eat Well
Healthy eating habits are another vital requirement to keep your organs functioning properly. Add lots of green veggies and fruits to your diet so that you feel energetic and active. If needed, take added supplements such as multivitamins to improve your energy levels and metabolism.
Physical and Mental Fitness
Keep your physical and mental fitness in check and involve yourself in a good daily fitness routine. It could be a long morning run, a circuit training or a Zumba class, or a Yoga class. Yoga and meditation are highly recommended for those who are struggling with stress or trauma.
Therapeutic Activities
Many activities might make you feel good. It could be anything from playing a musical instrument, painting or sketching, spending time with a cute pet, or baby, or penning down your thoughts and feelings. All these activities are not only extremely therapeutic, but they also help to bring down your stress levels. Pick an activity that you love and spend time doing.
Seek Therapy
Counselling and therapy are excellent ways to deal with addiction, especially if the root cause of your addiction is stress and trauma. Therapists and counsellors are professionally certified individuals, and they will provide you with a comfortable setting so that you can let out whatever you want to without being judged. Therapists will give you mental exercises that will help you take charge of your life and control your urges in a better way.
Detox
There are Alcohol Detox programs available that are designed to suit you are individual physical and mental requirements. These detox programs help you undergo an extensive rehabilitation program within the comfort of your home. The program aims at pulling you out of any physical and mental stresses and provides you with a support system and an environment that helps you fight your addiction.
Page Reference
If you quote information from this page in your work, then the reference for this page is:
- TAYYAB, M. (2019) Addiction [WWW] Available from: https://www.brianmac.co.uk/articles/article448.htm [Accessed
About the Author
Mr. Tayyab is a freelance journalist who writes about nutrition and minerals to help athletes.