There are few things in life that can compare to the difficulty of overcoming addiction. Addiction is a terrible disease that affects more and more of the population every day, and is no walk in the park to deal with. Addiction destroys your health, and relationships, and if left unchecked, can even destroy your life. 

If you’ve decided you want to overcome your addiction, or you’re curious to learn about the process, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s everything you need to know about addiction recovery, and how to get there. Follow this 6-step guide to overcome your battle, find your peace, and improve your health. 

Admit the problem

This step may seem inconsequential, but it is the most important and often overlooked step in your recovery. To get better and start the real work in your recovery, you first have to admit and acknowledge that you have a problem.

By doing this, you can start your healing process and you can approach your addiction the right way. Treating it as anything but a problem will only make your journey harder. When you allow yourself the honesty to admit you’re struggling, you can begin to combat your problem. Set yourself free and allow your recovery to begin. 

Seek professional advice

The easiest, best, and most effective way to overcome your addiction is to seek out professional help. Beating addiction is no easy feat and there’s no shame in asking for a helping hand. If you’re not sure where to start, read more here to learn about how a qualified clinical team can help you in your recovery.

Whether you want to do in-home treatment, go to a facility, or simply get therapy, seeking out help is the answer. If you can, give yourself the best starting point with professional help to push through your recovery. 

Put distance between your addiction

Whether you struggle with alcohol, nicotine, or drug addiction, you need to put some distance between you and the substance. Separating yourself from the thing you’re addicted to is the only way to break free from it.

Avoid places, people, and scenarios where you are most vulnerable to your addiction. You need to make a conscious decision to not engage in triggers and activities that can help you relapse. This can be difficult if you don’t have the time, funds, or resources, and can depend on your type of addiction, so keep that in mind. 

Enforce healthy coping mechanisms

It’s one thing to stay away from what you’re addicted to, it’s another to occupy your mind while you do it. The hardest part of recovery is finding the motivation and reason to do so. Many people successfully break free from addiction by finding and using the right coping mechanisms.

There are many ways to cope with your recovery in a healthy way. You can substitute your addiction for sports or other interests. You can also pick up healthy distraction tactics or you can practice saying mantras. Find your healthy coping mechanism and stick to it.

Hold yourself accountable

Unfortunately, no one is going to go through your recovery for you. You need to be able to take full responsibility for your actions as you navigate the world of overcoming addiction. Be honest with yourself about your process, progress, and struggles.

Going into recovery alone is hard, and there’s no shame in asking for a helping hand to get you through. Talk to your friends, family, and community to help both share the burden and have someone to hold you accountable. Find the strength to hold yourself accountable for both your losses and wins when it comes to recovery.

Be patient with yourself

Although you need to be tough on yourself, you also need to be your biggest motivator through your recovery. Overcoming addiction is extremely difficult and takes time, effort, and determination. You need to not be so hard on yourself if you are struggling and finding it difficult to quit.

Take things as they are, one day at a time, everyone fights their battle with addiction in their own unique ways. Learn to be patient with yourself and practice proper self-care when you can. There’s no right way to recover, all you can do is try your best.

Overcoming addiction is no easy feat, but with the right tools and motivation, anything is possible! To start your journey into recovery, you need to first admit the presence of a problem. Don’t be afraid to seek professional advice and tools to help you recover. You need to distance yourself from your triggers to stay on the right path. 

Don’t allow yourself to succumb to harmful coping mechanisms, and go towards the light. Remember to hold yourself accountable for your actions but to also be kind and patient with yourself. Rome was not built in a day, and neither was sobriety, so keep this guide in mind, and good luck!