When it comes to a drug addiction there is one absolute: you have to want to stop. Yes, you can be forced to go without drugs whether you are seeking help or are incarcerated, but without the motivation and will to overcome your addiction you will relapse again and again. Whether you are battling a heroin addiction or an addiction to alcohol, it is important that you make the decision, and follow through with that choice, to improve your relationships, health, and even save your life.
Addiction Cannot Be Forced Out of Your Life
Loved ones will often times try to use tough love to try and break your addiction. Maybe they withhold their assistance or affection or threaten to do so if you do not change. However, this more times than not just makes the urge to use or to drink even stronger. Friends and family need to understand that addiction is a disease and their threats will only further assert the feelings of emptiness, depression, and loss that you are using the drugs to treat in the first place.
You need to be sure that the people you surround yourself with will support you and your decision to be sober. Your support system will be an integral part of the recovery process.
Preparing Yourself for a Major Change
Overcoming an addiction such as a heroin addiction
is not something that will be easy—it is something you will have to work at every day of your life. The most important thing is that you have to be ready and realize that no matter how hard each day may be, the ends have to justify the means. You have to believe that the suffering you will face when detoxing and then when avoiding temptation will be worth it because you can repair broken relationships, improve your health, and keep yourself alive.
Ask yourself:
1) What is more important to you: the drugs or your life?
2) Are you happy with your life?
3) Do you want to make a change?
4) Do you want to be healthy?
5) Will you commit to making this change?
6) Do you have a strong support system?
7) Can you resist temptation after detox?
When you are ready and committed to making a serious change in your life that is when you should look into ways to get your life back on track.
Citations:
- Alll images credited to Flickr Creative Commons
Michele Filipkowski is a part of an elite team of writers who have contributed to hundreds of blogs related to medication and addiction. Follow her @micheleashley89