Treating a vice is very difficult. Unlike a medical condition, where a person is forced to address a problem as soon as possible, most people prolong their addiction treatment for this or that reason. In many cases, they don’t want to admit they have an issue, or they might not perceive it as a big deal. Sometimes, people are afraid of criticism and moral judgment.

Regardless, you need to approach this issue with utmost dedication. Eliminating an addiction is very hard, but there are ways to make it easier. Here are 7 methods for eliminating an addiction.

1.   Embrace the issue

As you can guess, you cannot start treatment if you are unwilling to admit there is an issue. Whether it’s a lack of strength or something else, people often sweep the problem under the rug. Admitting your addiction takes courage, and it is the necessary first step toward recovery.

People occasionally feel ashamed to face their families and friends, which is the worst thing you can do. Whatever the case, you will need someone to talk to. If you wish to start your recovery process, we recommend that you visit a doctor or therapist if you can’t share the problem with family members.

2.   Make a journal dating back to your sober days

Create a journal that dates back to your clean days. Write down all the fun things you did in the past. If you cannot remember them, go to your social media profile and find the pictures when you were clean and happy.

Put these things in your journal and after that, describe a few days when you were on drugs or alcohol. Once you start the treatment, write down impressions after every day. By reading back your diary over and over again, it is easier to realize how happier you are without the vice.

Furthermore, keeping a diary is important if you have a relapse. You can write down the triggers and the things that made you go back to the vice. That way, you can try to eliminate them in the future or at least distance yourself from them.

3.   Ask for help

Talking to a therapist or a doctor is just a small part of the process. You will need full professional support to overcome the issue. Just by visiting your local addiction recovery center, you can exponentially increase your odds of recovery.

Most of these places have customized programs meant to tackle your specific case. Furthermore, there is around-the-clock medical support, which is especially important if you’re close to relapse or having dark thoughts.

4.   Consider the triggers

We have already talked a bit about the triggers. In most cases, these things cause an emotional reaction, not necessarily a chemical reaction. In other words, the triggers drive us into relapse without us even realizing it.

The most common ones are isolation, stress, environment, mental or physical issues, or emotional struggles. Although identifying triggers will not help you eliminate them, you can at least realize what’s leading to addictive behavior and try to avoid it.

5.   Make crucial changes in your life

In most cases, addiction is caused by various things within our environment. Whether it’s stress, lifestyle, or something else, these things might be connected to our friends and people close to us. Sometimes, we need to change our social circle to get out of the circle of addiction.

Among others, you might wish to consider how you’re dealing with stress. Many people turn to drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes when under pressure. Think about your free time and how you can make it better. Doing something constructive usually helps and will turn you away from vices.

6.   Start working out

There are a few good reasons why you should start working out. First off, exercising can help balance your hormones and other substances in the body. That way, it will become much harder to take foreign substances. For example, the more you’re exercising, the harder it becomes to smoke after workouts.

However, this will also provide other important benefits. You will feel much better in your body, thus receiving a boost of confidence. It can also have a positive impact on your sleep, stress levels, and brain function.

7.   Accept your failures

To eliminate an addiction, you will have to do a lot of mental work. Among others, you need a clean slate. Accept your failures and stop feeling remorse for your past action. This will create a good basis for the recovery but will also eliminate the chance of a relapse.