Are you a smoker? Do you like a big glass of wine in the evenings? There are a number of things we can become addicted to. Smoking and alcohol are the most common. But it doesn’t end there. Other common addictions include gambling and comfort eating. And let’s not forget about possibly the worst addiction there is: drugs.
Today, many of us lead busy lives and have a lot of stress to cope with from high-powered jobs. For some people, relaxing with a beer, cigarette, or our favorite dessert can be a brilliant way to calm down and cope with all the day’s anxieties. However, relying on various substances to help us chill out can all too easily turn into a dangerous addiction. One cigarette a day can quickly become a whole packet a day. That one glass of beer or wine one night a week often ends up being four or five glasses every night.
As soon as an addiction takes hold of you, your life can quickly spin out of control. As you become more and more reliant on a substance, you will end up spending a lot on it. This can lead to uncontrollable debts and a bad credit score. Not only that but you could find that your relationships with all your friends and family become strained. An addiction can turn us into monsters; you could easily become completely unrecognizable to your loved ones.
Have you been reading this blog post and nodding your head at all the points? If so, it sounds like you may have an addiction. Here are five of the most common ones and how to recognize if you have one.
Smoking
Smoking is a very dangerous habit as it results in cancers and many other life-threatening health issues. As the problems associated with smoking only became apparent a few decades ago, many people continue to smoke. Because they started their habit before the risks became clear. But even if you have been smoking for years, you will still be able to stop. It might just take a bit more effort. How do you know if you are addicted to smoking? If you are smoking at least ten cigarettes a day, then it is far to say you have a problem. Any fewer, and it will be easier to quit. But more than ten will probably see you suffer through some difficult withdrawal symptoms. If you feel like giving up is too much, you can always switch to a low tar and low nicotine substitute, such as vaporizers.
Alcohol
Drinking alcohol is perfectly acceptable as long as you stick to the guidelines. The guidelines are there so that you know how much is a safe amount of alcohol to drink in one session. If you exceed these, then you could be putting yourself at risk of addiction. The signs of an alcohol addiction are very clear. However, many addicts choose to ignore that they have a problem. One of the main signs of an addiction is being reliant on alcohol and unable to get through the day without it.
Comfort Eating
Also known as an addiction to food, comfort eating is when we use food to help improve our emotions. Many people may treat themselves to a tasty cake whenever they are having a bad day. However, it becomes an addiction when you start to rely on the food to improve your mood. Do you ever continue eating even though you feel full? Then the chances are you have a problem with comfort eating. The opposite of comfort eating is mindful eating. Not sure which one relates to you? You can read about the difference online: https://helpguide.org/articles/diet-weight-loss/emotional-eating.htm
Gambling
Gambling is quite different from the other addictions mentioned on this list. Because it involves being addicted to an activity rather than a substance. Even though it may not be a direct risk to your health, it can still destroy your life. Gambling addicts can not stop betting money in a variety of ways. Maybe they can’t stop playing slot machines, or placing bets on horseracing. You can easily tell if you are addicted to gambling. You will spend an excessive amount of time gambling and will find it tricky to stop. This can lead to uncontrollable debts, which can inturn lead to mental health problems.
Drugs
A drug addiction is definitely one of the most difficult to overcome. Drugs can take a very firm hold on your body, which results in some very dangerous health issues. Most addicts start off as recreational drug users. However, overtime, they slowly become resistant to weak drugs, such as cannabis. They then move on to harder class A drugs like cocaine and heroine. Drug addicts will find it almost impossible to get through the day without taking a hit. If they go a long time without drugs, then they could find they suffer from unpleasant mental and physical symptoms.
If you think you may suffer from one of the above addictions, it is very important to get help as soon as possible. Want to know what to do? Here are some tips to help you overcome this dark period.
- Chat To Friends And Family
It is really important to let your friends and family know what you are currently going through. You will certainly need some support at one stage of another as you go through the recovery process. Your close ones are the perfect people to help you. They can also help you stay away from whatever it is you are addicted to. Everyone has heard various stories about just how hard it is to get clean from addictions. So your family and friends will know that they have to be there for you. If you ever go through a rocky patch, don’t be afraid to give them a call to let them know you are finding it tough. They would definitely rather you do that than return to your dangerous addiction again.
- Be Clear About Your Reasons For Getting Clean
Once you have decided to ditch the addiction, sit down and go through your reasons for doing so. Coming up with a list of reasons will give you a purpose. They can also keep you motivated and determined to get clean during the hard times. The reasons can be anything at all. But the most common are due to strained relationships with close ones and health issues. Many addicts also cite wanting to regain control of their life as a major reason for getting clean. Whatever yours are, you need to be clear about them and remember them. Write them down if you need to. Then, whenever you find withdrawal difficult and consider going back to your addiction, you can look over them. This will remind you why you are getting clean.
- Go To Rehab
If things become too much and you struggle with giving up an addiction, you could benefit from professional help. Rehabilitation centers – also known as rehab – will have various programs that you can sign up for. There will be programs that require you to live on site for a specific period of time. Some courses may only require you to go in for the day, and you can continue living at home. While at rehab, you will meet many other people who are struggling with various addictions. It will be encouraged for you to share your story and support each other as you progress in your journey to clean living. Some rehab centers specialize in specific addictions, so you will possible need to find one tailored to your needs. You can find out more about different rehab centers online on websites such as https://arcproject.org.uk/drug-rehab/.
You will find a healthy lifestyle will be advantageous during your recovery period. By following a nutritious diet, you are giving your body the best chance it has to overcome all the physical withdrawal symptoms. Eat plenty of fresh greens and healthy protein sources. It is best to stay away from sugar, as some people can become addicted to it. For some delicious recipe ideas, take a look online: http://.jamieoliver.com/recipes/category/course/quick-healthy-recipes/. It isn’t all about eating healthily, though. You should also start exercising regularly. This is good for both your mental and physical wellbeing. By getting fit, you will be in better shape to fight your addiction!
As you can see, the road to recovery isn’t going to be easy. But the hard journey will be worth it in the long run. Once you are clean from your addiction, you can go back to living your life to its fullest. Your confidence will grow and you will feel able to take each day and live it to the max! Not only that but your friends and family will certainly notice a change in your moods and emotions. Good luck with ditching the addiction – once you do, you’ll never look back!
