How to give up Drug Addiction

What is Drug addiction
Drug addiction or substance use disorder is defined as a progressive disease that causes people to lose control of the use of some substance despite worsening consequences of that use. People who have an addiction to drugs cannot simply quit, even if they want to. Abusing alcohol, illegal substances or certain prescription drugs can create changes in the brain, causing powerful cravings and a compulsion to use. The drugs change the brain in a way that makes quitting physically and mentally difficult. Developing an addiction to drugs isn’t a character flaw or a sign of moral weakness, and it takes more than willpower to overcome the problem.
How to recognize if one is addicted, Why do people with substance use disorder need more and more drugs over time?
The first step in quitting drugs is to admit that you have a problem.  For many people struggling with addiction, the toughest step is the very first one: recognizing that you have a problem and deciding to make a change. It’s normal to not believe you are addicted as it hits at the very core of our self esteem. It’s normal to feel conflicted about giving up your drug of choice, even when you know it’s causing problems in your life. It’s okay to feel torn.
We should be asking ourselves some hard to answer questions. If you’re not sure, ask yourself the following questions:

• Are you taking drugs first thing in the morning or to get through the day?
• Do friends or family worry or complain about your drug use?
• Do you lie about how much you’re using?
• Have you sold possessions or stolen to pay for your drug habit?
• Have you participated in dangerous or risky activities, such as driving under the influence, having unprotected sex, or using dirty needles?
• Do you feel that you’ve lost control of your drug taking?
• Are you having problems with relationships?
• Keep track of your drug use, including when and how much you use. This will give you a better sense of the role the addiction is playing in your life.
• Know your triggers. Keeping track of your drug use can help you identify habits, emotions, and social situations that trigger the desire to take drugs.
• List the pros and cons of quitting, as well as the costs and benefits of continuing your drug use.
• Consider the things that are important to you, such as your partner, your kids, your pets, your career, or your health. How does your drug use affect those things?
• Ask someone you trust about their feelings on your drug use.
• Ask yourself if there’s anything preventing you from changing. What could help you make the change?

The honest answers to these sorts of questions will tell us whether we are willing to accept our problem. Then one begins the process of realizing that change is a must and quitting the high giving substance of choice has become a necessity.
What to do if one is addicted
If you or a loved one is experiencing substance use disorder, ask Zorbacare, the best rehab in Mumbai:

 How can I stop taking drugs?
 What is the best treatment plan for me?
 How long will the withdrawal symptoms last?
 How long does therapy take?
 What can I do to prevent a relapse?

You may feel uncertain about whether you’re ready to give up your substance use, or if you have what it takes to quit. If you’re addicted to a prescription drug, you may be concerned about how you’re going to find an alternate way to treat a medical condition. Think about change,
Key steps you can take include:

• avoiding places where you know drugs and alcohol will be available
• surrounding yourself with friends who don\’t use drugs
• knowing how to resist temptation
• learning how to cope with stress and relax without drugs
• distracting yourself with activities like exercise or listening to music.
• Remind yourself of the reasons you want to change.
• Think about your past attempts at recovery, if any. What worked? What didn’t?
• Set specific, measurable goals, such as a start date or limits on your drug use.
• Remove reminders of your addiction from your home, workplace, and other places you frequent.
• Tell friends and family that you’re committing to recovery, and ask for their support.

Recovery requires time, motivation, and support, but by making a commitment to change, you can overcome your addiction and regain control of your life. Committing to sobriety involves changing many things, including:

 the way you deal with stress
 who you allow in your life
 what you do in your free time
 how you think about yourself

Very often we find we are not willing to do the things necessary to stay in recovery. Yet we have to find a way to push ourselves to do these things. Reward yourself for success – with an enjoyable, drug-free activity such as going to a movie, or planning a holiday – and take it easy on yourself if you mess up.
It’s OK to fail, just don’t give up trying.
Explore your addiction treatment options; Tips for finding the best drug addiction treatment for you
Everyone’s needs are different. Whether you have a problem with alcohol, illegal or prescription drugs, addiction treatment should be customized to your unique situation. It’s important that you find a program that feels right.
Addiction affects your whole life, including your relationships, career, health, and psychological well-being. The care you need depends on a variety of factors, including your age, drug-use history, medical or psychiatric conditions. Treatment success depends on developing a new way of living and addressing the reasons why you turned to drugs in the first place.
Commitment and follow-through are key. Drug addiction treatment is not a quick and easy process. Generally, the longer and more intense the drug use, the longer and more intense the treatment you’ll need. And in all cases, long-term follow-up care is crucial to recovery.
Seek treatment for any mental health problems simultaneously. Your best chance of recovery is by getting combined mental health and addiction treatment from the same treatment provider or team.
Find support for your addiction recovery. Once you’ve committed to recovery, it’s time to explore your treatment choices. While addiction treatment can vary according to the specific drug, a successful program often includes different elements, such as:
  Detoxification. Usually the first step is to purge your body of drugs and manage withdrawal symptoms. By going cold turkey – you stop taking drugs suddenly, with no outside help or support. Or you can opt for medically assisted withdrawal treatment.
  Medication can manage withdrawal symptoms, prevent relapse, or treat any co-occurring mental health condition such as depression or anxiety.
  Rehabilitation (rehab) – this is a longer term treatment where you stay in a hospital or clinic, or at home. It also involves psychological treatment to help you deal with issues that may have contributed to your drug use
  Behavioral counseling. Individual, group, and/or family therapy can help you identify the root causes of your drug use, repair your relationships, and learn healthier coping skills.
  Counseling and lifestyle changes – individual or group therapy can help you learn to cope without drugs.
  Long-term follow-up can help to prevent relapse and maintain sobriety.
Just as drugs affect each person differently, treatment needs to be individual. It’s important to find a program that works for you. Zorbacare rehab centre in Mumbai can help you decide.
How difficult is it to give up, what happens when one tries to give up
After addressing your immediate problems with addiction and starting treatment, you’ll still have to face the problems that led to your drug abuse. Did you start using to numb painful emotions, calm yourself after an argument, unwind after a bad day, or forget about your problems?
Once you’re sober, the negative feelings that you dampened with drugs will resurface. For treatment to be successful, you’ll first need to resolve your underlying issues.
Once you have resolved your underlying issues, you will, at times, continue to experience stress, loneliness, frustration, anger, shame, anxiety, and hopelessness. These emotions are all a normal part of life. Finding ways to address these feelings as they arise is an essential component to your treatment and recovery. Learn healthy ways to cope with stress
You can learn to manage your problems without falling back on your addiction. When you’re confident in your ability to quickly de-stress, facing strong feelings isn’t as intimidating or overwhelming.
Keep drug triggers and cravings in check
Your recovery doesn’t end at getting sober. Your brain still needs time to recover and rebuild connections that changed while you were addicted. During this rebuild, drug cravings can be intense. You can support your continued recovery by avoiding people, places, and situations that trigger your urge to use:
Sometimes craving cannot be avoided, and it is necessary to find a way to cope. When experiencing a craving, many people have a tendency to remember only the positive effects of the drug and forget the negative consequences. Therefore, you may find it helpful to remind yourself that you really won’t feel better if you use and that you stand to lose a lot.
Build a meaningful drug-free life.
You can support your drug treatment and protect yourself from relapse by having activities and interests that provide meaning to your life. It’s important to be involved in things that you enjoy, that make you feel needed, and add meaning to your life. When your life is filled with rewarding activities and a sense of purpose, your addiction will lose its appeal.
What causes relapse?
Relapse is a common part of the recovery process from drug addiction. While relapse is frustrating and discouraging, it can be an opportunity to learn from your mistakes, identify additional triggers, and correct your treatment course.
Different “triggers” can put you at risk of relapsing into old patterns of substance use. While specific causes of relapse differ from person to person, some common triggers include:

• Negative emotional state (such as stress, sadness, anger, or trauma)
• Positive emotional state (feeling happy and wanting to feel even better, such as having a good time with friends)
• Physical discomfort (such as pain or withdrawal symptoms)
• Trying to test your personal control (“I can use just once” or “have just one pill”)
• Strong temptation or urge (craving to use)
• Conflict (such as an argument with your spouse or partner)
• Social pressure (being in a situation where it seems everyone else is using)

The important thing to remember is that relapse doesn’t mean drug treatment failure. Don’t give up. When you’re sober again and out of danger, look at what triggered the relapse, what went wrong, and what you could have done differently. You can choose to get back on the path to recovery and use the experience to strengthen your commitment
What is the outlook for people with substance use disorder?.
If you continue to misuse drugs, brain structures and functions can change. Substance use disorder alters how you:

• Behave.
• Deal with stress.
• Learn.
• Make judgments and decisions.
• Store memories.

Addiction is a lifelong disease. But people can recover from addiction and lead full lives. Getting help is essential to recovery