7 Ways To Free Yourself From Addiction

Addictions are tough to beat, but regardless of our feelings, they can be conquered. If you’ve ever tried changing one single habit like smoking, drinking, overeating or generally bad behaviours, to name a few, you’ll know that it’s not easy. One major key to successfully changing a habit is to keep trying regardless of how many previous failures lay behind us.

Breaking the Cycle of Addiction

Change is particularly difficult when habits form, but it’s doable. Facing the truth about our addiction leads to a realistic understanding of the consequences of remaining the same. Change involves many things including changing our old thinking patterns, replacing them with healthy ones and applying conscious effort to make that change possible. Change starts with taking a closer and serious look at ourselves and by realising, accepting and acknowledging the need for change.

Here’s a look at treating the whole person with a biblical and holistic approach to healing involving the mind (soul), body & spirit:

1. Be honest – Admit to yourself that you have a problem requiring change and take responsibility. This requires making some decisions for making life changes and accepting there will be concequences of not doing so. Nobody else can make this decision for us.
2. Pray about it – God wants us to come to him with all of our struggles. You can pray on your own, with a friend or family or church member. Tell God about your struggle with addiction, repent and ask him for help.Matthew 11:28-30 – “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
3. Be intentional – One of the keys to success is to break the mindless behaviour of addiction is by practicing self-control. Work out a plan of action and take one day at a time.
4. Answer some smart goals
   
   1. Where are you at present?
   2. Where you’d like to be?
   3. What steps you will take to take to get there?
   4. How will you know you have achieved your goals?
   5. What does success look like to you?
5. Keep a journal – This helps us to begin looking at and dealing with attitudes, thought process, particularly the lies we tell ourselves to justify what we do, write down the triggers and particularly take note where there’s anxiety, anger, unforgiveness, low self esteem, frustration or emotions linked to the habit we are trying to kick.
6. Get help & support when needed – Although it might sound like we are relinquishing our independence, seeking help is simply admitting we are human. Pride has no place in healing. The bible says that pride comes before a fall. We are social beings who depend on one another. Talking to a GP or to a counsellor for emotional support can empower us to reach goals. Take your journal with you if you have one.
7. When we don’t succeed – Try and Try again – Some of us need ongoing help and support to kick a habit. Others may need to try a few times before seeing the fruits of their labour. Try again and persevere until you reach your goal with or without help & support.

Our mental health is vital to our wellbeing as the body can do nothing without the brain. However, all the body parts work together to make up the whole human being. Looking after our physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing enables us to function at our full capacity, making us the best version of ourselves that we can possibly be.

Admin

Sources:

http://biblehub.com/proverbs/16-18.htm

https://www.success.com/article/how-to-change-yourself-in-positive-ways