Setting a number of days when you’re “supposed” to have broken a habit is a surefire way to get frustrated and throw in the towel after not seeing results based upon your expectations. Keep in mind that an addictive cycle includes a range of bad habits, so breaking a cycle will require breaking each of the habits involved in the cycle. Addiction is a cycle that entraps individuals in a pattern of use, tolerance, dependence, and pursuit of often harmful substances or behaviors. This cycle is driven by changes in brain chemistry and structure, leading to an overpowering need that overshadows health, relationships, and personal well-being. This cycle feeds itself through both physical withdrawal and emotional pain. Even when someone wants to change, their brain and body fight against them.
The signs of substance addiction
GABA is the brain’s primary inhibitory neurotransmitter, which helps to calm neural activity. Many addictive substances, especially depressants, enhance GABA activity, leading to relaxation and sedation. However, prolonged use can desensitize the brain’s GABA receptors, making it harder for the brain to regulate anxiety and stress without the substance.
Recovery starts with total abstinence.
If you observe a couple of these signs in a loved one, they may be hiding an addiction, and you may need to encourage them to seek help. By cutting back on unnecessary distractions, you can focus on calmer, healthier pursuits that promote balance. Over time, this creates a more stable mental state, making it easier to manage cravings and stay on track. With alcohol, this could be hearing a particular song from drinking days in college. With opioid abuse, it could be just the sight of a specific neighborhood where she meets suppliers.
Substance Abuse Treatment Program
Breaking free from this cycle may seem impossible, but with the right tools, support, and professional treatment, lasting recovery is entirely achievable. Addiction alters the brain chemistry affecting the Oxford House process of thought and decision-making. The definition of addiction also includes strong references to denial, minimization and justification, all of which are primitive internal defense mechanisms. After the addiction is acknowledged, the addict may ultimately be forced to decide to stop using chemicals, thus breaking the cycle of addiction.
Focus on Mindful Activities
Sugar is one of the least recognized addictions but also one of the hardest to overcome. In a nutshell, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy proposes that dysfunctional thinking, which in turns influences a person’s emotions and behavior, is at the root of all psychological problems. Unless the weather is extremely sunny, it’s best not to wear sunglasses, prescription glasses, or contact lenses to obtain a healthy dose of full-spectrum light. Nuts and seeds also contain essential fatty acids, which help reduce withdrawal symptoms. Studies show that yoga can be an effective exercise to help overcome addictions like smoking. The breathing technique, also known as “relaxing breath,” helps reduce anxiety.
Most of the time, relying on personal strength and self-discipline is insufficient to overcome addiction. A structured rehabilitation program can be a valuable ally in this process. Such programs can help individuals regain control and establish a healthier, more balanced life. Keep track of your substance use to identify habits, emotions, and social situations that trigger your cravings. Understanding the factors that contribute to cravings can help you avoid or manage such situations. For instance, if work-related stress makes you want to consume alcohol, think about how you can manage this stress differently.
Alcohol Abuse on the Rise Among College Students – What’s Driving the Trend?
These steps rebuild your brain chemistry naturally, improving your mood and lowering relapse risk. LiveRehab.com offers online courses and tools to help you do just that; from building healthy routines to managing cravings in real time. Make a routine out of practicing those healthy habits in order to maintain them. Ultimately, Lembke says, this is a universal problem – not one limited to those of us struggling with the disease of addiction – that has come with living in modern life. And to restore our sanity, collectively we must rethink how to navigate a dopamine overloaded world. A dopamine hit brings about pleasure, and then is quickly followed by pain, or a come-down, in order to keep us motivated.
Triggers could be stress, an argument, or being around people who use the substance of choice or engage in the same addictive activity. Avoiding or eliminating these triggers is crucial to breaking the addiction cycle. In the fourth stage, the individual does not only need the substance or the activity for pleasure; they need it for normal functioning.
- Many people experience setbacks and use them as learning experiences to strengthen their recovery plan.
- By understanding addiction, seeking professional care, and fostering supportive connections, you can help break the cycle of drug addiction.
The how to break the addiction cycle first stage in the addiction cycle could be triggered by peer pressure, boredom, stress, curiosity, or performance enhancement. Typically, a crisis moment brings some clarity and a resolve not to use the substance again. A period of abstinence follows until the individual encounters a trigger, and a craving for the substance overwhelms them. Addicts trying to quit without help will eventually lose control and fall back to substance use. Relapse often returns addicts to dependence, the stage that prevents most addicts from breaking out of the cycle. Most addicts are oblivious to the cycle they’re trapped in and may not see the need to seek help.