How to Cure Addictions

Addiction can be described as "The fact or condition of being addicted to a particular substance, thing, or activity." However, an 'addiction' is much deeper than what meets the definition stated. Addictions show up as a dependency, a habit, compulsion, fixation or worse yet an enslavement to something in our lives that seems to have power over us to the point that we have a hard time breaking away and becoming free of that thing.

Let's go deeper into what an addiction really is aside what the dictionary describes in order for us to breakdown what it looks like to become free of addiction. Addictions are result of ones trying to fill a void or answer the call of brokenness in one's soul. The addicted person will require the addiction again and again to satisfy a feeling or want and it makes them feel whole on a subconscious level. Addictions are like like putting salve on a wound that never truly heals. The addiction's control of us hurts. Addictions make us feel less than because they control us and we know they have control on us. Yet we still partake in it because it is like a dopamine hit when we partake. How do we get around addictions and heal from them?

What creates an addiction? Addictions often times are us escaping from a void in our soul placed there through brokenness or unmet desire or loss of identity. Sometimes addictions are created as an escape from the mire of life and we are under the impression that these addictions take us to a more fun reality or higher level. Unfortunately, if this addiction is doing damage to your bodies, minds or current realities then it is taking you to a lower level not a higher level in life. There is a way to live from a higher place outside addictions.

Here are a few ways to remedy addictions.

1. Recognize that you have an addiction. There can be many types of addictions including; food, movies, sex, drugs, money, porn. Anything that you have to partake in and cannot say "no" can be an addiction. Be specific in your addiction when you start to fast it and get free of it. For example, don't just "accept" that you are addicted to movies. Name the movies and break down which specific movies are drawing you in and have a hold on your soul.

2. Acknowledge your circle of friends. Find yourself in a group of people that will hold you accountable for stopping the addiction. Get away from the people or things that trigger your addiction. Peer pressure can be a powerful thing when dealing with an addiction. Stay with people that encourage you to grow beyond the addictions, pray for you, and most importantly hold you accountable.

3. Set boundaries: Put boundaries on things that would trigger you in the addiction. For example, turning off the internet or putting blockers on your internet when you are tempted to go to something you are addicted to. Stay away from bars and restaurants that serve alcohol if you are addicted to alcohol. etc. If you are an impulse spender or money makes the addiction available to you, stop the funding.

4. Break away from addictions in parts. Start with the small addictions and then attack the bigger addictions next. Some addictions are so large that you have to separate them into smaller pieces in order to overcome them. Rome was not built in a day, so be easy on yourself.

5. Take care of all sore points in your life that bring you to a lower state. A few examples include; loss of finances, loss of love for self or partner, a terrible boss, etc. The state of your environment can also have a hold on you and bring you to a lower state. Do what you can to get relief from anything that pulls you into a downward spiral. Being in a lower state causes you to be more easily triggered and more able to turn to addictions for escape. Once you can transcend addiction, there will be no need for them in your life and no pull from them on your physic.

6. Focus on pursuing wholeness, healing, and happiness of heart. The happier more whole you are, the less your soul is looking for a reprieve or salve through addictions. When the heart is is healed there are no access points or portals for addictions to take claim and root themselves in your life. To become whole and healed, look for areas of where you have been hurt recently or in the past and forgive and accept that you were hurt and then move on. You may even across root causes of where the addiction started in the first place.

7. Most importantly be gentle with yourself and love yourself through the process of healing from addiction. Celebrate the win when you do overcome the addiction so you can create more wins. Don't be down on yourself if you take a few steps backwards on your journey forward. As long as you try every day and keep going you will eventually overcome addiction.

What are some ways you have healed from addiction? List them below.

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