| One of the most difficult things that people with | | | | program's aim should be, is to help people learn new |
| addictions struggle with is to keep their minds off | | | | ways to focus on what they want in their life. So, as |
| drugs. The longer a person has used drugs or alcohol | | | | people get their life back they start to desire to get |
| to cope with life, use it as a coping mechanism, the | | | | their family back, get a job or promotion, learn stress |
| harder they will find to stop using. Why? Because | | | | and anger management techniques, be able to cope |
| they are programed in some way to automatically | | | | with emotional distress, learn good communication |
| think about alcohol or drugs to make themselves feel | | | | skills, have a great support network and most of all, |
| better. | | | | understand that whatever they focus on is what |
| Let me ask you a question: | | | | they get, whether positive or negative. |
| If I said to you to try as hard as you can to not | | | | Here are some very important principles that anyone |
| think about a pink Elephant with a purple tail, what is | | | | who wants to stop an addiction from controlling then |
| the first thing that comes up in your mind? You see, | | | | can do to maximise their success: |
| our mind is made to focus on what stands out and | | | | - use the two "D's" principle - delay and distract: If |
| takes our attention. As soon as I mentioned the | | | | you are craving then tell yourself that you will not |
| Elephant, you would have pictured this in your mind, | | | | use for 10 mins (delay) then you find something to |
| and the thought of this weird Elephant will stick in | | | | do that you know will help you stop thinking about |
| your mind for some time. So it is with an addiction. | | | | your cravings (distract). |
| What you focus on is what you will get. Have you | | | | - Call someone who knows you and has already |
| ever experienced watching TV and then an | | | | offered to help you in these circumstances |
| advertisement comes on about some food or drink, | | | | - Get out of the house and go for a walk (but don't |
| and then you get the taste for it and want it. The | | | | get into trouble by walking into a risky situation) |
| more you think about it the more you want it. It is | | | | - Listen to music or play music |
| no different with an addiction. The more you have | | | | - Read through your goals and plans for the future, |
| that in your mind the more you will want it. | | | | or write them if you don't have them already |
| A successful outpatient addiction program will work | | | | - Experience mindfulness, by allowing yourself to feel |
| because it focuses on helping people get what they | | | | - Do relaxation techniques |
| want not what they don't want. Most people keep | | | | - Meditate |
| thinking about what they they don't want when they | | | | - Do something fun, watch comedy, have a laugh In |
| are giving up their drug of choice. They tell | | | | a simple way, the way to maximise your success in |
| themselves that they must say no, that they have | | | | stopping an addiction for good is to start living your |
| to be strong and stop the cravings. But what ends | | | | life the way you want to and have desired to, not |
| up happening is that they desire it more and more | | | | avoid using drugs or drinking alcohol. It is also vital |
| until they lapse or worse relapse. | | | | that you chose an outpatient addiction program that |
| One of the things that an outpatient addiction | | | | is suited to your needs. |