| Many people have an addiction of some type - and | | | | it will on a gradual basis over time. |
| many of these folks would like to eliminate it. While | | | | Instead of watching TV all night, how about you and |
| there are wide variations in addictions - from drugs to | | | | your significant other going to bed earlier? Now, that |
| gambling to overeating, all can have serious long term | | | | could be fun! Or, simply going to bed and getting |
| consequences. | | | | more rest will provide benefits. Or, instead of heading |
| The best way to determine if you are addicted to | | | | to the refrigerator all the time, take a walk for 20 |
| something is to ask yourself if the behavior in | | | | minutes. Once you start doing that, you'll be amazed |
| question is causing you enough trouble to consider | | | | at how much more enjoyable it is - you'll likely see |
| stopping or at least cutting back. If you answer | | | | people on your walk and you'll feel a whole lot better |
| honestly and find that your answer is yes, give these | | | | in time. Or, instead of sitting at the computer and |
| 6 strategies a try when attempting to break your | | | | chatting all afternoon, why not get out and volunteer. |
| addiction: | | | | The positive feelings you'll gain from this type of |
| 1. Watch Out For Behavior Triggers | | | | activity will do wonders for you. |
| Let's say you are trying to quit smoking. The last | | | | 4. Substitute Good Behaviors For Bad Ones |
| thing you want to do is to go to a smoke filled party. | | | | Develop substitute habits to help you manage your |
| Or, if you've got a shopping addiction, stay the heck | | | | cravings. For example, instead of lighting up a |
| away from computer come Christmas time. It may | | | | cigarette, why not chew gum or a piece of celery? |
| be a simple issue of staying away from places you | | | | Sure, the substitutions will likely be temporary, but |
| frequent or people that are bad influences. As time | | | | substitutes can become a really healthful way break |
| goes on, you'll likely find that these behavior / | | | | addictive behaviors. After a while, you'll likely find the |
| location triggers will become less and less of an issue | | | | substitutes will become second nature and will take |
| for you, but in the beginning, they can be extremely | | | | the place of the old ones. |
| powerful. | | | | 5. Consider A Support Group |
| 2. Make It More Difficult To Indulge | | | | There are support groups for just about any |
| Addictions are strongly grounded in habits, which | | | | addiction you can think of. The groups are free and |
| means that many will engage in a behavior without | | | | are made up of folks in the same situation as |
| even thinking about it. Smokers are great for this - | | | | yourself and are in various states of recovery. Those |
| they will often be puffing away on a cigarette and | | | | who have been in these groups for a long period of |
| not even remember lighting it! Over eaters may | | | | time can actually act as role models and mentors |
| make a trip to the kitchen for something to eat and | | | | which really helps the rest of the rest of the group |
| not even remember leaving the couch. | | | | immensely. |
| Making things harder to access the items at the root | | | | As with any group, however, you may find that the |
| of your addiction can go a long way in helping you | | | | one you join is not a match for your personality. If |
| break the addiction in question. A great way for a | | | | so, simply find another group. You'll likely need 4 or 5 |
| smoker to break this type of behavior for example, | | | | meetings to decide if that particular group is a good |
| may be to put a pack of cigarettes in a box and | | | | fit for you. |
| wrap the box in rubber bands. Now this doesn't mean | | | | 6. Learn From Setbacks |
| that you won't continue to smoke, but you won't be | | | | Very few people go through the process of breaking |
| doing it without realizing what you are doing. Pull the | | | | an addiction without having a relapse at some point. |
| plug on your computer if you've got a problem with | | | | The key is not to give up if you find yourself |
| your Internet use. Get alcohol, pornography or other | | | | relapsing into your addiction. As yourself why it |
| "forbidden" things out of your house. By placing | | | | happened and learn from it. Don't get down in the |
| obstacles in between you and your addiction, you'll be | | | | dumps and simply say you can't do it! Persistence is |
| forced to think about what you are doing. | | | | key when breaking an addiction. The fact is that |
| 3. Find New And Exciting Ways To Be Fulfilled | | | | anyone that keeps going in breaking their addiction |
| If you are truly serious about breaking your addiction, | | | | will indeed be successful. |
| you are going to have to find something new and | | | | Eventually, you will run out of excuses and ways to |
| exciting to replace it. In doing so, you'll be developing | | | | make mistakes and will move towards building a life |
| new habits and will change your sources of | | | | that is filled with satisfaction and pleasure without the |
| satisfaction in your life. It won't happen overnight, but | | | | need for addictive behavior. |