Quitting something can seem incredibly hard, so much so that we don’t even want to put ourselves through the suffering.
Have you tried giving up alcohol? drugs? Biting your nails? Complaining? Cigarettes? Junk food?
It’s hard to quit an addiction, but there are several things that stand in our way:
Have you tried giving up alcohol? drugs? Biting your nails? Complaining? Cigarettes? Junk food?
It’s hard to quit an addiction, but there are several things that stand in our way:
- The physical addiction - this is hard but it only lasts a few days. If you really put your mind to it, you can do anything hard for a few days.
- The reliance on it as a coping mechanism - this is a problem because we’re so used to using the addiction as a crutch when we’re stressed or sad or things are difficult or we need to socialize. Fortunately, there are plenty of other healthier ways to cope.
- You don’t believe you can do it - This is the worst one, because if you give in to this obstacle, the other two are not conquerable. Fortunately, this one is entirely self-caused, and so the solution is entirely within our hands.
Physical Addiction:
The suffering of withdrawing from physical addiction is tough that may last for a few days. But do you know what’s tougher? Going through pregnancy and labor, running a marathon or ultramarathon or doing some other physical challenge. Starting your own business or going on stage or cramming for the bar exam or going through a tough disease or helping a loved one who is dying or raising a child.
These are things many of us have done — not all of them, but perhaps one or two. And if you haven’t done these things, you’ve done other hard things. Hard things aren’t things to be dreaded. We can make it through them, and be stronger and better off having done it.
Some tips to get you through a hard few days of overcoming physical addiction:
Some tips to get you through a hard few days of overcoming physical addiction:
- Be accountable. Tell others you’re doing it, and ask them to hold you accountable. Just telling them won’t get you through it, but knowing they’re watching and checking on you and encouraging you will.
- Have support. Ask a few close friends to support you. Call on them when you get strong urges. Ask for their help. Lean on them.
- Distract yourself. Keep yourself busy. Don’t dwell on the suffering. Do stuff.
- Create your environment. Get rid of the cigarettes or sugar. Don’t go out with friends if you’re trying to quit alcohol or cigarettes or junk food — just for a few days. Stock up on healthy stuff. Make your environment friendly to your change.
- Get good at getting through an urge. An urge isn’t an absolute command. It’s an itch. You can overcome it. Watch the urge, let it rise, and know that it will pass in a minute. Get through it. Then you’re good.