Giving up an addiction is the hardest obstacle in life to do. The addiction is such a struggle to give up because we like the substance or thing we are addicted to.
I love the way coffee makes me feel in the morning when I drink it. The smell of it brewing, the taste, and then the tingling feeling in my brain after gulping down the first drink. I continue to drink coffee because I love it! Using alcohol, marijuana, consuming excessive amounts of fried chicken, or winning lottery tickets feel good to those who engage in those substances, activities or eat certain foods. Why would we give up something that feels so good? This is why it is so hard to quit a substance or behavior that we love, but sometimes it is necessary for our health, financial situation, relationships, etc. We need to ask what is the cost or risk of continuing the addiction or behavior? Good thing my coffee addiction doesn't present too many risks!-- That's easy to say with all other addictions too.
Though addiction/behavior-educational material is important through this process, this isn't a treatsie on the dangers of your addiction, but only some ideas to think about if you are wanting to change (i.e. contemplation stage). Inevitably, it is your choice and your life anyway. DiClemente and Prochaska's (1983) Stages of Change model shows how an addicted person recovers. 1. Precontemplation (unaware of the problem)
2. Contemplation (becomes aware of the problem and the desired behavior change)
3. Preperation (intends to take action)
4. Action (practices the desired behavior)
5. Maintenance (works to sustain the behavior change)
Relapse can occur at any stage (drinking a beer after a year of sobriety or smoking a cigarette after six months of cessation). A person can also sit on one stage longer than the others. It may take an individual six months to decide that he is ready to take action after deciding he needs to put the booze down. The diagram above helps one to think about what step he or she is facing next. Due to excessive stress around the holidays, should a coping skill be developed to sustain the behavior change? Due to a court hearing one may need to start practicing the desired change to avoid more issues. What's next?
Which step are you on? Are you aware there is a problem? Use the beginning of 2015 to make a change for the better!
Tony Nichols
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