America is in the middle of an opioids crisis. What started out as a good way to cure the pain turned into a nasty nightmare. Families are being destroyed. Lives were being ruined. People are even dying because of addiction. But it doesn’t have to be this way.  You can still get help. Addiction treatment is easier to find than you think. But is the process just as easy? How can you be so sure that you won’t fall back into your habits? There is some good news. You can break your addiction with these tips.

Seek Help

The first step to addiction treatment is to go seek help. You can’t rely on other people to do it for you. You have to be the one to speak up and get help. There is plenty of places to look for help. One place to turn to is the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, SAMHSA. The hotline is available 24/7. They speak both English and Spanish as well. Do not hesitate to give them a call. The main thing that you have to keep in mind is not to feel shame in getting help. Society has always looked down upon drug addicts. They are always portrayed as the scum of the earth. It doesn’t have to be that way. There is no shame in getting help with your opioids addiction. You might find that you are not alone. Your friends and family will be there to help you kick your habits. But this can only happen if you speak up.

Set Goals for Yourself

Everyone needs motivation to complete a goal. This is drilled into us at an early age. Kids do chores around the house for praise, money, or treats. Adults do work to get money or a raise. Addiction treatment is no different. Aside from getting healthy again and turning your life around, why do you want to get clean? What is at stake if you don’t? Sit down with someone you trust and look at what you want. The HelpGuide suggests that you should, “set a limit on how much you will use.” What they are saying is that you have a better chance of kicking opioids if you do it little by little. Cold turkey sounds good in theory but it does not always work for everyone. Your best bet is to set up goals on usage and why you should get treatment.

Keep Records of Your Progress

Keeping track of your progress when you try to make changes is actually more helpful than you think. If it can work for losing weight, then it can work with addiction treatment. Your notes will be key. Write down why you started taking opioids in the first place. Keep track of how much you use. Keep track of how many days you have been clean. Writing down your triggers for drug use can also be a big help. You can look back on what causes you to turn to opioids and tackle it head-on. VeryWellHealth also talks about keeping a pain journal with your addiction. Why would you need to do that? VeryWellHealth suggests, “To help your physician determine the best route for cutting out opioids, consider keeping a pain journal and track everything related to your painkillers, including dosage, frequency of use, and positive and negative effects. Keeping notes will save your life.

Clear Out Your House

In order for addiction treatment to be effective, you need to clean out all the drugs in your house. Limiting access to your drug of choice will do wonders for your recovery. If that is not going to be easy for you to do alone, call up your friends to help purge your house of all opioids. This will cut down on the surrounding temptation. You can’t feed your addiction if you do not have the drugs in your house. But what about going outside? Call up a friend that you trust to help steer you away from the drugs. They can help you stay on track when you go out.

Find Something Else to Do

Speaking of temptation, you will need to try to keep your mind off of your addiction. You are going to need something to distract you. As suggested above, cleaning your house can be a great help to you. It doesn’t have to be limited there either. Go and out talk to the family and friends that you trust. Pay them a visit. If you are alone, that is fine too. Pick up a new hobby or two. Learn some new skills. Exercise not only can help you lose weight but it can help keep your mind off your cravings. You might find that you now have a healthy alternative to using opioids.

 

If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction don’t be afraid to contact us! At Crosspointe Recovery, we are eagerly awaiting your call. Our sole mission is to help you break free from addiction and help you live a new and free life.