I cannot THINK my way into acting better, but I can ACT my way into thinking better. In other words, I must fake it till I make it.
A Battle in the Mind:
Addictive behavior is all about thinking the wrong things. I think that I am not addicted. I think that I'm cured. I think that I can handle my addiction all on my own. This is the beginning of "relapse mode." I convince myself that I was never really addicted at all, and can, therefore, use alcohol and drugs the way that normal people do.
Addictive behavior does not have to center around drugs or alcohol. Addiction is a disease of the body (meaning that the addict or alcoholic is "wired" differently than people who are not addicted) and an obsession of the mind. Some people can drink socially and take painkillers or tranquilizers as directed. They have no cravings or desire to continue with the substance once it is gone. The addict or alcoholic is different. They will look at a half-empty glass of Cabernet sitting on someone else's table in a restaurant and think, "Why doesn't somebody drink that?" There is no "take it or leave it" mentality in the world of addiction - ever.
Substituting Addictions:
The obsession of addiction can hop from one thing to another. The alcoholic can quit drinking and take up pain pills. The drug addict can stop a pill habit and switch to alcohol. Shopping can be an addiction. So can eating. I have seen addicts in recovery stop using drugs and then balloon into a 100-pound-heavier replica of their former selves. (It is common for a recovering addict to undergo bariatric surgery to eliminate weight gain after getting of drugs.) Sex can be an addiction. So can housework, control, and gambling. The addict must be very careful not to resume addictive behavior and end up just switching addictions.
Ways to Stop Addictive Behaviors:
1. Attend 12-step meetings regularly;
2. Get a sponsor (another recovering addict who will give you moral support);
3. Work the 12-Steps of Recovery at your sponsor's direction;
4. Know your triggers. A "trigger" is a person, place, or thing that can cause an addict to crave drugs. The force of a trigger can be so strong that it can actually cause your brain chemicals to release dopamine - the neurotransmitter released when using certain drugs, giving a feeling of harmony and wellbeing. Addicts refer to this as a "free high," because they feel the effects of the drug without even taking it!
5. Avoid your triggers. Even if you have to get a new job or drive a different way to work in the morning or move to a different neighborhood, the recovering addict must remain vigilant in his recovery. Sometimes this involves drastic measures.
6. Be accountable to someone. Accountability for addictive behavior is a deterrent to lighting up an addiction. Talking over your triggers and feelings with another person - usually your sponsor - is a good deterrent against relapse.
7. Learn to live life on life's terms. Addicts and alcoholics seem to have more difficulty than other people accepting life as it is. In 12-step groups, addicts and alcoholics learn and practice the concept of acceptance - a necessary component for living in the real world.
Nip It In the Bud:
Addictive behaviors indicate the beginning of a relapse on drugs, alcohol, or other addictions like shopping, dieting, and gambling. They are a forewarning of things to come. With 12-step meeting attendance, a sponsor, learning to be accountable, and accepting life on life's terms, addictive behavior can be quickly identified and eradicated before an actual relapse is set in motion.
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