Addiction

There are many different things to get addicted to – we all have our weaknesses and areas where we are vulnerable. It doesn’t take much for what began as an interest, or just having a go, to grab hold of us in such a way that it consumes us and doesn’t let us go.

An addiction is something that controls us – our desire, our life and our aims. Instead of us doing the choosing we become influenced and controlled by the thing we are addicted to. We start off enjoying the high and the thrill it gives us and then get sucked so far in that we can’t walk away – our body feels it needs the high.

Chat to a Christian to discover some answers that can bring help and hope. 

We are all more than just a physical body we also have a spiritual aspect to us. When seeking help we shouldn’t just ignore the spiritual side of our life. We really need to think about how to help the whole of us and not just our physical bodies.

Why do you have an addiction? 

It is good to think about why we do it and why we want to stop doing it. Also try and think back to what made you start to do the thing you are now addicted to and what it was that began to make you do it more and more?

Often there is something that causes you to become dissatisfied with the life you have? Is that situation still the same, is there something else that could be done to help cope with that situation?

Also we need to be clear about why we want to stop? What is motivating you to want to break free? Are you just wanting to stop for you? For someone else? For God? The stronger our motivation, and the more it isn’t just about us the greater the power it has to help us overcome.

How? Where? When?

Think about how and where you most often take part in the addiction – do you set out on purpose to do it or do you just suddenly, out of the blue, feel the need?

Think about when? Is there a particular time of day when you really want and need this experience? When you are alone in your room? When you are with a particular group of friends? Notice when it is and do all that you can to avoid these times and situations, sometimes we need to be very radical and cut ourselves off from friends or activities – it might seem hard and painful to begin with but it is worthwhile in the long run to set yourself free from the addiction.

Choose a trusted friend or relative

Is there someone you trust who you think would be willing to help you stop being addicted? Maybe a friend or a relative has been encouraging you to break free? Agree to tell this person when you are going to places or putting yourself in situations where you often feel more tempted – having someone to be accountable to can be a great motivation to keep away from things we are addicted to.

Think about the spiritual you

Do you believe there is a God? Have you ever spent time trying to learn about who Jesus is, what he did and why he did it?

When you believe that Jesus loves you and is deeply interested in you it gives you a different picture of the world around you and of what your life is all about. It gives you a new hope and a new focus outside of yourself.

The more you get to know the real Jesus of the Bible, the more you will want to live to make Him happy and this will also then become a great motivation to saying no to the thing you are addicted to.

Give yourself a new focus

Find something new to fill your free time, spend time with other people, start a new hobby, keep yourself busy, volunteer at something. Find new, rewarding things to do and people to make a difference to – the more the focus is moved away from you and onto others, or God, the better. The less “spare” time you have the less opportunities you will have to give into the thing you are addicted to.

Positive rewards

Set yourself small achievable goals – 24 hrs free, 48hrs, 3 days, 1 week. Keep something that you enjoy to do, read or eat – and when you reach these goals give yourself the reward! Positive motivation is so important in wining the battle to say no to your addiction.