BREAKING AWAY FROM THE SHACKLES OF ADDICTION

 

WHAT IS ADDICTION? 

In simple terms, any state or condition that is characterized by the compulsive use of substances(alcohol, cocaine, codeine, marijuana, opiates and other drugs) or the compulsive engagement in rewarding behavior(gambling, lying, sex, pornography etc.), despite negative consequences. Some addicts may be unaware that their lives are spinning out of control and of how it affects other people.  Over the past few years, I have watched reluctantly as the lives of the people around me are constantly being drifted into the abyss of addiction. Addictions of all sorts seem to becoming the norm of the youth of the city of Tamale, from the persistent abuse of Tramadol to gambling with impunity. To be honest, I am a bit alarmed and largely scared about what the future holds for a generation like ours. Just the other day, I witnessed a promising young man die from an overdose of a personal concoction he had cooked from Tramadol, marijuana, tobacco and a couple of energy drinks.  

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HOW DO PEOPLE GET ADDICTED  

Many people resort to addictive behavior as a way of managing or dealing with stress. There are those who find that getting drunk or high temporarily destructs them from their pain and fears and creates a whole new virtual reality for them. A virtual world only they can access and control, a world in which they are kings of the seven kingdoms, seated on an iron throne with many servants at their feet and a Khaleesi by their side. Soon enough, the effects of the substance begins to wear off and the ugly reality hits them hard in the head, this time, with a pain twice as much as before. And so our “king” consumes another dose just to keep himself in a perpetual state of euphoria.     

There are also those like myself, as curious as the proverbial cat, always trying something new. In the beginning, it’s just about knowing how it feels or tastes and before we know it, we are lost to our curiosities, trapped in the belly of an immortal fish.    

The effects of peer pressure and influence on addictive behaviors is often underestimated but very key. The human mind has a tendency to follow trends, norms and conventions. Some people may indulge in an activity for the simple reason that others are doing so too.         

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BREAKING AWAY 

For me, the first step in freeing ourselves from the manacles of addiction is to admit to ourselves that we have indeed become addicts and that we need to do something about it. It’s important for us to reflect deeply on the harm and consequences our addictive behavior have had on our lives and how we could have been better off without it.   

Decide There And Then. 

Once you have determined the above, I will recommend that you make a decision and a commitment to yourself sooner than later. I must acknowledge, this can be hard but with a strong will power, it is often possible. I have heard people often say “I will quit smoking next week”, but next week never comes because there will always be another next week. Just one last bottle of beer, one last joint of marijuana, one last pill of Tramadol, they would say. But before they know it, they have lost their resolve and gone for the next dose. There are those who are unable to quit instantly and may require a progressive decline in the quantity and frequency of usage. For such people, I have found talking to a professional to be particularly helpful. 

Get Rid Of Temptations 

If you were addicted to pornography for instance, you may want to start by wiping clean your 1 TB of pornographic videos you have neatly hidden at the bottom of your wardrobe. You may even go as far as excluding or blocking some sites from your browser. Avoid hanging out at places and with people who are likely to expose you to the very addiction you are fighting so hard to stop. 

Make a Plan 

There is a phenomenon in psychiatry known as addiction replacement where a person may substitute their addiction with another considered to be less harmful. While this may work for many, I find it insufficient since the overall aim is not to reduce harm but to eliminate the addiction completely. In my experience, it is better to develop a new healthy habit like say, sign onto steemit and spend some time reading and writing useful content. Some may resort to exercising, cooking or even meditations. 

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All in all, the physical and psychological pains of withdrawal can be very real and one should consider talking to a professional if things ever become too hard. Thanks for reading. 

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