What I Can Do Today?

Knowing Where You Are And Making A Move

1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

When there is inability to cope with crisis, a certain number of symptoms occur after a loss, disappointment, rejection, loneliness, and failure. These symptoms include headaches, tension, sleeplessness, and depression, and these create the need to self-medicate. In this case, drug is initially taken for medical purposes. But as one is unable to cope up and the symptoms recur, the medication is now taken for recreation purposes, relieving oneself not from the symptoms but from the crisis itself. This becomes the beginning stage of drug addiction, happening even before the patient is aware of it. The moment the patient becomes aware of it, it is already too late as the body system is now attuned to the toxin that the body has now taken control of the mind.

ACKNOWLEDGING: Knowing and Accepting That There Is a Problem

• The first step in solving a problem is always determining the problem and accepting that there is a problem. But this is the most difficult step of all. More often than not addicts justify their addictions as being their choice or something that they can quit whenever they need to. It often takes a certain amount of courage to stand-back and accept the reality. The perfect question to start with is asking yourself:  “Do you sometimes think you have a drug problem?” If the answer is yes, then, there is a big possibility that you do have a drug problem. Thus, it is important that one take action by consulting online drug addiction personal checklists and questionnaires or visiting a credentialed counselor or therapists.

DECIDING: Steps to Making a Change

• The next step deciding to make a change. It is normal for drug addicts to feel conflicted about their substance of choice even if they have already realized that they have a problem with drugs. Change can never be easy and it is so hard to come by. It will take one a lot f hard work, require a great deal of time, and greater effort on commitment, and a handful of support. But to catalyze this stage, the patient can list the pros and cons of quitting, the costs and benefits of continuing the addiction, and the effects of the addiction on their priorities like spouses, children, career, and health. As writing activates the rational state of mind over the emotional attachment of the patient to the drug, this method hastens up his decision on going through a recovery program.

TAKING ACTION: Seeking Medical Intervention

• The next steps are taking action about the decision. This starts with ceasing the use of the drugs, or the withdrawal stage. This can be hard but with medical intervention, this stage is not as harder as the first two. Just like, withdrawal, the next stage of detoxification is not as hard as the first two. These stages just need medical intervention.

FINAL STAGE: Sustaining Recovery

• After such, the last stage is sustaining the recovery. Relapses might come in, and it is very common after treatment completion, but this is not a treatment failure. It is a common and expected part of recovery. This can sometimes occur after social pressure, testing personal control, cravings, negative feelings, etc. But this is not a cause for a patient to surrender back to addiction. As one is already aware of a relapse, the patient can call his doctor or consult his therapist to get back to the recovery path once more. Then, one can stand back and learn from this mistake, eventually making him more wiser and more committed the second time around. Sustaining recovery is commonly held by setting out goals for a better future in a drug-free environment.