Overcoming Substance Abuse

In clinical terms, substance abuse means using a substance which is harmful to oneself. The term is usually used to describe addiction to various drugs such as alcohol, cannabis, cocaine or other harmful substances. The addiction usually has a twofold nature, manifesting itself both psychically and psychologically. If you’ve found your way to this article, that probably means that you or someone dear to you suffers from an addiction. It is important to understand that substance abuse is a serious disease, but it is treatable. And if you are reading this, you have made the first step towards recovery. While overcoming this disease is a very challenging mission, with just a little determination, you can rid yourself from any addiction and start living a happier and more fulfilling life.

Recognize and understand the problem

You may have heard this many times, but the first step towards any type of change is acknowledging that there is a problem. However, the most important part is to explore the full nature of the problem, to think about how the addiction is affecting your, both psychically and psychologically, and how it is affecting the people around you. It is essential to understand that despite the fact that you are the one abusing the substance in question, you are also affecting the people around you, either directly by emotionally or psychically abusing them, or indirectly as it is painful for your loved ones to see you destroying your life.

Choose a recovery program

Once you have truly acknowledged your problem, it is time to explore some recovery options. In the initial stage, you will feel a certain level of control, so you will probably try to apply moderation and abstinence. Nonetheless, you should try to be reasonable and realize that if you haven’t been able to apply moderation so far, it is highly unlikely that you will be able to do it from now on. If you want to increase your chances to overcome your addiction, it is advised to enroll in a recovery program. Our recommendation is to opt for a full-service recovery facility such as Nexus Recovery Services. They offer a wide range of services, meant to help addicts in all stages of their recovery. Whether you are in need of partial hospitalization, therapy or counselling, you will benefit from all the support you need at the Nexus Recovery facilities.

Make a lifetime commitment

For addicts that are in a recovery program or the one who have recently finished their program, gaining a sense of control over their lives can be highly motivational, but it can also lead to a trap. Once you overcome the psychical addiction, you might be tempted to go back to your vice from time to time. After all, what the harm in an occasional glass of wine or a recreational drug? However, this way of thinking is what got you addicted in the first place, and if you still think this way it means that you have somewhat forgotten how your addiction has affected your life. As a former addict, you can no longer afford the risk of losing control again, and it is important to make a lifetime commitment to always stay sober and in control of your life.