Addiction

The title is not at at all new to us, we use the word addiction so casually in regular conversations that the seriousness, or the magnitude of impact it has on a person goes completely un noticed sometimes. Through this blog I will try to put the concept of addiction & its various aspects into simple terms, so as to abolish any misinformation about it.

Introduction
Meaning - Basically any addiction is a tendency to become dependent on a particular substance, person, situation etc to a point that if its excluded from the equation, the person feels incapable to survive without it. The extremities come very soon even before the person realises & he / she has already started the downward spiral of self destruction.

Like every other part of our lives, addiction is also a consequence of series of actions taken by us in order to gives us the output as we becoming addicted to something. There are several factors which contribute to a person becoming an addict & so there are several routes to get rid of it.
So lets take a look at some of them.

Why ? ( Causes )

The first question that strikes our mind is why does a person turn into an addict ? Why does he / she choose this lifestyle ? The answer lies in little but hugely impacting scenarios.

• People
As teens & youngsters we are always hammered by parents & elders not to mingle with friends who smoke, drink or go partying, clubbing etc. We think of it as the worst possible instruction to be heard but I can't urge enough on how correct they are in giving us this advice.
The reason behind this is not stopping us from making friends but to prevent us from becoming an addict to smoking or drinking or drug abuse. I would go a step further & say that rather telling your kids " don't do this " tell them "why " & " what should be done ". Make them capable enough to say NO to the wrong things their pals may lure them into doing.

I always hate when people start blaming others for pushing them into addiction, yes to some extent it is their fault but at the end it was you who chose it too! Had you been stubborn enough to not choose whatever happens things would be different. I have seen people falling for addiction for the sake of losing a friend , I would rather stay alone than having a pal who lures me into a death trap! Be wise, & choose your life & well being before your friends.

• Situations

Perhaps the only factor where I tend to have soft spot for the addicts. Because a major part of it is out of our control. Situations like extreme poverty, trauma be it psychological or physical, surroundings etc all of these play a great deal in shaping us as a person & they can contribute to addiction in a person's life.
Not that these situations should be an excuse to becoming an addict but its relatively easy to turn a helpless person into an addict. When a person is helpless thats the biggest weakness one can take advantage of in any way they want, so its quite simple task to lure such people into toxic pool of addiction.

Many of the times addiction can be seen by people as an escape mechanism to distract themselves from an onslaught of traumas , in those times it looks like it works but its only later when people realise that the ramifications start showing not only on themselves but also their loved ones.

• Surroundings

I always stress on the fact that surroundings we live in play a crucial role in how we become as a human being. It definitely makes an impact on our lives & personalities. So is true for people becoming addicts, if a child lives in surroundings where people around him / her are drowned in addiction of all sorts , its very hard to imbibe on that child's brain to keep away from addiction. Its not impossible though, but its often a very big ask as subconsciously it influences the child to dive into it & explore such conditions more & more.

• Parenting

It always ends up in our house ! Parenting plays a great role in keeping children at bay from addiction. Ideal scenario calls for parents itself being complete non addicts so that children automatically stay away from it. But as usual it doesn't happen , more often than not children from cleaner homes tend to dive in addiction - reason ? Unanswered curiosity & improper communication between parents & children.

As a teenager , adolescent girl / boy a child is faced with all types of temptations, physically & mentally they are going through a million changes, they have so many questions, so many things to explore & more than that so many ways to get answers from. The only possible route available for them must be through parents.
As a growing teenager I asked my mom & dad million questions about everything I wanted to know , they never screamed at me saying " why you need this info ?" as a result today I can compose this blog & have never touched any abusive substance till date. Had they not done it God knows which way I would have taken to find answers !
Provide your kids with facts , be their friends , put an end to their misconceptions they will listen if told properly.

How ? ( Remedies )

The next question that springs to the mind is how do we get a remedy for addiction ? How can a person get rid of it ? As I said there are several ways to reach it & so there are several ways to get rid of it. Lets take a look at some of them

• Medical 

The first way is medically getting rid of substance abuse. There many anti - narcotic medications available in the market which can not only help you to get rid of addiction but also help in treating withdrawal symptoms. You need to take one step to your doctor & openly confess everything , what subsatnce were you abusing , for how long , in what quantity , frequency etc & speak truth only when the doctor asks you the questions.
Normally this becomes very embarassing for that addict to go through it is depressing in a way , but you have to understand people are there to help you, & you are not alone.

• Lifestyle Changes

If you are someone who has just started to dive into addiction but early alarm bells have proven sufficient enough for you to get rid of it then great! You can do it easily by making some lifestyle changes.
Change your diet if you are an unhealthy eater, find out new creative ventures for yourself so the time you spend abusing drugs you can use it productively. This can be anything from joining a health club to learning a hobby, nurturing the one you have or even learning some totally new life skills that help you invest your time & stay creative at the same time.
Also start spending more quality time with your loved ones , your family , friends & people who have the best interest for you. Keep away or directly cut off from people who may lure you again into addiction. Don't care if they find you offensive, take a decision for your life!

• Being the Change

Once you get rid of it, you can help others get rid of it & also prevent people from falling into the pit. Join organisations which help in rehabs for addicts, if you have been to one ask them if they allow for voluntary work. If you have a good circuit of friends, some finance & resources you may as well start your own venture against addiction.
Form a club or hold interactive sessions to create awareness. There is nothing more pleasurable than being the change!

• Non - Medical

Sometimes people suffering from addiction seek non medical ways to get rid of it & there is nothing wrong in it as far as they are not superstitious & totally illogical waste of time & money.
There are rehab centres & priories where they teach you a balance of life skills like meditation, healthy exercises to calm you physically & mentally which leads to spiritual motivation towards living a healthier life.
Also there are clubs , non profit organisations, NGOs , Charity homes which come forward to help the people in need. Don't shy away from them , go ahead !

What ? ( Prevention )

The next question to be answered is what should be done to prevent from falling back into addiction ? One has to take utmost care that after quitting all the bad habits, going back again is absolutely unaffordable. Lets see what can be done to prevent this scenario

• Keep away from company

This means that one has stringently keep away or if needed completely cut off from people , mates & pals mingling with whom has caused addiction or they are trying their best to get you back on the circuit.
This doesn't mean one should isolate instead make new friends who help you to keep fit & healthy, enjoy your time with family, partner, kids etc. If you have pets thats even better they provide you unconditional love & teach you to live life at its purest.

You have to be harsh on people who you used to enjoy addiction with, choose your life instead of their friendship.

• Stick on to your new routine
Once you get rid of addiction, you often put new practices in your routine, they vary from person from person ; the real secret is stick to it. Remember how one stubbornly sticks to addiction ? Now take this healthier lifestyle as new addiction & cling onto it. Don't let go no matter what happens. I know its easier said than done, but one can do it if one wants to.

• Make new friends

Once you say goodbye to your toxic group its time to make a new non toxic one. Make new friends who have only your best interest in mind. Who won't lure you into any bad habits to ruin your life, if you don't find any , stay single, stay happy. Its better to be alone & healthy rather than having bad company.

• Follow the protocol

Lastly, follow all the necessary protocol in terms of medication, rehab exercises, visits to the doctors , visits to the counsellors or psychologists etc. The treatment must not be overlooked at all. Alongwith taking all precautionary measures pay attention to what you are told by the people who helped you crucially in getting rid of addiction.

When ? ( Beginning of the journey )

The last question to be asked in the series is When does one start the journey to quit addiction ? The answer - right now ! There is nothing as a starting point when it comes to quitting bad habits , the moment is everything. You don't need a special date, day or an event to be organised.
A part of it is your own will power , its person's decision to go into it similarly one has to take a decision to come out of it.
As long as you want to quit you can. No matter what is thrown at you.

The Last Word

I know there are readers here who may have gone through addiction & come out of it, and honestly even though I have written this blog I can't ever understand how it feels to be in your shoes. So I totally accept if some of you do not agree with my opinion.

To all those who have conquered this battle I have huge respect for them, infact it wasn't possible for me to write this without inspiration from people like you.

To all those who are fighting hard to come out , If this blog gives you the slightest bit of encouragement to fight stronger I will be happier than ever. May you be blessed with all the power you need to overcome your demons.
Always remember you are not alone, don't be shy, scared or embarassed. Reach out for help people are there for you, people still love you for who you are !
Stay addicted to healthy life !!

I hope this blog turns out to be helpful to all those who read it.

I hope you enjoyed reading this blog . Thank you so much.

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