How to Beat Addiction, Naturally and Effectively

Addiction to something is often a love/hate relationship. You hate the very thing that you love almost more than anything else in this world. Okay, maybe you don’t actually love it, but you certainly believe that you need it. It completes you and makes you feel “normal”.

And, it’s never good when something has such a strong hold on you that you feel powerless in overcoming it. It takes every bit of control that you try to have and removes it completely. Try to outwit it and it often leaves you on your hands and knees begging for just one more drink, smoke, hit, or whatever it is that has you in its grip.

But, if you’re ready to kick the addiction that takes way too much of your time, energy, money or possibly even health, then congratulations. You’ve made a commitment to regain your life. You’re in for one heck of a ride, but the finish is well worth the struggles you’ll encounter along the way.

The good thing is that you have options as to how to make this dream a reality. And, they don’t always have to involve pharmaceuticals, or mind altering drugs. It can be tough enough to beat an addiction, but when you add taking medications that make you feel lethargic, irritable and just not yourself, it’s often much worse.

Luckily, there are things that you can do naturally that can be just as effective at helping you regain your life and the control that you long for. They include:

Meditation

Research has found that a lot of addicts have one thing in common: not enough gamma-aminobutyric acid, or GABA. GABA is a neurotransmitter found primarily in your brain and spinal cord that evokes the feeling of relaxation or calmness. Essentially, it eases your anxiety and tension – which goes to reason as to why it is extremely beneficial to someone trying to fight an addiction and the roller coaster ride that often goes with ending a lifestyle that has become habit.

Whether your vice is smoking, drinking, shopping or eating, you’re likely deficient in this one very important neurotransmitter and regular meditation can help fix that. It boosts your production of GABA, along with some other very helpful hormones (such as melatonin for better sleep, endorphins for easing physical pain and serotonin for improved moods).

Even if you’ve never tried meditation before, it’s fairly easy to do once you get the hang of it. The hardest part is learning to shut down your brain from thinking about anything. But, with time and practice, you’ll soon be enjoying the many benefits that these regular, deep breathing exercises can bring.

One simple meditation exercise to try is to find a nice, quiet place to sit. Close your eyes and breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. Concentrate solely on the air that is entering and exiting your body. When you mind starts to wander (which it will likely do the first few times you try it), just bring it back to your breaths.

Aim to spend 10-20 minutes a day doing this focused breathing and you’ll start to feel calm and more capable of handling whatever comes your way as you move through this difficult time.

Watch Your Diet

Even if food isn’t involved in your addiction, what you eat can either make the process of giving something up easier or harder. You see, the more constant you keep your blood sugar, the better able you are to deal with life when it feels like it’s on a downward spiral.

In times of stress, eating habits are often one of the first things that change. Either you eat too little, giving yourself the shakes or feeling weak; or you eat too much, trying to use food to soothe or distract you. Neither of these is good for you if you stay in this pattern for long.

Although it may be difficult to eat when you’re not hungry or to not rely on food to ease your suffering, it may make the difference in how smooth the process goes. And, the more healthy vitamins, minerals and nutrients you’re able to give to your body, the more it will be able to sustain the stress it is under during this period of change without getting sick.

Try to eat every couple of hours and include a complex carb and lean protein in each mini-meal. Add in a lot of body healthy veggies and keep yourself hydrated. If your body and mind are going into battle, make sure they have the energy to win.

Counseling or Therapy

People often shy away from seeking professional help because they think it makes them weak or, they don’t want to open themselves up and expose their vulnerabilities to a complete and total stranger. However, sometimes all you need is someone to validate how you feel and point you in the right direction and that is what a counselor or therapist does.

They aren’t there to mess with your mind or profess your addiction to the world. They’re there to teach you the ins and outs of beating something that currently has a lot of power over you. They can help you learn the tips and tricks that others have used to make the whole process a little less daunting and a lot more successful.

The key is to find someone that you feel like you connect with; someone that understands you and that you feel comfortable sharing some pretty intimate details. If you don’t know anyone yourself, ask around and see who others have used. Or, just make an appointment and see what you think. You’ll know pretty quickly whether it’s someone you can work with or not.

Going to a professional doesn’t mean you’re weak. It actually means just the opposite as not everyone has the strength to reach out when they feel like they’re in over their head. Let your ego go and admit that this may just be too big to handle alone. You won’t be any less of a person if you do. If anything, you’ll be more of one.

Addiction is a complex issue that is laced with wanting, yet not wanting something so bad that it consumes you. And, although it may win some battles, it doesn’t have to win the war.

Take control back over your life and beat your addiction. You won’t regret it.