How to Develop the Motivation to Quit Addiction

A huge problem for those wishing to escape addiction is to develop the motivation to actually make the move. It is fine to know intellectually that you want to quit substance abuse but developing the energy to turn this into action is not so easy. I knew for almost two decades that my addiction was destroying my life, but there were only a few occasions when I actually tried to do something about it.

The reason why turning a wish to leave addiction into a reality is so difficult is due to a type of mental ambivalence. On one hand, many addicts yearn for a life free from their addiction, but they also have a big part of their thinking that can't imagine life without their favourite drug. These two competing desires are always battling it out and this keeps the addict from escaping their misery. It is only by increasing the strength of the motivation to quit addiction that there is any chance to move away from the misery. Sometimes life in addiction becomes so bad that the motivation is present, but for some people the day never comes or the motivation doesn't last long enough for them to get treatment. The fact is though that there is no need for people to reach any rock bottom; there are things they can do which will help develop their motivation to quit addiction.

One way to increase motivation is to gain inspiration from those who are already free of drugs and alcohol. Most recovery groups will welcome the person who is still struggling to get sober or clean. Seeing how well other people can deal with life free of chemicals can act as encouragement for those still struggling. Hearing stories about how other people have managed to completely turn their lives around is a great motivation. Reading stories or even listening to recovery podcasts can all help people develop the motivation to stop. For those who are too shy there are now plenty of online recovery groups that are able to offer support and advice; places like Sober Recovery Forums and We Quit Drinking.

Addiction almost always leads to social isolation so one way to defeat it is to get help from other people. Talking is a great way to see things more clearly; when we deal with addiction alone it can seem overwhelming but other people can put things into perspective. There are now many professional groups that offer counseling and there are also other recovered addicts willing to lend an ear.

Spending time around those in recovery or hearing/reading about recovery can all help increase the motivation to quit addiction. Filling our minds with hope and success stories can help defeat the addictive part of our thinking. It is not only possible to live life away from addiction, but it can also be a life that is more pleasurable than anything addiction has to offer.