3 Things You Need To Do After Admitting You Have An Addiction

This post has been contributed by Beth Jones

Quitting any addiction can be incredibly challenging. It requires a lot of determination, commitment and motivation. Many people who know they have a problem will continue fueling their addiction because quitting can seem like a difficult task. It will be one of the hardest things you ever have to do. But the hard work and effort you put it could significantly change your life for the better. Once you admit and accept that you have a problem you can start working towards overcoming your addiction. Use this guide to inform you of what to do next on your journey to becoming addiction free.

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Ask for help

After admitting you have an addiction to drugs, gambling or alcohol, you need to seek help and support. Remember asking for help is a smart and courageous thing to do and it does not make you appear weak. Admitting you have a problem is never easy so start by telling somebody you feel comfortable and at ease with. If your addiction has caused you to push people away and made those closest to you distrust you, make an effort to reach out. Letting them know you are serious about dealing with your issues will make them more inclined to help you, even if it is in a small way to begin with. Building up trust will take time so be patient. If they are not ready to help you on your journey, you shouldn’t lose focus. Showing them how determined you are will speak volumes. You can also gain help and support from your doctor, counsellors and support groups online to keep you on track.

Consider treatments

After talking through your issues, you now need to start the recovery process and consider your options. Your doctor will be able to inform you of suitable treatments in your local area that also meet your budget. Rehab, Outpatient services and counseling sessions are just a few of the options available for addicts to utilize. These treatments and techniques should be able to pinpoint the reasons for your addiction and treat them effectively. You may have issues with your body, grieving the loss of a loved one or experienced a traumatic event. Remember that there is not one treatment for addiction, and it may take time to find the right one for you. You could also consider living in A Fresh Start Sober Living community for additional support and accommodation.


Set yourself some goals

Throughout your treatment, you will have times when you want to quit. Staying focused will be challenging at times. So making goals and focusing on why you want to overcome your addiction is vital. Write down a list of all the reasons why you want to quit and say it aloud in the mirror each day. Also, make a list of all the things you want to achieve after you finish your treatment. You might want to return to school or find a full-time job. Having these lists will make it easy to set the goals you want to achieve. Just remember to be realistic and don’t set yourself strict deadlines.


Throughout the process of becoming clean, remember how far you have come and what you have achieved. Stay focused and you can start looking forward to a brighter future.

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