It doesn’t issue if you’re a meth addict or a pill popper, an excessive drinker or bottle hider, smoke 3 packs a day or 6 joints a day. The possibilities of kicking your habit on your own — and adhering with it — are slim at best. You cannot fight true habit with willpower. It’s a physical and psychological craving – way too powerful at the cellular level to “just say no.”

But you’ve currently figured that out. So now what?

If you have a sincere, trusting connection with your healthcare provider, mention to him/her that you’re attempting to quit. Many health plans offer smoking cessation and chemical dependency programs.

You’ll also want to check out how real people live drug/alcohol free. Go to a conference of Alcoholics Confidential or Narcotics Anonymous. It’s free and there’s no liability. The participants will welcome you with open arms and share almost everything you need to know. Peer-to-peer support is incredibly powerful and effective.

Tip #2 Do no matter what it takes

Chances are you didn’t create your habit last week. Don’t anticipate breaking it over night, either. It requires time and patience and work. Yes, work. You require to be committed to modifying yourself.

If at first you don’t be successful, try anything different. For some people, participating 12-Step conferences is enough. Many patients require more help. You can try an out-patient program where you take classes to learn about addiction and yourself. These programs will drug/alcohol test you to make sure you’re not using among sessions. For some people, this level of responsibility is sufficient.

For others, inpatient recovery is required. These 30, 60 or 90-day plans immerse you in recovery. One to three months in a drug/alcohol-free atmosphere can be a great way to jump-start your clean and sober life.

If you’re trying to put down the cancer sticks, there are different schools of thought. Some people suggest going cold turkey for best results. But again, it doesn’t work for everybody. That’s why they make nicotine patches and gum! There’s even a smoker’s anonymous group.

Tip #3 Change Your Mind-set

Those amazing cravings will go away in time. To keep them at bay and keep on your own safe from relapsing into old habits, you’ll need to change your mindset from “addict” to “in recovery.” As you learn about the factors behind your consuming/using, you will discover some very exciting things about yourself. And not just you, but every alcohol/addict.

Changing your mind-set about drugs/alcohol/smoking is twofold. First, your relationship to your drugs of choice will shift. It will stop being the center of your universe. You’ll stop romancing and based upon on it to get through your day. You’ll start viewing it as poison, lethal, disgusting.

At the same time, your mind-set about yourself and your place in the world — including what the world owes you or has or hasn’t done to/for you — will evolve. The procedure of giving up an addiction is actually a process of “getting.” You get a positive outlook — an outlook you likely haven’t felt since you started using… if ever.