How to break free from your unhealthy addictions

Let's face it. People do what they want, not what they should do. That's why New Year's Resolutions are so infrequently fulfilled.
 People don't smoke because it makes them smell bad and gives them cancer. Painful relationships don't persist because of their disappointments and grief. Troubling habits endure because of what they do for us. Our motivation to change comes from getting more out of changing than staying where we are, which is the basis for an effective technique called Motivational Interviewing.
 Motivational interviewing is non-judgmental. No one is saying you are bad or shameful, nor that you should beat yourself up.Just motivate yourself and stop it.
 Whether you’re a heroin addict and you see an association to heroin, you’re a caffeine addict and you see a cup of coffee, you’re a phone addict and you see another person pick up their phone, or you’re hungry and you see some good-looking food, your brain rushes with dopamine and that is now caught on brain-scanning machines.
The question is,how do you break free from these addictions?there are solutions and you must follow it with your spirit, soul and body.

 Decide to Quit
 It might not feel good to acknowledge all the ways in which your addiction is harming you, but seeing the list on paper will help you resolve to stop as soon as possible. Take out a pen and a piece of paper and brainstorm a list that includes all the negative effects you've experienced since your addiction started.

Make a list of positive changes you want in your life. 

Now that you've detailed all the negative effects of your addiction, think about how much your life will improve once you've kicked the habit. Create a picture of your life post-addiction. How do you want it to look?

• Maybe you'll feel a sense of freedom you haven't had in years.
• You'll have more time to spend on people, hobbies, and other pleasures.
• You'll be able to save money again.
• You know you're doing everything you can to stay healthy. You'll feel immediate physical improvements.
• You'll feel proud and confident again.

Write down your quitting commitment. 

Having a list of solid reasons to quit will help you stick to your plan in the long run. Your reasons for quitting must be more important to you than continuing your addictive behavior. This mental hurdle is tough, but it's a necessary first step to quitting any addiction. No one can make you quit but yourself. Write down the true, solid reasons you're stopping this habit. Only you know what they are. Here are a few examples:

• Decide you're quitting because you want to have energy to live life to the fullest again.
• Decide you're quitting because you're running out of money to support your habit.
• Decide you're quitting because you want to be a better partner to your spouse.
• Decide you're quitting because you're determined to meet your grandchildren one day.

 Set a date to quit.
Don't set it for tomorrow, unless you're pretty sure quitting cold turkey will work for you. Don't set it for more than a month from now, because you might lose your resolve by then. Aim for a date in the next couple of weeks. This will give you enough time to become mentally and physically prepared

 Seek spiritual,personal and professional support. It might not seem like it now, but you're going to need all the support you can get during your journey to overcome addiction. Because so many people battle addictions, there are many wonderful institutions in place that serve as support systems, helping you stay motivated, providing tips for success, and encouraging you to try again if you have a false start.

 Identify your triggers.
 Everyone has a certain set of triggers that make them automatically want to indulge their habits. For example, if you're struggling with an alcohol addiction, you might find it difficult to attend a certain restaurant without feeling a strong urge to drink. If you're addicted to gambling, passing a casino on the way home from work might make you feel compelled to stop. Knowing your triggers will help you face them down when the time comes to quit.

 Get your environment ready.
Remove reminders of your addiction from your home, car and workplace. Get rid of all the objects that goes along with the habit, as well as other items that remind you of the habit.

 Stop the addictive behavior as planned.
When the big day arrives, keep your promise to yourself and quit. Those first few days are going to be hard. Keep yourself busy and stay positive. You're on your way to an addiction-free life.

 Don't give in to rationalizations.
The physical and mental pain of addiction withdrawal is real, and you'll likely start telling yourself it's okay to take up the habit again. Don't listen to the voice telling you to start back up and don't give up on yourself when it feels hard. Every bit of pain will be worth it in the end.

 Celebrate your accomplishments.
Do something nice for yourself when you meet the goals you've made, no matter how small. Kicking an addiction is incredibly tough work, and you deserve to be rewarded.

Culled out from www.wikihow.com