Can a person beat their addiction by themselves? The answer really depends on your particular situation and level of willpower. Research suggests that about half of people who recover do so with some sort of help, while about half do so on their own. However, many of the people who recover ‘on their own’ do so with the help of community support, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, instead of going to a residential treatment centre. So, what path is right for you? Let’s explore what you need to know before making this important decision.
Do you need to detox?
If you’re addiction involves illicit substances or alcohol, it is highly recommended that you seek out professional help for the first stage of recovery - detox. The acute withdrawal symptoms that occur when you first stop using a substance can be severe – not only unpleasant to experience, but also life-threatening in some cases, especially when coming off alcohol or certain drugs. You will need to have physicians checking your vital signs on a regular basis to ensure your safety and to intervene if your symptoms become dangerous. They may also be able to prescribe medication to help ease the severity of the symptoms. For heroin and opioid addiction, it’s not the physical withdrawal symptoms that can kill you, but rather the state of mind it puts you in. Withdrawal is known to cause suicidal behaviour in some cases, so medical supervision during detox helps keep patients from hurting themselves.Rehabilitation – do you need support?
Whether you choose to recover on your own or in a treatment programme, it is always you that is rehabilitating yourself. No-one can make you get sober, eat properly or stop gambling; you have to want it on a deep level. You have to be willing to do what it takes to make the necessary changes in your life. What everyone does usually need is some support along the way. Recovery is hard enough; doing it with the help of others eases the burden. However and wherever you choose to recover, you may need some or all of these things:- Support from people who’ve been through this and understand what you’re going through, and can provide advice on what worked for them
- Tips and training on how to prevent relapse
- Counselling or therapy
- Medication to ease post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS)
- Help with establishing a new life – work, living arrangements, etc.
- Ongoing encouragement during this process
What if I relapse?
The most common reasons why people relapse are:- Motivation wasn’t strong enough
- Not enough changes to environment or habits
- Strong PAWS symptoms (physical addiction still at play)
- Other contributing factors such as trauma, or mental illness, that hasn’t been properly addressed
Beating addiction alone can be done
You may find success in recovering on your own if:- You have an intense motivation to quit your addiction and recreate your life.
- You’re typically good at exercising willpower.
- You’re willing to make changes throughout your life to support your commitment to sobriety, including saying goodbye to old relationships and other situations that you used to enjoy but which may tempt you into relapse.
- You don’t have a mental illness or psychological issue that is contributing to your addiction.
