Coping with Drug Addiction
How We Become Drug Addicts
We use drugs because they help us
cope.
Whether the problem is shyness,
lack of confidence, wanting to feel
calmer or, wanting to feel more
energetic, etc., a drug that helps
us overcome such problems is likely
to be perceived as extremely valuable.
The more we feel unable to deal
with the problems, the more difficult
it is to stop using the drug. At
some point, biology kicks in and
we become not only psychologically
and emotionally dependent on the
drug, but we also become physically
dependent as well. The body adjusts
itself to the drug so that it literally
becomes a part of us. We may not
even recognize a drug addiction
as such at first, because it seems
like just one of those little things
we do to get through the day.
Quitting
 Maybe people you care about told you that it upset them when
they saw you high. Maybe you woke up and couldn’t remember
where you were or how you got there. You began to worry that
you might have a drug addiction. If quitting has crossed your
mind, then some part of you understands that what you have
been doing is unhealthy, and you need to stop.
How to Quit
Given that getting addicted to the drug was a complicated
process, quitting it
and getting on with your life drug-free will be an equally
if not even more complicated task. Removing the addiction
from your life will be traumatic on several levels. It is
important to be prepared for a struggle as you enter into
the relatively confusing recovery period. Professional support
can help you recover strengths you lost when you succumbed
to the addiction. It can also help you learn basic coping
skills for reintegrating yourself into society drug-free.
The problems and situations that led to the drug use and subsequent
drug addiction can be addressed in counselling and behaviour
therapy sessions.
Regret versus Shame
Sadness and regret over time lost due to drug addiction can
be healthy, but going overboard with feelings of shame and
guilt will get in the way of the recovery process. It is important
not to prolong your dysfunction by engaging in self-defeating
feelings of shame that further prevent you from rejoining
society. Counselling can help you clarify your thinking in
order to get you on track again, but it is vital that you
realize for yourself just how destructive shame can be to
your well-being.
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