Addictions

It takes courage and strength to face up to any type of addiction, whether it’s alcohol, drugs, nicotine, gambling, the internet, or self-injury. But no matter how bad the addiction or how powerless you feel, there is hope and help available. Don’t give up, even if you’ve tried and failed before. You don’t have to wait until you hit rock bottom; you can make a change at any time.

Learning how addiction develops—and why it can have such a powerful hold—will give you a better understanding of how to deal with the problem. Treatment success depends on developing a new way of living and addressing the reasons why you turned to your addiction in the first place. People often develop addictions in order to numb painful emotions, distract themselves, or cope with overwhelming experiences. In order to permanently end addiction, it's important to address the root emotional causes.

Recovery is a process, and there’s bound to be some bumps in the road. But you can overcome your addiction by learning how to cope in ways that are constructive rather than destructive to yourself and others.