Often when a dependency to a substance or a behaviour, begins to control our lives and the decisions we make, we can feel powerless to change anything. A range of strong emotions can emerge. We can feel isolated, alone or trapped; we can feel guilt and shame; or we just give up and begin to blame everything else as well as other people. We can even convince ourselves that we deserve the trouble our addiction is causing, by pushing others away and isolating ourselves even further. Yet the fact you are reading this suggests there is something within you that wants things to be different. There is a small flame of hope that is still burning and you still believe it can be fanned back into life. We have been working alongside people just like you for the past 25 years. Here is what they said helped stir the hope that remained within them.
- Accept that you can’t do this alone. None of us can. We are connected beings and we all need each other.
- Take a risk, be brave and talk to someone. Talk to someone you know will listen and not judge.
- Be as honest as you can about your feelings, thoughts and situation.
- Seek professional help. Addiction is often our way of coping with past pain and hurt which talking about can be the first steps to the substance losing its control. Using substances is an age old ‘normal’ thing in seeking happiness, opting out, and oblivion.
- Don’t quit or give up if we get knock backs – talk to someone else.
