Life is based on the choices we make. Every second of every minute each day of the month in a year, life and circumstance present us with choices pivotal to our future. Be it good or bad, convenient or not, influenced or not, harmful or harmless, life or death at a point in our life we all have made decisions and chosen pathways which have led us to the point which are now but it's left to us to determine if we will continue on this path or choose another which leads to LIFE–once again we have to make a choice!
Peter Hollins in his book Finish What You Start introduced the 10 minutes, 10 hours, 10 days, and 10 years rule in decision making, if only we are patient enough to critically analyze the effect that our today's decisions will have on us in the next 10 minutes, 10 hours, 10 days and 10 hours of our lives then we will have a better insight on what we want or the best choice for us.
Addiction started as what seemed to be a harmless choice which later resulted in its victim being enslaved to that choice. No one was born an addict, each one of them had a first time– first time of taking drugs, stealing, having sexual relations, consuming alcohol, watching pornography, masturbating, smoking, gambling etc. The excitement of doing something new, the ecstasy that accompanies the sense of achievement of feats done only by the masters in the field; has lured them into doing the act over and over again till they became a slave to it. A slave to their own body and emotions.
They were once a newbie before they became an addict.
Addiction is anything that has total control of your mind, thoughts, and actions– in a nutshell, anything that takes away your self-control.
One of the basic features or pointer to addiction is lack of control once the urge arises; they do all it takes to satisfy it: be it stealing from loved ones to purchase the item or endangering their lives to own it either way they aren't in control of their selves at that time. If anyone had told them that the action they took for the first time would result in future disaster, I am sure they won't have believed it. Aside from the effects, it has on their health, addiction robs them of societal acceptance and psychological balance.
Not everyone is mature enough to associate with an addict but that's not enough reason to live in isolation or commit suicide– no matter how far or deep you are in addiction, God still loves you; allow Him to pick the pieces of your life and make it whole again.
5 Practical Ways To Be Healed Of Addiction.
These are ways to heal from addiction aside from medical procedures; which addicts are advised to seek and apply as well.
- Never Involve In Anything That Could Lead To Addiction: The word of God said to flee from all appearances of evil, it's better to prevent an ailment or situation than to search for a solution to it, later on, one might get the solution but what about the wasted years and efforts that could have been converted to something more productive. Don't wait till your story is used to motivate or serve as a lesson to others, make a wise decision now, nib the bud before it becomes a thorn if not it will hurt and make you bleed.
- Accept That You Need Help: The first stage of healing is realizing that you need help. The realization of helplessness comes with brokenness and a desperation to seek the needed help. Once you realize that you need help it makes it much easier to do whatever it takes to be free from it. Living in denial has never done anyone any good, help yourself so you can be helped.
- Forgive Yourself: forgive yourself for making such terrible decisions, forgive yourself for going this far, forgive yourself for hurting your loved ones, forgive yourself for wasted years, forgive yourself, and let go of the guilt. It doesn't matter how many times family and friends assure you of their forgiveness or try to make you feel accepted once again if you won't forgive yourself it will only amount to pouring water on a rock. It doesn't matter what has happened in the past, focus on the bright side which is your present and future ahead of you. Also, forgive yourself in advance, you didn't get addicted in a day; it took years of consistently being involved in the act so also it won't stop overnight that's why you need to forgive yourself for times you will engage yourself unconsciously, but that shouldn't hold you back, instead allow it strengthen your resolve.
- Replace The Addiction With Something Positive:An idle mind is the devil's workshop... Now that you're free or on your way to total healing, you need to get occupied with more productive and positive things. The more occupied you are the lesser the chance of you having the urge again; have something doing – a handiwork or job would do. Something that engages your mind and distracts you and keeps you busy. This also helps you replace the feeling of hopelessness or being useless with a sense of fulfillment, seeing the result of the labor to which you commit yourself will motivate you to put in more work and speed up your journey to recovery.
- Belong To Groups With People Who Had A Similar Experience Or Have Someone You Confide In: On numerous occasions, it's been discovered that a person relates more with people whom he or she feels understand them and have gone through what they are experiencing currently than people who only have head knowledge of what it feels like. Trial and storms are best explained by someone who has had a taste of what is like to go through it, that's why such groups are created to make you have a sense of belonging. Search around and join such group where you feel more welcome, learn from the experience of others and how they overcame it, express your fears and concerns and allow others to guide you through the path of healing.
You are healed!!
