Suffering from dependence on any substance or addictive habit is always a very difficult traumatic experience. Going through addiction often nullifies much of the affected person’s psychological capacity and overcoming the disorder requires a great deal of discipline and conviction in the process and its objective. There are no shortcuts, but we can tell you that there is a psychological trick from which you can benefit. Bearing in mind that expert professional support and a conducive environment are also very important, you must be clear that seeking professional help is the first necessary step after identifying the addiction. It is vital to prevent relapses that lead to more serious symptoms or collateral damage.
Once you have an expert as a reference to express doubts, feelings, and difficulties that arise, it is necessary to follow their instructions and participate in the suggested practices, but it can also be beneficial to have a personal trick that you can use in moments of solitude and loss of control. It will be the combination of these trusted techniques and professional support that will allow us to have defined guidelines and adequate supervision of the process. With this, we will increase the chances of achieving a successful outcome.
Below, we explain one of the habits that works best, especially in alcoholic individuals, but also in other types of addicts, to prevent relapses and maintain the streak of abstinence from harmful substances or habits.
The “One day at a time” or “just for today” trick
The name of this psychological trick is quite self-explanatory and you may be thinking that it is just a phrase as a euphemism, too optimistic and not very useful. Nothing could be further from the truth. Certainly, this slogan has been used for years as a principle to respect in detoxification processes that prove successful.
The context in which this statement was born is the famous Alcoholics Anonymous association, and the premise “one day at a time” or “One day at a time” is one of the 12 steps of the most widely used American technique. Both in support groups to overcome alcoholism and for other associations focused on each of the most common addictions, this trick is one of the most useful. Around the central organization Alcoholics Anonymous, there are groups such as Marijuana Anonymous, Gamblers Anonymous, or meetings for work or sex addicts, and all are based on the objective of fulfilling the 12 positive affirmations that help addicts in recovery to recover and stay clean.
A continuous process
Among other AA practices that, of course, also have their detractors due to their religious tendency, we find conducting a conscience examination or writing a list of people the addict has harmed. But the slogan we focus on, and which is one of the mindsets that most psychologically helps those affected, is to consider treatment an ongoing development.
The goal of complete rehabilitation may seem distant and unattainable in the early stages of the disease or produce pressure and despair on the most difficult days. With the psychological trick of “one day at a time,” the approach to recovery is proposed as a process whose goal is to achieve 24 hours of abstinence. Of course, addicts know that it is something infinite because each day is a challenge. But this mindset is of great help in overcoming the moment of temptation, because the goal of the day is to overcome it without falling into addiction.
The key to maintaining abstinence
Even being aware of the importance of staying away from addiction and even trying to eliminate any possible temptation, it is easy for reminiscences of that harmful habit to appear periodically at the worst moment. Saying no at first should always be the basic procedure, but it is not always easy. In the vulnerable situation that being in recovery represents, still under a certain guardianship that can make the affected person feel angry about the situation, very nervous, powerless, and even humiliated, relapses are common but the goal is to avoid them at all costs. To do this, it is very useful to think about overcoming only that moment of temptation without falling into it.
The idea is to practice a mental self-correction in which the affected person tells themselves “not today” or “tomorrow will be another day, but now I only have to fight for today, it’s not so difficult to resist just 24 hours.” Although it may not seem like it, repeating this mental trick every day is of great help and allows many people to stay away from their addiction.
The importance of having professional support
Both withdrawal, detoxification, and subsequent rehabilitation are difficult but necessary phases to ensure that reintegration is successful. Although many people wish to overcome dependence alone, attempting it is dangerous because people affected by addiction are unpredictable and the effects of abstinence can be very dangerous.
To properly control this process and maintain the patient’s well-being and safety at all times, it is key to have a professional who can guide the path to recovery and serve as support for both the affected person and their family. While it may seem hard to believe seeing certain situations and cases, getting out of addiction is always possible.
At the CC Adicciones rehabilitation center, we have been helping addicts and people in recovery for 15 years thanks to our multidisciplinary team, which has staff specialized in each addiction and extensive frontline experience with all types of cases.
If you need to see an expert or wish to ask for help to control impulses derived from an addiction, do not hesitate and contact us. You can call us at our 24-hour phone number: 617 200 882. If you prefer, you can also contact us through our form and we will contact you without obligation, offering you all the conveniences so that you can make your inquiry in the way that is most comfortable and easy for you. Those who need us are our priority and we will do everything possible so that you can achieve the well-being goal you need to reach. You do not have to do it alone and you will get there sooner, and further than you think, if you count on us to accompany you.
