YOUTH AWARENESS ON SUBSTANCE ABUSE


DO YOU REALLY NEED TO BE DE-ADDICTED??

Anmol Sahota

NO, a big no is on your mind just after you read the above title. Question yourself, Do I really need to stop my daily chai-sutta? Do I really need to stop drinking my chilled beer? Do I really need to stop my drug doses? Is it ruining my health?

The answers to the above questions are already in you, it’s just that you don’t want to admit. Nearly 65% of the teenagers get influenced by their college fellows who are already indulging themselves in consuming Alcohol, Smoking Cigarettes, Beedis and Hookahs and Taking Drugs.

10% of them indulge in curiosity; another 10% are indulged forcefully by their friends or partners and 5% of them indulge in depression, nervous breakdown, stress or heartbreak. The start of every drug addict is from being an alcoholic; it’s like a starter motor in a process which slowly takes you to the untapped sub-conscious state which is hell in heaven’s disguise for all the new and old addicts. The teenagers are so much involved in these addictions that they think that this is the only way left to de-stress and feel good about own-self.

Steps to De-Addict
1) Deciding to Quit : Take out a blank notepad and write down the negative impacts of your addiction in your life, it will help you to see the real picture of your condition.

2) Note down the positive changes you need in your life : Know how much your life will improve, write down the life you aspire filled with positivity, better health and confidence.

3) Commit quitting your addiction to yourself : Give strong reasons to own self. This will help you in the long run, for e.g. (I’ll quit my addiction so that I can see my grandchildren one day)

4) Start searching for the triggers that make you indulge in the addiction : Don’t panic if couldn’t find the triggers, make efforts to stay away from the people who are indulging themselves in the addiction you want to quit.

5) Gradually reduce your addiction : Don’t rush yourself to quit your addiction, you may fail which will make you feel bad about yourself and you’ll be pushed towards depression.

6) Set a date : Aim a date not more than 3 weeks from the day of your first resistance to not quit the de-addiction process. Remember, one day you will make yourself feel proud of it and it’s worth it.

7) Seek personal or professional support : This will help you to overcome your addiction more smoothly and gain in confidence is obvious.

8) Indulge in more physical activities
*Take keen interest in doing household chores
*Change the way your bedroom looks
*Exercise daily
*Clean your car or bike independently on a regular basis
*Walk short distances

9) Keep yourself busy: Don’t leave even a single minute of your day void, pick new hobbies, join a gym or a dance class & make new friends. Interact with positive people or the people who inspire you to become a better person.


10) Don’t Give up on any rationalizations: Don’t listen to the voice coming inside of you telling you to start back your addiction. Don’t give up on yourself no matter what happens. Have a look at the notepad on which you started your journey to a better life.

11) Don’t Relapse: If you ever slip down, don’t give up on yourself, get up again and move back quickly. Determine to not repeat the same mistakes again which pushed you to relapse.

12) Celebrate your Achievements and reward yourself: When you have met the goals you have made no matter how small or big they are, treat yourself with a small party. Reward yourself with chocolates, ice-creams, pizza or go out on a movie with yourself. Make yourself happy. Make yourself proud.


Tips
* Have an open mind
* Do meditation, it can help you a lot to achieve a stable mind
* Focus on things that matter to you
* Keep your mind filled with positive thoughts
* Indulge in a out-of-the-box project that interests you

Warnings
* Be careful when things get better, don’t sabotage yourself if anything goes wrong.
* You may feel compelled to fall for your addiction in the day, don’t let it overcome you in any way. * Be Strong.