What is the key to quitting addiction?

[Someone here]

Whether it's drugs.. Food.. Smoking.. Video games or anything else.. 

What's the one key point that one should understand and apply to quit addiction? 

Ofcourse by one point won't be enough.. Quitting addiction is a complicated process and takes multiple steps.. Time and effort etc. But I'm not interested in detailed discussion here.   If you can summarize it all in just one key piece of insight to quit any addiction.. What would it be? 

[Shiva99]

Acceptance. 

[Someone here]

1 hour ago, Shiva99 said:

Acceptance. 

Accepting the addiction and just keep indulging in it?  Hmm sounds so effective in quitting lol. 

Edited July 11, 2020 by Someone here

[Artsu]

What i learned about smoking recently...

The withdrawals aren't actually that bad. It's more about maintaining the self control to not smoke.

I find that in general you should be aware of what healthy limits are, and exercise will power in controlling urges.

One key question to ask is: how do you KNOW you want to quit. If your resolve isn't firm, it's easy to crumble.

Doing this will help with any addiction. Moderate use, firm resolve to quit.

[Someone here]

34 minutes ago, Artsu said:

What i learned about smoking recently...

The withdrawals aren't actually that bad. It's more about maintaining the self control to not smoke.

I find that in general you should be aware of what healthy limits are, and exercise will power in controlling urges.

One key question to ask is: how do you KNOW you want to quit. If your resolve isn't firm, it's easy to crumble.

Doing this will help with any addiction. Moderate use, firm resolve to quit.

Intersting.  How do I know that I want to quit smoking?? Well I honestly don't want to.. More like I need to because of the health consequences. How to reconcile that? 

[Artsu]

11 minutes ago, Someone here said:

Intersting.  How do I know that I want to quit smoking?? Well I honestly don't want to.. More like I need to because of the health consequences. How to reconcile that? 

Why don't your wants align with what is healthy? What other things are you prioritising?

[LastThursday]

As an ex-smoker, it's good to realise that the craving comes and goes. If you're trying to quit, just know the craving won't last and you can just wait until it passes. I believe nicotene is one of the most addictive substances.

[Someone here]

46 minutes ago, Artsu said:

Why don't your wants align with what is healthy? What other things are you prioritising?

I don't know. Maybe because the something that I want just happens to be unhealthy?. 

Well happiness and fulfillment. 

[Someone here]

5 minutes ago, LastThursday said:

As an ex-smoker, it's good to realise that the craving comes and goes. If you're trying to quit, just know the craving won't last and you can just wait until it passes. I believe nicotene is one of the most addictive substances.

Yes it comes and goes.   What can help when one is being stuck at it when it comes? 

[28 cm unbuffed]

@Someone here

Let me tell you, how I managed to quit all of my bad habits. My theory and I found some videos about that as well, is that, all addictions are just ego mechanic, that ego uses against you not to confront emotions, that you label as bad.

Until you don't let those emotions to express themselves, you will go back to addictions, over and over again.

That's how I managed to quit smoking, playing video games, drinking coffee, eating junk food, all in once. 

Not sure how to go about that practically, in my case it was just that life put me into a situation, where I was shown who I really am and it hit me like a truck. It made me super fucking angry, furious is a better word. It was all so much that I started to hit the wall, screaming, swearing to all the fucked up people in my life, without giving a single fuck, you name it.

And as a result that made me quit all of those bad habits, tons of anger, Goggins type shit.

 

In other words - Leo's video about addictions says: "The key to quitting all addictions is to become conscious about a thing, that you are doing". In a moment, when you see what the fuck you are doing with your life, how you are spending it, knowing, that it is a one and only chance you got given to live you just stop doing stupid shit.

Edited July 11, 2020 by 28 cm unbuffed

[JosephKnecht]

3 hours ago, Someone here said:

What's the one key point that one should understand and apply to quit addiction? 

Understanding.

When you are addicted to something, you are supplementing an unfulfilled desire with an addiction that numbs your unfulfilled desire. 

For example, when you get addicted to alcohol, you are trying to numb down your mental state so that you don't think about your unfulfilled desire.

You must deconstruct your desires so that you can understand what is that you truly need. 

[Someone here]

26 minutes ago, 28 cm unbuffed said:

@Someone here

Let me tell you, how I managed to quit all of my bad habits. My theory and I found some videos about that as well, is that, all addictions are just ego mechanic, that ego uses against you not to confront emotions, that you label as bad.

Until you don't let those emotions to express themselves, you will go back to addictions, over and over again.

That's how I managed to quit smoking, playing video games, drinking coffee, eating junk food, all in once. 

Not sure how to go about that practically, in my case it was just that life put me into a situation, where I was shown who I really am and it hit me like a truck. It made me super fucking angry, furious is a better word. It was all so much that I started to hit the wall, screaming, swearing to all the fucked up people in my life, without giving a single fuck, you name it.

And as a result that made me quit all of those bad habits, tons of anger, Goggins type shit.

 

In other words - Leo's video about addictions says: "The key to quitting all addictions is to become conscious about a thing, that you are doing". In a moment, when you see what the fuck you are doing with your life, how you are spending it, knowing, that it is a one and only chance you got given to live you just stop doing stupid shit.

Thanks bro.  I can resonate with the anger thing and the being aware of how it makes you feel and how you are running aware frok confronting emotions. 

[Someone here]

26 minutes ago, JosephKnecht said:

Understanding.

When you are addicted to something, you are supplementing an unfulfilled desire with an addiction that numbs your unfulfilled desire. 

For example, when you get addicted to alcohol, you are trying to numb down your mental state so that you don't think about your unfulfilled desire.

You must deconstruct your desires so that you can understand what is that you truly need. 

What if what I truly want is the thing that I'm addicted to? 

[Member]

Simply quit doing it. First weeks are a little bit difficult but you'll get used to it. This works in relationship breakups too, though for relationship might be harder as being in love with the wrong person is the worst addiction imo ?

Edited July 11, 2020 by Member

[JosephKnecht]

6 minutes ago, Someone here said:

What if what I truly want is the thing that I'm addicted to? 

Then it is not an addiction.

What you truly desire is only the Truth.

But Truth can have infinite disguises. 

Addictions are always misperceptions of what you truly want. 

[lmfao]

@Someone here journalling. For my personality in particular, it's been a massive help. Led to insights about myself and why I do certain things. Only after sitting down and writing did I figure out yesterday for example that one of the reasons I did this particular bad habit was literally because I hated myself. And it was an actual insight, not just hearing someone else say it, it was an unexpected discovery. Journalling has helped me stay off porn and ween off anti depressants. 

Like @member said you need to just stop doing it. But. In order for that approach to work, you need to have consciousness work practices and be prepared. 

Edited July 11, 2020 by lmfao

[bliss54]

6 hours ago, Someone here said:

Whether it's drugs.. Food.. Smoking.. Video games or anything else.. 

What's the one key point that one should understand and apply to quit addiction? 

Ofcourse by one point won't be enough.. Quitting addiction is a complicated process and takes multiple steps.. Time and effort etc. But I'm not interested in detailed discussion here.   If you can summarize it all in just one key piece of insight to quit any addiction.. What would it be? 

You have to get addicted to something wholesome

[Espaim]

Can agree on understanding.

I used to be addicted to gaming and I quit for 90 days after browsing through r/stopgaming

When doing that, I faced the harsh reality of me having depression. I was just numbing myself with games. I think that's when my self-improvement journey started.

I never became a "gamer" again. I sometimes play games but it's very hard for me to become fully immersed.

When I was addicted to coffee that was caused by my lack of proper nutrition. I couldn't function properly without a coffee boost in the morning. And the high though...

Edited July 11, 2020 by Espaim

[Farnaby]

Well, it depends on a lot of factors (what you are addicted to, how much you use it, your personality, etc.).

But if I have to narrow it down to one key factor, it would be awareness. 

Training yourself to notice when you are having an impulse to indulge in your addiction and/or thoughts to justify your actions and just sit with that until it passes. Kind of meditating through it. 

Another key factor IMO is unconditional self-acceptance/love, no matter if you keep being addicted or are able to quit. 

[28 cm unbuffed]

3 hours ago, Someone here said:

What if what I truly want is the thing that I'm addicted to? 

Then ask yourself, why did you create this topic in the first place? 

What is the thing that you are (or not) addicted to?

Ask yourself, what do you want more, (f.e - great body or 99 Lvl mage in one year). 

Look for long term benefits / disadvantages of your habits and addictions (for example - smoking: feeling calm / lung cancer, video games: 99lvl mage / losing 900 hours of your life). And then choose wisely, what do you want from yourself and your life, but be really fucking honest with yourself.

 

The key to quitting once for all is something to click in your brain. The key is that you really, truly WANT to quit, not just pretend that you want to quit. When you'll get it for yourself and you will acknowledge the fact that - yeah, I really prefer fucking bitches than playing WoW then you'll figure out HOW yourself.

Edited July 11, 2020 by 28 cm unbuffed