Badge Program larajla.

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The Enrichment Project
Overcome Addiction
Steps
1. Document your journey.
Create a way to track your ups and downs through this journey. You can do an online blog,
diary or even art journal. Dont feel like writing? Start a video blog or vlog instead. Record
your thoughts with an audio diary. Use an application to track your progress. Dont be
limited by this list. Find a way that works for you.
This document will give you something to look back on so you can see what you struggled
through to overcome your addiction as well as how far you have come.
2. Whats your addiction?
Write down what you are addicted to as the rst step in your journey. What do you want
to overcome? You might have one addiction, perhaps more. If you have more than one,
determine if you want to overcome your addictions one at a time or group them if they
support each other.
3. Where did you start?
Look back at when you started your addiction. What triggers will start it again? You need
to not only overcome your addiction, you need to make sure you dont start back down
that path. By documenting your triggers, you will have a reference point when you
question yourself later.
4. Ask others their opinions.
Let them know you want them to be honest. If they want to protect you, ask them to write
you a letter or record a small video clip explaining how they view your addiction. This will
give you a more objective view. It will also let you know if youre being too hard on
yourself . . . or not hard enough.
5. Make your rst list whats stopping you.
Why are you in this destructive behavior? Whats keeping you here? This might be a list
of things you need to avoid, situations you need to be aware of or triggers. You must be
aware of what is keeping you from moving away from your addiction.
6. Make your second list what are you missing?
Your second list is the list of things you want to do but cant because of your addiction. It
might be the time lost is causing you to miss things with your kids. It might be the inability
to participate in activities you truly enjoy. As you work through your addiction, refer to this
list often.
If you manage to do one of those items that you want to do, make sure to document it
in your journal. These stories will ofer inspiration as well as the knowledge that you *can*
do it.
Overcome
Addiction
From support
groups to your
family, you can get
help overcoming
things that are bad
for you. The hardest
part is to admit you
have an addiction.
The second hardest
part is to do some-
thing about it.
Be sure to read
through the specic
addictions. Some
build on others or
may be related. Even
if you dont have
one, review the steps
as you may one day
be asked to help
someone with their
addiction.

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Project
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7. Locating support groups or programs.
Doing it yourself isnt always the answer. Find a local or online support group or program.
Join it. Use it for support, dont just sign up and forget to attend.
8. Including your family and friends.
Your friends and family will be happy that you are trying to take control of your life. You
might ask for general support or specic items from someone. Keep track of what you ask
for. Make sure to thank everyone for their help.
9. Professional help.
You may nd that you need professional help. Do not shy away from this option because
of the cost or inconvenience of nding someone who can help you. Ask your support
group for recommendations.
10. Distractions.
Make a list of things that you can do that you enjoy to distract you form your addiction.
Often, a distraction can get you over your initial desire. Keep a copy of your list in the
place(s) youre most likely to need it.
11. Develop new habits.
It takes six months to develop a new habit, so realize this is going to take some time.
Your habits might include spending leisure time at new locations that dont trigger your
addiction, learning to choose healthier alternatives or even taking an evening stroll with
a friend to discuss the day and get the stress out of your system.
12. Visualize a new you.
Visualize yourself as the person you want to be without your addictions. Do this every
morning before you get out of bed and every night before you fall asleep. By seeing
yourself as the person you want to be, its easier to look backward at the steps you had
to take to get to your nal you.
13. Share your triumphs!
If you can move away from your addiction for one day, its good. Even if you just minimize
its impact on your life, youve taken a step forward. Document these in your journal.
14. Ofer support.
As others connect with you, ofer support to them. Share phone numbers so you can talk.
Plan activities together. Find other ways to interact that avoid your addiction.
15. Share your journey.
This is much more than sharing your triumphs. Share your entire journey through your
support group, interactions with family and friends, as a series of YouTube videos, through
an ebook, etc. Let others see that they are not alone.
Specific addictions
16. Weight issues.
It might be that you eat too much or too little. Food is one of the hardest things to stop.
Track your food consumption and reactions for a week to help review where your
addiction lies.

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17. Alcoholism.
Drink too much? How much is too much? Track your alcohol intake. Compare it with the
amounts you need to be considered legally drunk. Ask others about your interactions with
them before and while youre drinking to get an objective opinion of what the alcohol
is doing to you. Find if there is a trigger such as stress, unreasonable demands, etc. that
makes you drink.
Write or record some of your worst moments when you were intoxicated and include this
in your documentation.
18. Drug use and smoking.
Drugs can take your money, your time and your life the same as many other addictions.
Keep track of your drug usage. This includes prescription drugs if your are addicted to
them. How much time do you spend thinking about drugs when youre not using them?
What happens before you take them? How much are you spending on them? What are you
willing to do to get the drugs you need?
19. Gambling.
Make a budget for you and your family. How much money do you bring into the house-
hold? What is left after youve met your obligations? Does the amount of money you
spend on gambling exceed your excess income? If so, track where and when you gamble
as well as how much you spend. Make a list of all the things you could spend the money
on instead.
20. Sex and pornography.
While these badge programs are designed for any age, sex and pornography are a mainly
addictions for adults. Explore the damage that can happen to your body, your reputation
and your freedom as a result of unprotected sex and / or being convicted of a sex crime.
21. Technology.
From the Internet to watching television to your favorite video game, you can miss a lot
of your life with this addiction. This can also afect your physical well-being through lack
of exercise. Track the time you spend attached to some type of technology for a week as
well as the time away from all technical devices. Document how you feel when you get
away from your technical devices and do something simple like taking a walk or talking
with friends.
22. Self-esteem.
From being the best and expecting your own way to low-esteem and depression, there
is huge impact of how you feel about yourself and how others respond to you. Create a
questionnaire to share with people who know you. Have them pick a number describing
you from one extreme being self-centered to the other extreme. When youve determined
where you t on the spectrum, explore ways to move to the center condent and
modest which tends to attract people to you.
23. Laziness.
This goes hand-in-hand with many other addictions. You miss out on many things and use
other addictions to ll the void. Find out how much physical activity is recommended by
your doctor or other medical authority. Track your activity levels for a week and nd out
if you meet it.
24. Many other addictions.
There are too many to list here. Explore your own addictions. Track the times you are
engaged in the addiction and times you are not. Look at activities that you miss because
of your addiction. Try one or two of those and see how you feel.

Enrichment
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Sites to Explore
psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2010/06/05/12-ways-to-beat-addiction
www.wikihow.com/Overcome-an-Addiction
teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/recovery-overcoming-addiction
www.drphil.com/articles/article/173
www.thesurvivorsclub.org/health/overcoming-addiction
www.pickthebrain.com/blog/overcoming-addiction-by-escaping-escapism
www.beingtruetoyou.com/ve-steps-to-overcome-addiction
gettingstronger.org/2010/04/overcoming-addictions
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve-step_program
zenhabits.net/10-unbeatable-tips-for-overcoming-micro-addictions
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