A-Z of Addiction Recovery: Q is for Quit

Quit

Addictions are hard to quit - everyone knows that. Addiction itself is defined as an "I can't stop" disease. After a health scare, a smoker may want to quit smoking, over-eaters may want to quit over eating, and alcoholics may want to quit drinking, to restore their health and functioning.

What we really want is to quit the pain associated with the addiction, without really giving up anything positive about it, like what we've used it for, to help us cope. When we quit, we don't just lose something, we also gain things. Smokers may regain their health, and eventually stop coughing. Overeaters may lose weight, feel more fit, and have more energy, and alcoholics who quit drinking begin to feel better, think more clearly, and enjoy closer family relationships.

So when we think, "I must quit" instead of looking at what we are giving up, it helps to look at what we have to gain. It makes quitting a positive, self-affirming, healing endeavor.