How to Rewire Your Brain from Addiction: A Step-by-Step Guide

The addiction to any drug or alcohol starts from the cognitive mechanism. The Cognitive mechanism is supported by the brain and the nervous system. The brain is a central organ that controls bodily movements, thoughts, and emotions. It commands your body to take action against the problems your body is suffering.

Drugs mainly take over your brain to take indifferent steps. The malfunctioning of the brain releases the hormones, which make a human addicted to a specific drug. It will create the feeling to crave and react if not consumed. “Rewire your brain from addiction” means to fix the malfunction caused by the harmful substance, such as narcotics, alcohol, and smoking. It is possible to rewire your brain and make it function properly.

Now, we will talk through the ways, therapies, and changes in life you need to make. It is for a long and healthy life ahead. First, how does rewiring work? Second, what are the essential steps you have to take?. Third, how many kinds of treatments are available?. Fourth, what are the important lifestyle improvements you need to make after treatment?.

How does Addiction Affect Your Brain?

An Addiction is a medical disorder that makes a person dependent upon other foreign substances to seek rewarding feelings. The reward often gives the feeling of lightheadedness, and it works like anesthesia under special conditions. It alters how the brain functions and forces it to make compulsive decisions. Addiction affects the brain in three common ways such as:

• First, after consuming any drug once, your body will continue to crave drugs or alcohol until you consume them again and again and making you addicted.
• Second, the brain will crave to consume, but if the requirements are not met, according to the release of dopamine. Then it will create a feeling of constant stress, including hypertension and anxiety. Addiction will corrupt the brain until the person consumes the substance responsible.
• Third, if a person can achieve the target, then the urge will be controlled, but if not. Then Hormones will make compulsive, harmful decisions like self-harm, depression, and harm other people.

The addict will get stuck in the loop of addiction and continue to take drugs. This loop will cause him several health issues and dysfunction his organs. It is hard to get out of this loop, but it is possible. It takes time, according to the stage of addiction the person is in. You can reset your brain from addiction through neuroplasticity exercises and replace addictive behaviours.

Steps To Rewire Brain Pathways

Step 1: Identify Trigger Points and Patterns of Urges

The initial step to rewire your brain from addiction is to understand the pattern of urges and find the trigger points. It is very important to find trigger points, as if you are successful in overcoming triggers, then you will be able to control the urge. The triggers can be environmental, social, and personal. It is suggested to journalize your triggers and perform self-assessments to track the improvement and drastic changes. First, you should be aware of your situation and your problems to solve.

Step 2: Break The Habit Loop

Habit loop breaking is really important to stop the process of addiction. After finding all the trigger points, you should learn how to interfere with your automatic behaviours. You can try the three-step method: Pause-breathe-divert. By this method, you will be capable of distracting your mind from the urge. It will help you break addiction habits momentarily.

Step 3: Make New Recovery Habits

A person should consider taking up new hobbies and fun physical activities to distract themselves. It will help you perform emotional regulation in recovery. Hobbies and physical activities will set up a healthy reward system over compulsive desires. Hobbies including painting, dancing, and playing video games. Such activities engage your brain for a long time, which helps reprogram your brain habits from bad to good.

Step 4: Improve your Emotional Control

Emotional regulation is the competence to manage emotions in a manner that is flexible and relevant. For an addict, it is important to improve their emotional control over habits. Even if you perform hobbies to distract you should still learn to control your emotions. The easiest method to control them is Notice, Name, accept, and respond. For example, if you are craving, then notice the urge, name the feeling, accept your feeling, and then respond to the feeling by neglecting and solving. In this method, you can control addiction and the reward system of the brain will be altered.

Step 5: Use Scientific Addiction Recovery Techniques

Techniques that are proven by doctors should be used to recover from addiction. The techniques include mindfulness/tai chi, yoga and meditation. You should try resetting your reward system. CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) principles are advised to use and to be their own therapist. A person should practise yoga and meditate to calm their mind from irrelevant urges.
You should make a schedule to eat, sleep, and exercise, as it impacts the Neuroplasticity system. Addiction recovery techniques will only be useful if a person is willing to work it out.

Step 6: Keep Supportive People Around You

You should always keep your closest family member or any person as your support system. People who bring positivity into your life should stay near you. Talking and laughing together is the natural way to reset the brain from addiction. Some people, like mother, father, brother, and wife are the people who understand you the most. They even accept you with your flaws and imperfections. Having someone close to your heart can rewire your brain to function normally.

Step 7: Track Your Progress and Mark A Milestone

Always keep a record of your progress and make sure to set practical targets. The goals that you can achieve should only be listed but if you are unable to achieve your goals. Then you should seek advice from professionals and try again until you are successful in achieving the goal. After the completion of the goal, Mark a milestone and move forward. It is important to move forward as long as you don’t fulfill your target.

Signs It’s Time To Get Medical Support and Therapy

If you are unable to recover from the steps given above, then you should seek medical guidance. The addict must acknowledge his stage of addiction. If the person chooses to hurt themselves and neglect what others are saying, then it is relevant to look for a doctor’s support and visit rehabs or hospitals for better results. If the person is conscious and accepts the need to seek guidance from a professional therapist. Then, they should seek therapy sessions to rewire their brain.

Lifestyle Changes For Brain Rewiring

The life of a person with addiction centers around the same routine every day, which makes it uneasy for them to get free of their addiction. It is important to change their customary habits. You should make firm choices for a major change in your life. With the desire to live happily and healthily, make sure to accept changes and trust your family for your betterment.

Major lifestyle changes to break the addiction habits are listed below:

• Focus on quality sleep: It is important to sleep to reset your brain from all unnecessary problems.
• Perform regular yoga: Every morning, perform activities that support neuroplasticity for at least 20 minutes.
• Eat healthy & nourishing meals: You must eat meals three times & always consume healthy food for better improvement.
• Learn Fresh & New things: People should learn new and different things to enjoy their time and learn useful facts for fun.
• Stay socially active: Spend time with your friends and watch some movies with them. It will keep you happy and connected with others. It will make you feel less lonely and alive.
• Perform mindfulness: Always perform mindfulness and thank your family, friends and god for everything you have. It will make you feel good and fortunate to have such a wonderful life.

Conclusion

Many people who suffer from addiction are unable to put their problems in front of people they know, so they must seek professional help to rewire their brains. Some people are strong enough to accept their problems and seek solutions, while others, who are shy and isolated face problems in showing their weaknesses. People suffering from addiction of drugs and alcohol must seek medical guidance or therapy to achieve a healthy life. It is your choice whether you want to take medical ways or overcome addiction naturally. You may suffer for a short period but it gives happiness in the long term. This is how you can rewire your brain from addiction.