In the last post about Overcoming Addictions, we discussed some powerful motivational tools that can help you stay on the track towards overcoming addiction. In this post we will discuss the important of a support system and various types of support. Support is extremely important to beating addiction. With many addictions and situations, beating an addiction on your own can be extremely difficult if not near impossible. The support from others around you can make all the difference.

Counseling is perhaps the number one most effective support system. Being able to confide in someone that knows your struggles and the best ways for you to personally beat the addiction can help you succeed. Counseling is designed with the goal in mind of helping you beat addiction. That’s it. There is no type of support that is more centered and focused on overcoming addiction than counseling.

Support groups can sometimes be a form of counseling, though one-on-one environments can be more personally accessible. Support groups are powerful tools, as you can share your struggles with others that have the same problems in a controlled environment. Counseling mediators, along with other support group participants, can be impacting and help you fight the addiction knowing you are not alone in your fight.

Friends and family generally should not be your only source of support, but they are a great support structure because they can hold you accountable on a more consistent basis than a support group or counselor. By being more involved in your every day life, they can help you make a difference when you aren’t in a professional environment.

It is important to note that trying to beat addiction with another addict can have the opposite of the desired effects. Instead of supporting one another in beating the addiction, you may end up fueling one another in continuing the addiction. If one of you falters, the other might as well. It is generally recommended that you keep such support limited to a support group environment and not be dependent on another addict to reach sobriety. In the next post of Overcoming Addictions, we will cover the importance of purpose and the varying degrees of purpose we can reach.