10 Tips to Take Control of Addiction

1. Surrender your addiction to God. Admit you are powerless over your addiction and turn to the One who has the power.
2. Join a recovery group and become involved in service. Twelve-step groups, church groups, Celebrate Recovery groups and aftercare groups all provide safe places to receive support.
3. Get a sponsor. Find someone in recovery who has what you want, and spend time with them on a regular basis.
4. Work the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous with the guidance of your sponsor.
5. Continue to take ongoing inventories of yourself and when you are wrong, confess it to God and another person.
6. Make amends to the people you have harmed. When your side of the street is clean, guilt and shame can disappear and no longer trigger a relapse.
7. Be aware of your triggers and have a plan to cope with them.
8. Reach out to others. By sharing your recovery with others you strengthen your own recovery program.
9. Forgive those who have hurt you. Resentment is the number one cause of relapse. Holding on to resentment is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die.
10. Earn the trust back from your loved ones. Be honest. When you say you will do something, do it and let them hold you accountable.