You can’t turn on the nightly news without hearing tragic stories of overdose deaths and drug-related crime. In this current addiction epidemic, we’re constantly reminded of how drugs and alcohol can destroy lives. But did you know that some of the hardest addictions to kick aren’t illicit substances at all? Certainly, some are, but you’ll want to be careful with all the items on this list.
Here are the five hardest addictions to give up.
1. Love
“Might as well face it, you’re addicted to love.” This sounds trite and cliché, but recent research has shown us that love can literally be an addiction. This phenomenon may explain why people are so likely to stick with an abusive spouse even when they know it’s wrong and they deserve better.
If you’re jumping from relationship to relationship, you may have a minor (or major) love addiction. Try spending some time being single between relationships to reconnect with yourself and break the cycle. Your next relationship may be healthier for it.
2. Food
Fast food and processed food manufacturers are well aware that food is addicting. In fact, they design their foods with ingredients that we’re likely to crave. They win because they sell more product, but we lose because that product is bad for our health and waistline.
If you’re having trouble sticking to a diet, you may be battling with a food addiction. You don’t even have to be overweight to have a food addiction. If you can’t stop eating junk no matter how hard you try, you have a problem. You may benefit from seeing a counselor who specializes in food addiction.
3. Cigarettes
If you talk to someone who has quit multiple drugs, including cocaine and alcohol, they’ll probably tell you that quitting smoking was the hardest.
We all know that cigarettes are addictive, but we don’t demonize it like we do with other drugs because it’s legal. But if you let yourself get addicted to smoking, quitting may be the hardest thing you ever do.
4. Heroin
Heroin and prescription opioid painkillers are an extremely difficult habit to quit. And unfortunately, opioids are the biggest drug problem our society is facing today.
If you’re prescribed prescription painkillers, think twice about taking them. They may dull the pain at the cost of your life. And if you are concerned that you may already be addicted, consider checking into an addiction recovery center sooner rather than later. The longer you stay on these drugs, the more difficult it may be to recover.
5. Valium
Prescription sleep aids are so common these days that many of us don’t stop to think about the dangers. These are highly addictive pills that can ruin your life and worsen your condition of insomnia as your body becomes more and more reliant on the drugs.
If you’re prescribed sleeping pills, avoid taking them regularly. Reserve them for nights when you need the most sleep or if you’ve been consistently having trouble sleeping.
