3 Uncomfortable Truths You Need To Accept To Break Your Addictions

I struggled for years to break my addictions.

But all those struggles were totally worth it.

Because once I got rid of my addictions and took back control over my life. I started to improve myself in every aspect.

I started going to the gym every single day, reading books, writing online, and acquiring future-proof skills.

If I had not broken my addictions, I would be in a really bad place right now.

I know you’re trying your best to break your addictions, but you keep failing and failing, and it feels like you can never overcome your addictions.

That’s how I felt a few years back.

It was because I was avoiding some uncomfortable truths about addictions.

But once I accepted those truths. I clearly understood what it takes and what I need to do to break my addictions.

Today, I’m gonna share those uncomfortable truths with you.

Accept these truths, get rid of the demons, and take back control over your life. (Read till the end…got a surprise for you!)

Truth #1: It takes time

Imagine a grass field.

When you walk through that grass field for the first time, you push down the grass with your feet a little bit. Then, the next day, if you walk through the same path, the grass gets pushed down a little bit more. And as you walk through the same path every day, you would create a clear trail or a pathway. Now it becomes extremely easy for you to walk that path.

Addictions work exactly the way.

The grass field is your brain. The neural pathway you build is the trail you create by walking through the same path multiple times.

You have built strong and clear neural pathways in your brain for behaviors like scrolling on social media, binge watching Netflix, jerking off to porn, playing video games, etc., by repeating them multiple times over the years.

So, if you want to break your addictions, you need to weaken the neural pathways of your addictions. You need to stop walking down the trail and let the grasses grow back again.

And this process takes time.

Let’s me say that again…IT TAKES TIME.

You can’t weaken the neural pathways of your addictions in days or weeks. It might take months or even years.

It took me almost a year to get rid of my junk food addiction. It took me almost 2 years to get rid of my YouTube addiction. It took me almost 4 years to quit my porn addiction.

This is the first uncomfortable truth you need to be okay with.

IT TAKES TIME.

Truth #2: You have to go through hell

Once I decided to quit my addictions, and started my journey.

I went through a phase called withdrawal symptoms.

Definition: Withdrawal symptoms are the physical, emotional, and mental side effects that happen when you suddenly stop or reduce a behavior your brain has become dependent on — like social media, porn, junk food, smoking, gaming, or any other addiction.

Simply put, it will feel like hell.

When you suddenly try to stop doing what you have been doing for so long, you’ll go through some physical, emotional, and mental side effects.

You’ll go through a lot of mood swings and negative emotions.

You’ll feel restless and unmotivated to do anything.

You’ll struggle to focus and think clearly.

You’ll struggle to sleep.

Hell.

All these will make you fall back into your addictions over and over again.

I used to punch the wall and slap myself in the face out of anger when I relapsed.

I went through this hell for years.

This withdrawal stage makes it extremely difficult for people to quit their addictions.

If you want to get through this phase successfully, understand 2 things:

i) It is not permanent.

This is a temporary phase you have to go through. It will eventually end. Once it ends, you’ll take back control over your life. You’ll move from hell to heaven (not literally!).

ii) It is a good thing.

Withdrawal symptoms are signs that your brain is rewiring. The grasses are growing. The neural pathways of your addictions are getting weaker.

Which is a good thing.

The 3rd truth is…not many people are gonna like this one…

Truth #3: You need to embrace loneliness

Most people are not ready to quit their addictions because they have FOMO.

Fear of missing out.

Imagine you quit social media today.

What do you think will happen?

Here is what happens:

Your friends will be gossiping about the latest trends that are going on social media. It can be a beef between two YouTubers, a new song release, celebrity gossip, or some other garbage.

When they talk about that, you’ll have no clue what they are talking about. You’ll feel like you don’t belong in your friends’ group. You feel like you’re MISSING OUT.

When your friends or family plan to go out and eat something (junk food), you have to say NO! (but you won’t because you don’t want to MISS OUT).

When your friends call you to play video games with them, you have to say NO! (but you won’t because you don’t want to MISS OUT.)

All these kinda of come under the Social Trigger we discussed earlier.

Once I understood this. I started to slowly get away from people. I just ghosted everyone.

I started to embrace loneliness.

Sometimes when I’m around people and they start talking about movies, sports, or other garbage, I won’t understand a word. And I’m totally okay with that. Because knowing that information adds no value to my life.

What I understood is this: These people have nothing meaningful to do with their lives. And they have time to kill. So, they watch movies, scroll all day, and talk shit.

If you want to be like these people. Fine. You can stop reading this right now.

But if you don’t, welcome to real life.

You need a big mindset shift to get rid of FOMO.

First, stop thinking that other people are “having fun and enjoying life” and you’re not. That’s a worse way to think.

Fun is subjective.

For some people, going out with their friends and eating outside is fun. But I personally never enjoyed that.

For some people, simply reading a good book is fun. I come under this category.

To be honest, people who constantly keep themselves distracted with their phone, entertainment, and gossip are not doing that because it’s fun; they are doing that to keep their minds numb from thinking about their lives.

Because it sucks. They are not ready to take some action to make their life better (because it’s hard).

So instead, they avoid thinking about it by distracting themselves.

Don’t be one of those people.

Now, some people are going to get me wrong. “Are you saying I should not watch movies, and not use social media?”.

No, that’s not what I’m saying. I’m on social media myself.

If you’re working on a meaningful goal every day, and when you have some free time, there is nothing wrong with watching a movie.

If you’re creating content online and you want some inspiration, you can scroll for a few minutes (with the right intention).

But simply wasting all your time on your phone and talking about the garbage you scroll with your friends is just stupid and useless.

In fact, you should be fine with not having any friends.

I have noticed this. Some people (actually, most people) can’t be by themselves. They need people around them all the time. If they don’t have people around them, they need something to keep them distracted (phone, movies, porn, junk food).

Don’t be like that.

You need to learn to be alone. You need to learn to sit with your own thoughts. You need to learn how to be happy without anyone around you.

I’m a master at this. I am happier when I’m by myself. I laugh at my own jokes. I write. I read. I go for walks. I listen to music. And I enjoy it. I don’t need anyone. It is an amazing feeling.

You need to learn how to be happy by yourself. It’s extremely important.

Anyway, we are going off topic here. Let’s come back.

What I’m trying to say is this…

You might have heard this quote…

You are the sum of the 5 people you spend the most time with.

If those 5 people you spend the most time with are social media addicts, video game addicts, and eat junk food every day, what do you think you will become…

Exactly.

Slowly get away from them. They are not good for your life anyway.

Embrace solitude and start working on yourself.

As you improve, you’ll start to attract good people towards you. You’ll get amazing friends.

Until then, grind alone.

---

Here is the surprise:

What you just read is a small piece from my recent Notion Guide (It’s free!):

 If you are serious about breaking your addictions, taking back control, and molding yourself into your best version possible. 

Grab your free copy👇

A Complete Guide To Breaking Addictions

---

If you’re a business owner or creator who needs words that actually move people. I can help.

• I write YouTube scripts, IG captions, articles, and blogs that help you grow your audience.
• Create lead magnets (email courses or eBooks) that grow your list.
• Write daily emails that build trust and nurture your audience.
• Craft high-converting sales pages.

If you’re interested, book a free discovery call here. 

Or,

Reach out to me via: abbasalithewriter@gmail.com.

---

---

P.S. You have no idea how amazing your life becomes once you get rid of your addictions.