Deciding To Quit

1

Write down the harmful effects of your addiction. It might not feel good to acknowledge all the ways in which your addiction is harming you, but seeing the list on paper will help you resolve to stop as soon as possible. Take out a pen and a piece of paper and brainstorm a list that includes all the negative effects you've experienced since your addiction started.

• Think about how your addiction has affected your physical health. Maybe the addiction has already taken a noticeable physical toll.
• List the ways in which it has hurt you mentally. Are you embarrassed about your addiction? In many cases addictions lead to shame and embarrassment, as well as depression, anxiety, and other mental and emotional issues.
• How has your addiction affected your relationships with other people? Does it prevent you from spending time with people you love, or having enough time to pursue relationships you want to pursue?
• Some addictions take a big financial toll. List the amount of money you have to spend feeding your addiction every time a new video game comes out. Determine whether your addiction has affected your job.