Avoiding Addiction: How I Steered Clear in a World Full of Vices

A personal journey of avoiding addiction, breaking free from vices, and finding the strength to create a fulfilling, addiction-free life.

Mostly Media

05 Oct 2024 — 23 min read

For as long as I can remember, addiction has been a shadow looming over the lives of those around me. I’ve seen people fall into patterns they never imagined, but somehow, I’ve managed to stay clear. This isn’t just a story about avoiding substances — it’s about mindset, discipline, and crafting a lifestyle that prevents even the most subtle of addictions from taking hold. In this article, I’ll walk you through the exact strategies that have kept me addiction-free, and how you can use them to stay in control of your life.

**Disclaimer: The following article is a personal account of my journey in avoiding addiction. It’s important to remember that addiction is a complex issue that can affect people in different ways. While the strategies outlined here have worked for me, they may not apply to everyone. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, seeking professional help is always the best first step. This article is not intended as medical or psychological advice but rather as a personal reflection on how I’ve managed to navigate my habits and avoid addiction.**

Introduction: Witnessing Addiction in a World of Vices

Growing up in the 90s, addiction wasn’t just something you heard about on the news — it was something you saw all around you. It was in the streets, in the media, and even in our homes. The opioid crisis has left a scar on society, and we are constantly bombarded with stories of how people struggled to break free from substances that controlled their lives. But it wasn’t just the heavy drugs or alcohol; addiction came in so many forms, some of which were hidden in plain sight.

For me, it wasn’t just about watching people spiral from hard drugs. The conversation about addiction permeated all aspects of life — from the D.A.R.E. movement in schools to the music that played on the radio, addiction was a central theme. Songs spoke of the struggles of losing oneself to substances, and campaigns were built around warning us about the dangers of giving in to vices.

But even as society tackled these overt issues, I saw that addiction wasn’t confined to what was being addressed in public. There was a darker, quieter side to it, a kind of addiction that didn’t always involve drugs but had the same impact on people’s lives. I saw how people around me tried to escape their realities, often turning to things that brought them short-term relief but long-term harm.

The Many Faces of Addiction: More Than Just Drugs

Addiction isn’t limited to the substances we often associate it with, like alcohol or drugs. As I grew older, I started to recognize the countless forms of addiction that quietly infiltrated people’s lives. While society often focuses on the more visible struggles — drugs, alcohol, gambling — there are numerous other forms of dependency that take a toll on a person’s well-being.

We’ve all seen how some people fall into gambling or how caffeine becomes a crutch to survive the day. But addiction also shows up in ways we don’t always recognize as harmful. I started noticing how technology, particularly our phones, had become another form of addiction. Social media, video games, and even seemingly innocent things like endless scrolling became powerful sources of dopamine. These new-age addictions were different in form but not in their effect. They provided an escape from the difficulties of reality, pulling people deeper into their own bubbles, away from the world.

Then there are the hidden addictions — things that are normalized in society but have the same powerful hold. Caffeine, for example, is widely accepted, but how often do people rely on it just to feel like they can function? Or how many people throw themselves into work, not just for success, but as a way to distract themselves from other parts of life? The list goes on, and the common thread between all these forms of addiction is the same: a reliance on something external to numb what’s going on inside.

Here’s a glimpse into some of the various forms of addiction I observed:

• Caffeine dependency

• Gambling

• Phone addiction and social media overuse

• Compulsive video gaming

• Obsession with work or career achievements

• Food as an emotional crutch

• Addiction to people and intimacy

Each of these vices serves as a way to avoid confronting the real world. People are constantly looking for an outlet, and addiction provides an easy way to hide from the difficulties they face in their day-to-day lives.

Addiction as a Coping Mechanism: Escaping the Difficulties of Life

Addiction, at its core, is about escape. It’s a response to something deeper, an attempt to cope with life’s hardships in ways that provide temporary relief but lead to long-term damage. People who struggle with addiction aren’t simply weak or undisciplined; they’re often trying to fill a void, soothe pain, or find a way to manage overwhelming emotions and experiences.

I began to realize this when I saw how many people around me turned to their addictions during difficult times. Whether it was drugs, alcohol, gambling, or even social media, these addictions provided them with an escape from the harsh realities of their lives. For some, it was an escape from trauma; for others, it was from financial stress, loneliness, or the pressure to succeed. Addiction offered them something reliable — an immediate hit of dopamine, a temporary way to numb the pain.

In many cases, addiction became a way to avoid dealing with the real issues. Instead of confronting their problems head-on, people found solace in the predictability of their addictions. It was easier to turn to something that promised quick relief than to sit with uncomfortable feelings or confront difficult circumstances.

But that’s where the danger lies — addiction offers a false sense of control. It tricks people into thinking that they’re managing their emotions when, in reality, they’re avoiding them. And the more they rely on their addiction, the harder it becomes to face life without it.

This is why addiction isn’t just a bad habit — it’s a coping mechanism that people use when life feels unmanageable. And it’s not just limited to drugs or alcohol. It could be anything that gives people an escape route, something that promises to take the edge off, even if just for a little while.

Understanding addiction as a coping mechanism gave me a new perspective. I could see that the people around me weren’t just “addicts” — they were people struggling with the weight of their lives, searching for something, anything, to make it more bearable. It wasn’t their fault, but it was their reality. And it was up to them to find healthier ways to cope.

Hidden Addictions: More Than Just Drugs and Alcohol

As I continued to witness the ways addiction manifested in people’s lives, it became clear that not all addictions were as visible as drug or alcohol abuse. There were plenty of hidden addictions — vices that seemed harmless at first but had the same effect of keeping people stuck in cycles of dependency and escapism.

Caffeine, for instance, was one of the most socially acceptable addictions. I saw people who couldn’t get through the day without several cups of coffee, using it not just for energy but as a crutch to keep pushing forward when they were mentally or physically drained. It became clear that this addiction, while normalized, was still a form of relying on something external to cope with the demands of life.

Then there was gambling — an adrenaline rush disguised as fun. It wasn’t always about the money but about the thrill and the temporary escape from reality. The same went for smartphones, which became a new-age addiction, constantly pulling people into a vortex of notifications, likes, and endless scrolling. Social media offered an addiction to validation, while video games gave people an alternative universe to live in — one where their real-world problems didn’t exist.

But the most surprising form of addiction? It could even present itself in seemingly healthy habits. For instance, exercise or strict dieting, while beneficial in moderation, could turn into obsessive behaviors. I knew people who used working out as a way to escape emotional pain or control a part of their lives that felt out of hand. What started as a positive habit quickly became an unhealthy fixation, driven by the same need for control or avoidance that fuels other addictions.

It became clear that addiction could take many forms. It wasn’t just about substances — it was about anything that people turned to for relief from the stress, pain, or difficulties they faced. In this way, addiction became more than just a bad habit; it became a sign of unresolved struggles and internal battles that people were trying to fight through unhealthy means.

The key was recognizing that addiction wasn’t just about the substance or activity. It was about how people used these things to cope. Once I saw that, I could start to understand why addiction became such a powerful force in so many lives.

Rock Bottom: The Breaking Point for Many

For a lot of people, the turning point comes when they hit rock bottom. It’s the moment when the consequences of their addiction are laid bare, and there’s no more pretending that everything is fine. For some, this moment happens gradually, as they start losing pieces of their life to the addiction — jobs, relationships, or maybe their own health. For others, it comes all at once, in a moment of crisis that forces them to confront the reality they’ve been avoiding for so long.

Rock bottom isn’t always dramatic, though. Sometimes it’s quiet, like when someone wakes up one day and realizes they don’t recognize the person they’ve become. Other times, it’s the intervention of a loved one, someone who cares enough to point out the ripple effects of their addiction. When they see how their actions have impacted those around them — the hurt they’ve caused, the trust they’ve broken — that realization often cuts deeper than the harm they’ve done to themselves.

There’s a brutal clarity in seeing the damage through someone else’s eyes. When that external perspective is brought into the equation, it becomes nearly impossible to dismiss the severity of the situation. The guilt, the shame, and the realization of how far they’ve fallen can feel like a punch to the gut. For many, it’s that very guilt — seeing how their choices have affected others — that becomes the catalyst for change. It’s often the only thing powerful enough to shake them out of the cycle of addiction.

Guilt, as painful as it is, can plant a seed of doubt. A small voice that starts questioning the path they’ve been on, the choices they’ve made. And while it may not be enough to cause immediate change, that seed can grow, slowly pushing them toward a different path. It’s hard to continue living in denial when the people you care about are visibly suffering because of your actions.

In many cases, this confrontation with guilt is salvation in disguise. It forces a person to see themselves not just as an individual but as someone whose actions have a ripple effect. It’s painful, but it’s also a turning point — one that can either break them or make them realize that something has to change.

The Pivot: Choosing to Confront, Not Run

With all this in mind, having learned these lessons at a very early age, I started making changes in my life that kept me from falling into those bad habits. I realized early on that I had two paths: confront the issues head-on or spend my life running from them, always looking over my shoulder, waiting for them to catch up to me. Running might seem like the easier option, but I knew that if I didn’t face it now, it would slowly creep up on me, and by then, I’d be too weak to fight back.

I couldn’t bear the thought of succumbing to that guilt, that crushing weight that would inevitably come if I let addiction get the better of me. I wasn’t deluding myself into thinking I was the strongest person in the world. I knew that if I let it take hold, I wouldn’t have the strength to escape its grasp. The fear of what addiction could do to me and to those who cared about me hit me before the addiction itself ever did. My family was already carrying enough weight — I wasn’t about to become another burden.

In a way, I was fortunate to feel the weight of guilt before I ever let addiction take complete control. But that didn’t mean I didn’t struggle. I fought my battles with addiction — just not with drugs. My vices took on other forms. I fell into addictive patterns with things like work, caffeine, and obsession with health, all chasing that same feeling of escape, that same escape. Each time I slipped, it felt more brutal than the last, but I took the lessons I learned and got better at climbing out of the hole.

It was never a smooth or permanent fix. Every time I saw the patterns starting to form again, I had to proactively realign my mentality and take the proper steps to avoid it. I had to stay ahead of it. When I felt myself “relapsing” into a new addiction, I became quicker at recognizing it and severing its hold on me before it could dig in deeper.

I won’t deny it — I had a predisposition to fall victim to addiction. But rather than letting it consume me, I chose to spend my life fighting it. And it wasn’t just for myself — it was for my family, for the people who cared about me. I needed to be strong, to be there for them. I had to fight, not just to survive, but to stay present for the ones who loved me.

This is where the real battle began — understanding the patterns and learning to take control. And now, I’ll break down the steps that helped me stay ahead.

The Turning Point: Confronting the Struggle and Accepting Change

With all this in mind, having learned these lessons at an early age, I realized that there was a choice before me: continue down a path of bad habits, or confront the issues head-on. This was the defining moment, the fork in the road where many find themselves when battling addiction. Do I address the source, or do I spend my life running, always looking over my shoulder, waiting for my demons to catch up with me? The truth was, I couldn’t bear the idea of succumbing to the guilt I knew would follow if I let addiction take over.

I wasn’t naïve enough to believe I was strong enough to withstand it if I didn’t face it. Addiction isn’t a fight you win in one clean battle — it’s a war of attrition, and if you don’t confront it early, it creeps up on you until it completely takes over. I saw it all around me, in family, friends, and the stories I grew up hearing. It would start small — a drink, a pill, a distraction — but it snowballed into something much larger than they could handle.

The idea of becoming another statistic terrified me. More importantly, I couldn’t bear the idea of being a burden on my family. They were already dealing with enough, and I wasn’t about to add to their struggles. It was almost as if the guilt hit me before addiction did, as if I could see the ripple effects of my potential actions before they even happened. I had to choose the harder path — confronting the issues — because deep down, I knew that running would only delay the inevitable.

But that didn’t mean I never struggled. Just because I recognized the danger didn’t mean I was immune to falling into bad patterns. I faced my own battles with addiction, though not in the traditional sense of drugs or alcohol. For me, the addiction came in other forms — work, caffeine, social media — anything that could provide an escape from the pressures of life. And each time I fell, it felt like the hole was deeper, but the lessons I learned made it easier to climb out.

Over time, I became better at recognizing the signs of a new vice taking hold. The key was to be proactive. As soon as I saw a pattern forming, I took steps to realign my mentality, to cut off the addiction before it could sink its claws too deep. And with each battle, I became stronger, more resilient.

There’s no denying that I had a predisposition to fall victim to addiction — it’s in my blood, in my upbringing — but I chose to fight. I’d rather spend my life battling addiction than let it consume me. Not just for myself, but for the people I care about. I knew I had to be strong, not only to protect my own well-being, but to be there for the ones who love me.

This is where the real battle begins — understanding the patterns, confronting the pain, and learning to stay ahead of it. And from here, we move on to the practical steps that helped me stay on the right path.

The Environment: Changing Your Surroundings

One of the first things I learned about breaking free from the grip of addiction is that your environment plays a massive role. The places where you spend your time — the streets you walk, the rooms you sleep in — they all carry weight. If those spaces are filled with negative memories or associations, it’s like constantly being dragged back into the mindset you’re trying to escape.

The Problem: Your environment shapes your mentality. Whether it’s your hometown, a neighborhood where you’ve had bad experiences, or even just the house you’ve lived in your whole life, these places are filled with triggers. It’s where the bad habits took root, and staying in those environments makes it nearly impossible to break free. The space around you is soaked with the energy of your past, and it’s hard to build a better future when you’re constantly surrounded by reminders of what’s holding you back.

The Remedy: Sometimes, the solution is as simple as packing up and leaving. Move. Change your environment. It sounds drastic, but it works. When you relocate, you aren’t just leaving behind physical spaces — you’re leaving behind the negative energy that comes with it. It’s a way of wiping the slate clean. Sure, it won’t fix everything on its own, but it’s the catalyst for real change. The act of moving physically resets your mindset. New surroundings give you the opportunity to start fresh, unburdened by the ghosts of your past.

However, it’s not just the environment. What’s going on inside you — the things you’ve internalized over time — matters just as much, if not more. While a change in scenery can give you a fresh perspective, it’s the internal work that makes lasting change possible. This is where personal introspection comes into play.

The People Around You: Who’s In Your Circle?

Just like your environment, the people you surround yourself with play a crucial role in your ability to break free from addiction. The crowd you run with either pulls you up or drags you down, and when you’re in the thick of it, it’s often hard to see who’s helping and who’s hurting.

The Problem: Many of us are deeply tied to people who enable our bad habits — friends, family members, or even people we consider loved ones. These relationships, while familiar, can be toxic if they contribute to the cycles of addiction. It’s difficult to cut ties with people who have been part of your life for so long, but sometimes, the very people you care about are the ones keeping you from growing. They don’t have to be actively bad people — sometimes, it’s just their mindset or their own struggles that keep you stuck in your bad habits.

The Remedy: The harsh reality is that if someone is enabling your addiction or contributing to your mental struggles, they need to go. Cut them off, regardless of who they are. It will hurt — there’s no denying that — but the pain of cutting ties is nothing compared to the pain of staying in toxic cycles. You deserve to be surrounded by people who support your growth, not those who hold you back.

But simply cutting people off isn’t enough. Once you’re on your own, the real challenge begins: facing what you’ve been avoiding. The internal struggle is often more arduous than anything external, and this is where you need support — either from others going through the same journey or from introspection itself.

Finding Support: You Don’t Have to Do It Alone

Once you’ve distanced yourself from toxic environments and people, the next question is: Where do you turn for support? Being on your own can feel isolating, especially if you’ve cut off many of the people and places that were once part of your life. But this is where the real healing begins.

The Problem: Going through the process of change and recovery can be lonely. When you’re used to a certain lifestyle and crowd, the idea of stepping into the unknown without anyone to lean on feels overwhelming. But the truth is, going through this alone is one of the hardest things you can do, and it often leads to relapse.

The Remedy: Find people who understand. This is why support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous exist. They work because you’re surrounded by people who have been through what you’re going through. When you see others who have hit lower lows than you or are on the same path to recovery, it can be the wake-up call you need to keep going. Seeing someone else succeed reminds you that it’s possible to climb out of the hole. Support isn’t just about sympathy — it’s about finding people who will hold you accountable and help you grow.

Confronting the Roots: Facing the Demons

This is where the real work begins — the moment you stop running from your problems and start confronting them head-on. Many people spend their entire lives avoiding the deeper issues, masking the pain with distractions, vices, or temporary fixes. But if you truly want to overcome addiction, you need to go straight to the root of it all.

The Problem: The hardest part of healing is confronting the demons that live deep within us. For many, this means facing trauma, regret, guilt, or past experiences that have been buried for years. It’s these unresolved issues that often fuel addictive behavior. Whether it’s childhood trauma, past relationships, or moments of failure, these experiences shape how we cope with the world. And if they go unaddressed, they’ll continue to manifest in unhealthy ways.

The Remedy: You have to dig deep, and that’s not something you can do alone. For many, therapy is a necessary step. Having a professional help you navigate through your past can make the process more bearable and give you the tools to understand why you’re feeling the way you do. This isn’t about blaming yourself for what happened — it’s about understanding where your pain comes from and learning how to heal from it. Journaling, therapy, or even talking with someone you trust are all ways to start this process. Writing about your experiences is powerful, as it forces you to acknowledge what’s been hiding in the dark. By bringing it to the surface, you strip away its power over you.

The goal is to confront what’s inside, unmask the problems, and understand them. Only then can you start to address the behaviors that stem from these deep-seated issues. It’s not easy, and it’s definitely not fast, but this is the foundation upon which true healing is built. It’s about facing what haunts you and refusing to let it dictate your future.

Building a New Foundation: Filling the Void

Once you’ve uncovered the root causes of your struggles, the next step is to make sure that you don’t fall back into the same hole. The space left behind by the old habits, addictions, and coping mechanisms is dangerous. If you don’t carefully guard that space, something else will fill it, and it might not be any better than what was there before.

The Problem: After unearthing so much darkness, it’s easy to feel vulnerable. You’ve exposed the very things that held you back, and now you’re left with a void. This empty space can feel unsettling, and if you’re not careful, it can be filled with new distractions, new vices, or even a return to old habits. Your brain will want to latch onto anything that feels familiar, even if it’s harmful. You’re essentially trying to rewire years of behavior, and that process leaves you exposed.

The Remedy: Instead of rushing to fill the hole, take the time to build a new, stronger foundation. Don’t replace your old vices with new ones in an attempt to feel whole again. Instead, start small. Brick by brick, you need to build up healthier habits and coping mechanisms. The goal is not to rush the process but to create a solid foundation that will support you in the long term.

Focus on personal growth. Develop routines that help you stay grounded, whether that’s exercise, mindfulness, hobbies, or building stronger relationships. Don’t fill the void with quick fixes. The key is consistency — building slowly over time so that your new habits are sustainable. There will be setbacks, and you’ll fall off the path occasionally, but the important thing is to keep going. The process is the goal, not the end result.

Celebrating Progress: Recognizing How Far You’ve Come

After some time — whether it’s weeks, months, or years — you’ll start to notice something remarkable. You’ve changed. You’re no longer the person you were when you first began this journey. But often, we’re so focused on where we want to go that we forget to look back and see how far we’ve come.

The Problem: Many people on this path feel like they haven’t done enough. Even when they’ve made significant progress, they focus on the mountain they still have to climb rather than appreciating the distance they’ve already covered. It’s easy to get caught up in the idea that you’re not “there” yet, wherever “there” is, and this mindset can lead to burnout or relapse. If you’re constantly feeling like you’re not good enough or that your progress is too slow, you might be tempted to fall back into old habits as a way of coping.

The Remedy: Take a moment to acknowledge how far you’ve come. You’ve fought battles that, at one point, seemed impossible. Celebrate your victories, no matter how small they might seem. Did you resist a temptation that used to have power over you? Did you make it through a difficult day without falling back into old patterns? Those are wins. Even just getting up in the morning and facing the day with a better mindset is something to be proud of.

And don’t celebrate by turning to vices. Instead, find healthy ways to reward yourself — whether it’s treating yourself to something you enjoy, taking time for self-care, or simply reflecting on your achievements. The act of celebrating your progress reinforces the positive changes you’ve made and motivates you to keep going.

This is where you recognize that you’re not only surviving but thriving. You’ve earned the right to be proud of yourself. The journey ahead might still be long, but you’ve already proven that you have the strength to continue. Use that momentum to push forward.

Living for Yourself and Others: A New Life of Fulfillment

You’ve made it this far, and now it’s time to fully embrace the life you’ve built through hard work and perseverance. This isn’t about surviving anymore — it’s about thriving. You’re not just battling addiction or bad habits now; you’re actively building a new life filled with joy, purpose, and meaning.

The Problem (Past): In the thick of your struggles, the idea of living a fulfilling, happy life might have seemed impossible. The weight of addiction or vice likely kept you in survival mode, focused on just getting through each day. Living fully and embracing joy felt out of reach. Worse, it may have felt undeserved. But the reality is that you’ve earned it, and denying yourself a full, happy life is another way of allowing the past to keep its hold on you.

The New Reality: Now, the tides have turned. You’ve reached a pivotal point where you realize that not only do you deserve to live fully, but you owe it to yourself — and to those around you. The life you’ve fought to reclaim is yours, and you should fill it with experiences, relationships, and pursuits that bring you genuine happiness. It’s not about being perfect but about living deliberately.

You also recognize that your journey has given you a unique perspective. You’ve gained strength from your struggles, and now you can share that strength with others. Whether through mentorship, offering support to those still on the path, or simply being a positive influence in someone’s life, you have the power to be a light for others. You know better than anyone how important it is to have someone in your corner during dark times.

Living Boldly: The final step in this journey is to live life boldly and unapologetically. That doesn’t mean throwing caution to the wind, but it does mean making the most of every day. You’ve overcome challenges that many never conquer, and that alone is reason to live with a sense of purpose and fulfillment. You’ve survived the war — now it’s time to truly live.

Do things that bring you joy. Find new passions. Invest in your relationships and take risks in ways that will benefit your growth. Most importantly, never forget where you came from and the strength it took to get here. This isn’t just about you anymore — your success can inspire others who might be where you once were.

Final Thoughts: Moving forward, remember that every day is an opportunity to continue growing, healing, and thriving. You’re building a life that is rooted in strength and resilience, and you’ve proven that you’re capable of so much more than you ever thought possible. You’ve turned your pain into power, and now you’re living the life you were always meant to live — full of purpose, happiness, and fulfillment.

This song is all about moving on, maybe it’ll help you.

Conclusion: A Journey from Struggle to Strength

As we close this chapter, it’s essential to understand that breaking free from addiction, whether it be substances, habits, or unhealthy patterns, is a monumental achievement. It’s not a linear path, and you’re bound to hit obstacles, but what matters is your resilience, your willingness to face those obstacles head-on, and the knowledge that you have the power to overcome them. The battle doesn’t end with the first victory; it’s a continuous process of growth, learning, and healing.

You’ve made it through the darkest moments — where things seemed hopeless. You’ve faced rock bottom, learned from the pain, and slowly started to rebuild. The good news is that once you’ve conquered those shadows, you have the tools to continue rising above them. The path forward is now about maintaining momentum, protecting the progress you’ve made, and learning to live a life of fulfillment rather than just survival.

What You Faced:

• Bad Environment: Surrounded by triggers, negativity, or a toxic environment that held you back. 📉

• Cut it Off: The environment changed — whether by moving or shifting the space around you to one that promotes healing.📈

• Bad Crowd: People in your life who dragged you down, facilitated unhealthy behaviors, and kept you stuck.📉

• Cut the Ties: You distanced yourself from them, recognizing that their influence was toxic.📈

• No Support: Isolation in your struggle, not knowing where to turn for help.📉

• Seek Help: Found support, whether through formal groups, mentors, or those who share your experiences.📈

• Internal Battles: The demons inside — old trauma, deep-seated insecurities, and unresolved pain.📉

• Confront the Pain: You faced it, peeled back the layers, and started the healing process with self-reflection or therapy.📈

• Temporary Solutions: Filling the void with short-term distractions that only worsened things.📉

• Long-Term Growth: You stopped filling the hole with unhealthy habits and focused on building a solid foundation, brick by brick.📈

Clearly, there were many ups and downs, but by addressing these core areas, you’ve begun to shape a new life—a healthier, more fulfilling one. But the journey doesn’t stop here. Every day presents new challenges, but now you have the tools and the awareness to handle them. Each step forward is another victory, and each setback is simply a part of the process. What matters is your commitment to keep moving forward.