Addiction is a terrible thing to live with. On the one hand, those who don’t believe they are addicts and continue to use cocaine over and over in an obviously addictive way are in denial. Denial is extremely insidious, because it is a behavior that lies about itself, making it impossible to spot in yourself. That, in turn, can lead to a whole complex of thoughts and emotions that eventually stunt your growth in every conceivable direction. On the other hand, knowing you’re addicted, and being unable to stop using, can also be extremely humiliating. Either one can make a life that feels like it is spiraling out of control, and in fact, it is. But there is certainly good news, and there’s lots of it. Dealing with cocaine addiction is something that thousands of people have done successfully, and most people beginning the road to recovery wonder if they can do it on their own.
It is certainly possible to stop using cocaine without any outside help. There are people who have done it, and some of these have been rather successful, being drug-free for years. However, it is extremely difficult to do, and much more difficult to do than with help from others, and the obvious question here would be: why would you want to do it alone? Programs and treatments have had a great deal of success for many addicts, and they offer a new way of life that doesn’t mean compromising who you are essentially. In any kind of recovery, you become who you are, who you were meant to be, and any good program will help lead you in this direction.
One of the biggest problems with trying to do it alone stems from the nature of the disease. Addicts have a personality type that makes it very difficult for them to ask for help from anyone. There’s a sense of pride about being in control of your life, and that’s perfectly normal. At the same time, when your life is out of control, asking for help is a significant step, if not the most significant, toward dealing with an addiction. Being able to ask for help is also the first sure sign that you’re ready to take yourself seriously, and begin honestly entering into that realm where freedom from cocaine is possible.