This guest article was written by Adrienne Carlson, who regularly writes on the topic of accelerated online degree .

You don’t realize how difficult it is to beat an addiction unless you’ve actually been in the situation yourself – you know you have to quit because you are slowly destroying yourself, but you’re unable to do so because of forces beyond your control that tug and claw at you until you give in. And you end up feeling guilty and hating yourself because you think you are not strong enough. Getting rid of an addiction is a significant achievement because it proves that you can accomplish the greatest victory there is – that over yourself. You know you have battled your personal demons and vanquished them all with your courage and determination. It’s not an easy task, but if you put your mind to it, here’s how you can get rid of an addiction:

· Desire to quit: To beat an addiction, you must want to get rid of it. You must hate the habit more than you enjoy the pleasure it gives you. Only then is it possible to get rid of it for good. Some people give up addictions because they are forced to by friends and family members or because of their circumstances. But in such cases, you’ll find that they often suffer a relapse and are soon back to their destructive habit. So to quit an addiction, you must first want to do so.

· Remove yourself from temptation: Some people find that the best way to quit is cold turkey – get rid of the habit suddenly and immediately. It’s like pulling a Band-Aid from your skin – it hurts initially, but the pain subsides over time. Others find that they do better when they withdraw slowly and steadily. It’s up to you to decide which method stands a better chance of success and implement it accordingly, but for either to succeed, you must remove yourself from temptation – if you’re addicted to cigarettes, alcohol or drugs, ensure that you don’t keep the stuff stocked at home; if you’re addicted to the Internet or to a relationship, sever connections that tend to tie you down.

· Think of the consequences and the rewards: Any addiction has adverse consequences, so if you’re tempted to go back, think of all that you stand to lose if you give in. Simultaneously, focus on all the rewards that are in the offing if you quit successfully and use the thought of these to spur you on to success.

· Seek help from loved ones: When you’re battling the demons of addiction, your efforts are aided with support and help from loved ones, so tell your friends and family of your endeavor and ask them to do all they can to help you out. If you’re tempted to give in to your desires, they may be able to talk you out of it or distract you until the urge disappears.

· Give in under controlled circumstances: Some people find that allowing themselves a little guilty pleasure once in a while under controlled circumstances prevents them from giving in to their cravings and going on binges. This is an option that must be exercised with extreme caution however, because it has the potential to become the first step to a relapse.

Adrienne welcomes your comments and questions at her email address: adrienne.carlson1@gmail.com .