Overcoming Addiction

Dr. Phil believes addictions always serve a need. For many, it's a basic emotional need of coming to terms with self-worth and developing a strong sense of self. And the best thing you can possibly do is take action! Use Dr. Phil's strategies to make positive changes in your life:

• Find the courage to determine what you need that you're not getting.
• List three things that you feel you're running from in your life. What are you using your addictions to avoid? Get to the heart of the matter.
• You can't change what you don't acknowledge. Get real with yourself. Ask the tough questions — and listen closely to your answers.
• Behave your way to success. Instead of being afraid to be a successful person, learn how to own those positive feelings.
• Work on how to present yourself on an "even-up" basis with the world. How can you know if you can stand on your own without the crutch of your addiction unless you remove it?
• Stop running. You can run but you can't hide. Stop putting your own happiness off until tomorrow.
• Remember, you don't ever break a habit. If you want to get rid of bad behavior, you have to replace it with something positive — something that will make you stronger instead of weaker. Work on identifying positive behaviors that would make good replacements for your addictions.