What will you give up? Sanca urges you to try a week without your go-to habit
Do you have what it takes to stop doing something you love for a week, or will your willpower crumble as quickly as stale bread?
Find out from today to next Sunday, June 29, during the South African National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence's (Sanca) Kick Your Habit campaign.
Adél Grobbelaar, the head of the Sanca Wedge Gardens treatment centre in Johannesburg, says the campaign raises awareness about the challenges faced by people with substance use disorders.
'People often think someone should be able to stop using drugs or drinking too much just through willpower, without realising that addiction is a disease. It doesn't happen because you lack willpower or the strength to make good decisions – it's because you have a chronic brain disorder and your brain chemistry has changed,' says Grobbelaar, an expert in her field with over 40 years of experience.
'People with substance use disorders need support and intervention from society, not judgement. The Kick Your Habit campaign asks people to give up something they rely on in daily life. This helps them understand, even in a small way, what someone goes through during treatment.'
It could be the chocolate bar you crave when things get tough, that fifth cup of coffee to stay alert, cigarettes, mindless scrolling on social media to escape your worries, a drink or two after work – or even biting your nails.
Whatever your crutch, the Kick Your Habit campaign challenges you to give it up for one week.
'You know these habits aren't good for you, but you keep doing them because they bring comfort, relief or pleasure. Just like drugs, alcohol, codeine and other dangerous addictive substances, your habits trigger the brain's reward centre and make you feel good.
'Even 'harmless' substances like sugar or Coke, when misused, can lead to mild substance use disorders. Addiction is the most serious form of a substance use disorder,' Grobbelaar explains, 'and the more harmful the substance, the greater the negative impacts'.
Many people don't realise that addictions aren't always linked to substances. Non-substance addictions can be just as damaging. These include bulimia, over-exercising to the point of harm, gambling, unsafe sex, overspending, excessive pornography use, or spending so much time online or gaming that your relationships and work suffer.
Grobbelaar says the Kick Your Habit campaign helps people understand the tough choices involved in going to a rehabilitation treatment centre.
'If you take the challenge and give up something you depend on for a week, you'll get a real sense of how hard it is to stop a habit without help.
'And if you succeed, you'll feel a sense of achievement and greater control. You'll probably want to talk to someone about it for support and encouragement. Now, imagine how much more support people with substance use disorders need during treatment or after leaving rehab.
'This is what I want society to understand – the strength needed to recover, the tough journey through the detoxification process, the helping hands required to reintegrate into society and, most importantly, the root causes of substance use disorders that must be addressed for long-term recovery.
'Creating awareness about substance use disorders and the role society plays in tackling addiction is what makes campaigns like Kick Your Habit so important,' says Grobbelaar.
So, what will you give up for a week?
Whether you're young or old, a student, parent, office worker or retiree – Sanca challenges you to give up one habit you lean on. Share your journey with friends, family or on social media, and encourage others to join.
You might be surprised by what you learn about yourself – and even more surprised by the empathy it builds for others.
Are you ready to kick your habit?
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