HALT for Addiction
In case you’re wondering what HALT stands for, don’t worry, I’ll explain in a minute. Before I do, I want to be clear that there are many idioms that exist in Addiction: KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid), since I don’t like to treat people like shit, I say “Silly” rather than “Stupid”. There is AAA-Alter, Avoid, Accept. These acronyms are meant to be easy to remember in order to assist people when they get the “Shark Eyes”, as I call it. If you’ve ever seen Finding Nemo, you know what I mean. When the shark smells the blood, his pupils completely dilate. When an “addict” sees or smells a substance, they have the possibility of getting “Shark Eyes”. So keep it simple and HALT-B (I add the B, read on to know why).
HALT-B Defined
- Hungry– With an empty belly, one would imagine that a person would want food. Not someone with an addiction. Someone with an addiction doesn’t get hungry for food. They get hungry for drugs and alcohol, which probably keep them from being hungry for food. (Unless they take Opiate PILLS, then, some people start putting on some weight, just my experience via therapy.)
- Angry– There’s no relief for anger like using. That doesn’t give you a pass. Smoke a cigarette (I’m not saying smoking is great, but here I am typing this blog, smoking a cigarette). Scream into a pillow. Call your sponsor. Hit up a meeting. Count to 10 and see if it’s worth all of the energy. Then, ask yourself if you’re too prone to anger.
- Lonely– Ah, loneliness. We all feel this way sometimes, even when we’re surrounded by a room full of people we know. Even when we’re laying next to someone we love.Here’s the thing, this one, I get 100% because I’ve been smoking since I was 13 and, you know what? Cigarettes have never made me “feel lonely”. You know why? Middle of the night, I can roll over and light up. But guess what? Cigs won’t make me violate parole. Cigs won’t take control of my life so much that I lose my job or family (ALL of them). Think it through, follow the steps from anger. You have a new chance and a life to get on with. Call a sober friend on your list (make a list of people who aren’t pissed at you for screwing them over at one point).
- Tired– Have you ever been so tired that you can’t sleep? Ever been awake so long that you want to use to help you sleep? Sleep for a long, long time? That’s why tired.
- Bored– Counselors and Therapists don’t always include this because, well, it’s not in every bs manual, however, people report this as a reason for using often enough for me to include it on this list. What did you used to do with your time? Find a way to make money. Find a way to get something to use (whatever your favorite or, for some people, ANY thing they could find). Use and forget. Next day, lather, rinse, repeat. So, now that you’re sober, you don’t know what to do with your time. Find a hobby. No family? Get 2 jobs. I’ve done it, you can do it. Family. Concentrate some well-owed time to them. Don’t just sit around with free time. It will eat at you.
- Just following these simple steps won’t keep you from using. You have to really want to stop. YOU have to do all of the work. Someone might hold your hand through it, but they may not. This is your journey. Own it.
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Please leave comments about what has worked for you or a family member and what hasn’t. Addiction is a family disease. Follow me for more tips on staying sober and how addiction effects the family.
2 Comments
If a person is not giving their body the fuel that it needs, they will not respond to life s challenges properly. Addicts and alcoholics who are now sober must break their old habits of starvation. A sober mind needs food. It may seem quite basic to remember to eat, but for recovering alcoholics and addicts this is a new way of existing. By providing the body enough food throughout the day, a person’s hormones and stress levels remain closer to normal. Anger is uncomfortable for anyone. For recovering addicts and alcoholics, getting angry is not always about anger but is about hurt feelings and fear. The emotions of recovering people are tender. Because they once used drugs and alcohol to cope with their emotions, when sober they must cope on their own. Anger covers for the sore spots of fear and hurt. Therefore, when a person in recovery gets mad, it is a good idea for them to check in with their support network to discover what is really bothering them.
What is your experience in working in addiction and substance abuse and to which article are you responding to? Please note that. Thanks for the read!