Although recovering from addiction is a challenge, it is possible to overcome it with the right resources and treatment approach. Many people try to resist their cravings, but some are too strong to ignore. In this case, it can be helpful to stay with the urge until it passes, a technique called emergency surfing. This involves imagining yourself as a surfer who will ride the wave of their drug craving until it reaches its peak and breaks down.
By overcoming desire without trying to combat or ignore it, you'll see it happen faster than you think. Like other chronic conditions, addiction is not curable but can be successfully controlled with the right treatment. It has a similar relapse rate to other chronic diseases, such as asthma or high blood pressure, at 40-60%. A relapse of addiction is considered a normal part of the recovery process and does not mean that treatment has failed; it may just mean that the treatment plan or methods need to be reevaluated.
