If you or someone you love has been battling a drug or alcohol addiction, you know how challenging the fight can be.

There are times when you think you are close to having it licked, only to see yourself fall right back into it. When that happens, climbing out of the hole of addiction can be 10 times more difficult.

So, where are some of the best places to turn for help when addiction seems to be getting the better of you?

Leave No Helpful Stone Unturned

While addiction may seem like it is winning, it can and has been defeated countless times.

Look to some of these areas for help:

• Family and friends – Those closest to you are oftentimes the ones who can swing the pendulum in your favor when fighting addiction. With that in mind, never turn down the offer of assistance from a family member or friend. In some cases, you may be embarrassed to ask for help, feeling like your addiction is a problem you must tackle on your own. When you try and do that, you can be overwhelmed and even feel lost at times. In some cases, an individual fighting addiction can actually bond once again with a family member or members, along with drawing a closer relationship to a friend or friends. If you know of one or more people that have battled addictions and won, turn to them for support and advice. While co-workers may not be at the top of the list in your mind when turning for help, those you share an office space with are around you eight or more hours a day. As a result, they can be some of your best sounding boards when seeking help;
• Social networking – You are probably wary of turning to social media to ask for help in fighting an addiction, but it can in fact be one of the best decisions you ultimately make. While social media does have its downsides, there are many positives that come from the world of social networking. One of these is people reaching out to others who are going through or have gone through similar health challenges over time. Engaging in social media with healthy boundaries can prove beneficial, allowing you to share stories and ask questions of others currently or previously battling addiction issues. If you have not already, start a Facebook, Twitter or Instagram page, Whether you use one, two or all three of these sites, start slow. One thing you want to avoid is that feeling of being overwhelmed by social networking. Start by giving a brief description of what you have or are currently going through with an addiction. Use hashtags such as #addiction, #recovery etc. to find groups of people in similar situations. As others converse with you, feel free to ask questions of these individuals as to how they recovered or are in the process of recovery. If social media seems at times to be a little too overwhelming, take a step back and go back when you feel more comfortable;
• Recovery groups – Even though some individuals battling addictions are oftentimes too shy to sit and talk in front of others, this can be one of the best venues to help one move towards kicking their demons. If you decide to go to a recovery group meeting or meetings, you don’t have to sit-up and talk the ears off of people. Take-in what is going on and realize that such meetings are not to single anyone out with an addiction, but to help them recover sooner rather than later. Feel free to ask questions of others, gathering all the information and using what can best assist you in getting your health back, including your mental health.

If you have not delved into social media as you battle an addiction, give it a consideration.

Social media is something that millions of people engage in on a daily basis, much of which can be used for good.

As you find the best solution or solutions in fighting an addiction, social media may be the missing component that will ultimately give you a hands-up in your struggle.