Recovery from substance abuse is an incredible thing.
Simply not being under the power of a substance, and living your life with freedom you didn’t have before, can feel like a miracle– because it is!
The process of getting clean from substances can be difficult, depending on your circumstances. It might involve an uncomfortable detox and some heavy-hitting inner work in an addiction treatment center.
But what comes next, after detox and treatment?
The work isn’t finished
It’s important to understand that recovery is an ongoing process. Although it would be nice if we were completely “fixed” after seeking addiction treatment, that’s simply not the case.
Just like addiction stems from a multitude of different factors, recovery has to be a multifaceted process as well. It has to be a choice that you continue to make each day– and some days, that choice will be harder to make.
Keep in mind that you’re building a new normal for yourself. If daily substance use was your default before you got treatment, that habit might still be deeply ingrained in you.
You’ll have to put in the work to structure your days in recovery and build a new set of positive, healthy habits.
Focus on your physical health
For many of us, physical health can take a backseat during active addiction. It becomes so much of a priority to seek out and use our substance of choice that we ignore things like proper sleep and nutrition, or even hygiene.
One of the best parts of recovery is the chance to truly practice self-care.
Treat yourself like a priority. That means making sure to get enough restful sleep, eating to nourish your body, drinking lots of water, and enjoying some form of physical movement whenever you can.
While you’re most likely also going to have to focus on your mental health, physical health is a very important thing to focus on– and it can make a huge difference in how you feel on a day-to-day basis.
Enjoy the extra time
One of the less-discussed characteristics of active addiction is how much time it takes up! If your main priority each day is making sure you have access to your substance of choice, and then using that substance, you probably didn’t have much time for things like personal hobbies.
You should have some extra time now that you’re in recovery. Take advantage of that time and try out some new things to develop your personal hobbies and interests.
You might find something you really enjoy, and having a project to focus on can also be very positive for your mental health.
Take it slow
Addiction can cause serious damage in our lives. Our relationships can greatly suffer, and we can experience major financial and legal troubles.
You can’t fix everything in one day. While you will certainly have to go about repairing personal relationships and handling any financial or legal issues that might have arisen, it’s a mistake to try and fix 100% of your problems as soon as you’re out of treatment.
When it comes to family and friends, slow and steady is the way to go. Don’t overwhelm them with apologies right away– instead, try to use actions instead of words to show your love and support for them. It will be a process, so be patient.
Are you ready to seek recovery?
If recovery sounds appealing to you, and you’re ready to repair your personal relationships and address your mental and physical health, it might be time to seek treatment.
Fill out our online assessment to get started, or give us a call with any questions you might have. We’re here to help.