Any individual choosing to put aside their substance abuse and addictions is courageous. They recognize they can't sustain the life they're living, and they know recovery will be good for them. It's hard for anyone who hasn't struggled with substance abuse to understand the magnitude of choosing to enter a recovery program.
Substance
abuse recovery is a different experience for everyone, but most people who
haven't battled their addictions don't know what to expect. Besides staying
with a program for a few weeks or months, it's nerve-wracking not to know what
will happen or how it will help. Addicts and their loved ones shouldn't have to
feel anxious during a time when they should only focus on the positivity the
program will bring to their lives.
Read
on to learn five realities of substance abuse recovery so you and your loved
ones know what's coming down the road. With the right mental preparation and
perspective, everyone can support each other through the recovery process.
1. Take Things Slowly
Many
addicts enter recovery programs believing they'll learn the secret to leaving
bad habits and behaviors behind. While they'll get the help they need, there's
no cure for substance abuse. Instead, they'll learn to take things slowly and
focus on one day at a time.
Recovery
requires lifestyle, environmental and social changes, so it will take a while
to form new routines and get used to a different way of living.
2. Prepare to Battle the Brain
Some
people think that choosing recovery over addiction is a choice, but it's much
more than that. Anyone recovering from substance abuse must battle their brain
every day to reprogram it. Every time someone gives in to addictions like drug
and alcohol abuse, it frays nerves in
the brain
and rewards the action with dopamine, leading to faster and increased addiction
habits. Recovery removes this euphoria and leaves people with withdrawal
symptoms and muted dopamine reactions.
3. Avoid Finding Another Addiction
Once
addiction leaves an empty hole in the life of someone in substance abuse
recovery, they often fill it with another one. They may obsess over fitness
routines, throw themselves into school or constantly consume drinks high in
caffeine. It's better to learn how to balance healthy interests. Perhaps
instead of experimenting
with drugs or alcohol in college, students can join a club or activity.
4. Grieve Your Losses
The
removal of addiction leaves people feeling like they've lost their old way of
life. They leave friends and habits behind for an unknown routine and social
group. Anyone in recovery programs should embrace feelings of grief to work through the symptoms in healthy ways.
5. Find Your Own Way
Recovery
looks different for everyone, so no two experiences look identical. As long as
the person in recovery keeps gratitude at the center of their life, they can
remain focused and encouraged. Thankfulness shows them how they've grown and
what they can look forward to, instead of focusing on the lifestyle they've
lost.
Create a Support Group
Outside
of the people who run a recovery program, former addicts need to create a
support group of friends and loved ones. The encouragement and love will help
them keep their focus and maintain their recovery in the long term.
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