Looking to the Future: Rebuilding Your Life After Addiction
Drug addiction is a major problem in this country. Per the latest data, about 46 million people aged 12 or older have a substance use disorder.
A drug addiction can ruin a person’s life. It can leave people down in the gutter. For most, it can ruin their marriage, family life, and even their careers.
Overcoming drug addiction calls for a celebration as it’s an achievement to be proud of. Still, the life after addiction can be hard to navigate. The good news is that there’s a path forward.
If you’re trying to rebuild your life after an addiction, you should continue to read on. You’ll learn how to remain drug-free and live a productive life.
Starting on the Road to Addiction Recovery
Overcoming a drug addiction can be hard, but the effort you put in to live a drug-free life can pay off. You have to look forward to the benefits you can experience.
Kicking your drug habit can dramatically improve your physical health. As you may already know, the effects of addiction on the body aren’t good.
These effects can include nausea, abdominal pain, and liver issues. Addiction can also weaken the immune system, which increases the risk for infection. It can also contribute to a greater risk of heart issues like a heart attack and abnormal heart rates.
You’ll notice that as soon as you quit using drugs, you can experience an improvement in health. This is due to the body’s ability to repair itself. Cells can regenerate themselves and organs will start to function better.
When you stop abusing drugs, you’ll also get to experience improved mental health. You won’t have to deal with the altering and dulling effects of drugs. This means you don’t have to stress out over not being able to get your fix.
Your self-esteem will get a boost after you quit. You’ll find yourself having more confidence. This will help you feel like you can overcome any other challenges.
With your newfound confidence, you may experience improvements in other areas of your life. This can help you improve your relationships with friends and family. This is great for those who are seeking to make amends with others they have hurt while being on drugs.
In your new drug-free state, you may find yourself stable enough to work. It’s a great feeling knowing that you can have a steady income coming in, which you can save instead of spending on drugs.
Slow and Steady Wins the Race
How does it sound to experience all these benefits? You can experience them through the addiction recovery process.
The key word here is “process”. Overcoming drug addiction can take months or even years. Keep in mind that it doesn’t happen overnight.
You can’t rush into it. Don’t compare your journey to the journey of other former drug users.
You need to do everything by the book and listen to the experts. Doing so can help reduce your chances of experiencing a relapse.
Data shows that about 40% to 60% of drug users experience a relapse. It’s safe to say that you don’t want to experience any setbacks on your road to recovery, so stick to the plan and remain positive.
Do What’s Expected of You
Life after addiction means having to do certain things that you may not want to do. Rehab is a major part of addiction recovery. You may feel like it’s a waste of time, but going to rehab can save your life.
After completing your rehab program, you still need to continue treatment. It’s all about continuing care and maintaining a sober life.
Depending on your case, you may be referred to therapy. Talk therapy is the form of therapy that’s used the most to treat addiction. It involves working with a therapist who helps overcome triggers that lead to drug abuse.
You can work with your therapist to uncover distressing withdrawal symptoms or behaviors. This will allow you to cope with any negative emotions or thoughts you may have. Your therapist can also use techniques like biofeedback to help you remain drug-free.
Attending a support group is a great way to maintain a sober life. Being with other people who are on a similar path can help you stay motivated. You can learn from each other as you help each other take control of your addiction.
You’ll have to undergo regular check-ups with your health care providers. This is a good way to promote accountability. Your health care providers will work with you to help you stay on course.
During these check-ups, you’ll be assessed. Your health care provider will check your vital signs and evaluate your treatment if you’re taking medications.
Don’t hesitate to ask questions. If you have any concerns about your treatment, you should bring them up.
Leave Old Friends Behind
One of the hardest things you may have to do to rebuild your life is to leave certain people behind. This means having to end any relationships that you have with people who are a bad influence on you.
Think about the people who pressure you to use drugs. Cut ties with them as being around them can stall your progress. You may receive a lot of backlash from them, but it’s something you must do for your health and well-being.
Replace them with people who do care about you. You want to have a support group that can be there for you when you need them.
Finding New Hobbies
Like many addicts, when you were using drugs, you may have dedicated your life to drugs. They consumed your life as you lost many aspects of your life little by little.
Now that you aren’t consuming drugs or alcohol, it’s important to do something productive with your life. To take your mind off drugs, you should find new hobbies.
What do you have an interest in? There are so many activities that you can take part in that can help fill the gap left behind by drugs.
You can start a coin or stamp collection. If you’re into books, you can make a reading list.
If you want to be more productive, you can get a job. Having a job will not only help you make money, it can also help you find a new career.
Here’s a thought! You can take college courses. Immerse yourself in a new experience so that you can learn something new and meet new people around campus.
Start Exercising and Eating Right
Did you know that one of the best things you can do to rebuild your life after addiction is to exercise? Exercising can help bump up the production of endorphins. These are neurotransmitters that can make you feel good.
The feeling you get can give you a natural high. Exercise offers other benefits for your physical and mental health. You can boost your energy level and reduce your likelihood of becoming depressed.
One of the withdrawal symptoms you may experience is excessive hunger. At the beginning stages of addiction recovery, this symptom can cause you to gain weight.
You’ll want to find a way to lose the extra weight you put on. Exercise is a great way to bring down your weight and return to your old frame.
Eating right is a must. If you’ve been eating a lot of junk food, you should cut down on it. Eat lots of fruit and vegetables.
Get Plenty of Rest
Getting lots of rest is good for your mental and physical health. You won’t get back the sleep you lost when you were on drugs, but you can help improve your mood.
Set and Accomplish Goals
A crucial step in this process involves setting and achieving goals. Focus on your future as it’s a blank slate. You can make decisions that are beneficial for your life.
As much hard work you put in, setbacks can help. If you find yourself suffering from unnecessary symptoms of withdrawal, you must seek treatment.
In this case, you should check yourself into a detox facility where you can undergo a drug detoxification process. The staff will create a tailored detoxification protocol for you and monitor you as you receive care.
Looking for a fully licensed detox facility? Visit livingatreflections.com to learn more about their drug and alcohol detox program.
Use This Guide to Help You Rebuild Your Life After Addiction
You no longer have to feel trapped because of drugs. You can undergo addiction treatment and change your life. Use this guide to help you change your life after addiction.
Make sure to explore the rest of our blog to continue reading more articles.
