Wanting to overcome an addiction is the first step to recovery. It takes immense courage and strength of conviction to admit that you want to change. Fighting and overcoming addictions are not easy. They do not make you weak and are not signs of a flawed personality. Addictions to illegal substances and prescription medications can cause severe cravings and compulsions and should be treated as an illness. The road to sobriety is tough and riddled with challenges, but with the right help and treatment, it is possible to wholly recover and lead a normal healthy life.
The first step to changing your life is by admitting you have a problem and are willing to seek help for it. Think of it in the same way as when you have a fever and need a doctor to prescribe medicines. Fighting addiction and recovering are similar to getting help when you have the flu or common illness. It is normal to feel unsure and uncertain about treatments. However, with proper planning, conditioning of the mind and body, and patience, it is possible to start on the road to recovery.
What are some of the Things that Need Changing on the Road to Recovery?
For people struggling with substance dependencies, especially prescription medication addictions, feeling nervousness and anxiety are quite reasonable. It is worrisome to find an alternative treatment to prescription medicine, but not impossible.
Being sober and taking the first step usually involve the following changes:
- People in your life: You must start being very selective about the people you allow yourself to interact with, daily. Anyone harmful to your mental health or people associated with your addiction should be avoided at all costs.
- Enjoying Free Time: Invariably, free times are when the urges and cravings will prop up the most. Avoid going out and meeting people, or thinking about the substance in your free time. Instead, indulge in a hobby like reading, cooking, cleaning, or jogging.
- Dealing with Stress: Many people turn to drugs and other substances like cigarettes to deal with stress. Instead, use a stress ball or practice deep breathing to increase focus and concentration.
- Control the Medicines: For prescription drug addicts, controlling the urge to refill the medication is a deadly one. Allow a loved one or a family member to monitor your medicine intake and administer it to you only based on the doctors’ prescription.
- Thinking about Yourself: Start thinking about yourself positively instead of negatively. Doing this takes practice and is not easy. However, with time, you should start changing your personal mindset and start looking at yourself in a positive light. Read self-help books, and practise positive affirmations daily to give yourself a much-needed boost of motivation.
- Enrol in a Rehab Centre: For most people, enrolling in a rehabilitation centre is an intensely personal experience. The help and treatment you would receive are invaluable. For most working adults, Executive Rehab Florida is ideal.
What are the Steps to Recovery?
There is no set method or manner to recovery from addictions. However, most recovering addicts practice the following steps in varied forms.
- Set specific, measured goals: Setting small daily personal goals like limits on drug use, a start date, a particular end time, or setting a prescribed bedtime and falling asleep, can boost your morale and help increase your sense of self-worth and confidence. Setting and achieving small goals are also huge milestones towards recovery.
- Remove all Reminders of the Addiction: Removing all reminders is crucial since these could serve as triggers. If you feel weak or unsure, you could enlist the help of a loved one to help remove all such reminders that can cause emotional and physical pain later. Removing these reminders also helps you avoid temptation and relapse.
- Ask for Support: Always remember you are not alone in this battle. You should let your friends, loved ones, and family members know that you are trying to get better, and enlist their support towards your recovery. Not only will this bring you closer, but also aid you in faster recovery.
- Keep Reaffirming your Goal: While you are on the road to recovery, keep reminding yourself of the reasons you want to change and be better. Leading a healthy lifestyle and wanting personal change is a personal decision and choice. Reaffirming your intentions to change help you stay on the right track, and ease the stress and burden from your addictions. For many people, the decision to change usually stems from family members or health reasons.