Take Steps to Have a Better Life After Recovery

Adam Cook – addictionhub.org

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Addiction and Treatment

 

Addiction is a disease affecting millions of people all over the world. There’s no one main factor that can predict if a person will struggle with substance abuse. A combination of genetic, environmental and developmental influences generally contribute to a person’s inclination towards addiction. While the best solution is prevention, there is hope for people who find themselves in the throes of this chronic disease characterized by compulsive drug or alcohol use.

 

Substance abuse treatments help addicts cease their drug use, stay drug-free and reintegrate into society as a healthy and productive person. There are various different methods of addiction treatment, but the principles behind them are essentially the same. Effective treatment doesn’t just remove drugs from the equation, it also addresses the various mental and emotional issues behind a person’s proclivity towards self-destructive behaviors. Detoxification is only the first step; patients also need behavioral therapy and counseling to help identify stressors or triggers that contribute to their addiction. Often medication is also administered to help relieve withdrawal symptoms and restore balance to neurochemicals.

Life After Treatment

 

Whether you admit yourself into an inpatient treatment or you simply begin going to a group, life after treatment is markedly different compared to how it was when using drugs or alcohol. As addiction tends to overtake a person’s way of living, addicts have to figure out what their lives mean after becoming sober. Often they have to cut off certain places and people while making major changes including finding employment or a residence. It’s a big adjustment, for sure. But with these helpful tips and habits, life after addiction is manageable.

 

• Positive thinking is paramount. Unfortunately, the damage drugs and alcohol inflict on the addict’s life make positivity counterintuitive. To reframe a negative mindset, identify the inner monologue that contributes to negative thoughts. Once you’ve identified the monologue, you can figure out what in life triggers these thoughts. Identifying negative thoughts and their triggers gives you the power to tell yourself “stop” once they begin.
• Find the right place to live after rehab in order to encourage sober living. As Redfin.com explains, “You’ll want to find a place that helps you create a healthy, consistent routine without throwing you into the paths of old triggers. You’ll also want a loving environment to rebuild your relationships and bond with your family, a place where you can heal and focus on your recovery.” Avoid living situations that permit sneaky and destructive behaviors that lead to substance abuse.
• Exercise is a healthy habit many addicts turn to when in recovery. Not only does physical activity release stress when facing triggers, it also plays a part in balancing neurochemicals and hormones misaligned due to drug abuse. Exercising stimulates the same reward center in the brain that drugs and alcohol stimulate. That activity helps to ease cravings and makes recovery more comfortable for the addict.
• Meditation has a reputation of being something only New Age hippies do, but, in fact, it is a not-so-secret tool many of the world’s most successful people use to deal with stress and anxiety. Create a space in your home where you can be alone without distractions. Spend 10 to 20 minutes a day sitting in quiet while meditating. Focus on breathing naturally and let thoughts enter and exit your mind as they come while returning your attention to your breath any time it wanders.

 

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Addiction is a serious disease that damages a person’s mind, body and life overall. There are many different paths to recovery, but life after treatment is markedly different than life before. To facilitate sober living, it is important to implement healthy habits that help balance the body and mind. Positive thinking takes a lot of work, but with time and focus you can rewire your brain to stop negative loops of self-doubt and hatred. Picking the right environment for life after recovery prevents falling back into old habits. Furthermore, exercise and meditation are two habits that can help balance the mind and body for comfort and happiness.