Getting sober is hard enough, but trying to start afresh once you’re in addiction recovery can in many ways be more difficult.
Stepping back into the workplace and resuming a ‘normal’ lifestyle after spending years as an addict can be overwhelming and the transition demands several steps in order ensure your recovery is successful.
In this article, we have outlined ten actions you can take to improve your chances of a successful recovery.
After a few weeks in recovery, addicts feel reinvigorated and recharged - ready to take on the world. Often, they take on too much and begin to crack under the pressure, sometimes resulting in relapse.
Although it’s important to live life its fullest, it’s also important to listen to your body and to understand that you may not be ready to take on everything you may want to.
The pace of a recovering addict’s life is different, and it’s important to take some time to readjust.
While you were using drugs or drinking, you may have hurt someone you loved or done something to someone that you regret.
However happy your loved ones are to have you back and sober, it’s important to understand that as time passes you might start to notice the influence of your old wounds in their behaviour towards you.
Take the time to sit and talk to your loved ones about your past actions. It’s important that they understand you want to take responsibility for your behaviours.
Additionally, it’s important to speak to your friends and family about the role they expect you to play and how they hope you will behave when dealing with them – what they need from you.
This is important not only for you but for them too. Often families struggle to see addicts in any other light because they have grown accustomed to thinking of them in that framework.
Or they may expect too much from you now that you are sober.
Talking to them about expectations will help them look at the situation differently and to form more realistic standards moving forward.
Now that you know what your family and friend’s expectations are, you need to try live up to them.
It’s time to change old habits, this includes not letting people down. There is no better way to cement stable relationships than to follow through with what you said you would do.
Getting sober requires several changes to be made, one of those changes involves ending friendships with people you use to drink or use drugs with.
No matter how much your old friends say they support your sobriety, you need to make positive changes and that involves removing yourself from bad environments.
The truth is, no matter how much they say they support you, if they continue to abuse substances they are essentially headed in the opposite direction from the one you have chosen for yourself.
It’s time to move on.
Now that you’re sober, you may have a lot more time on your hands.
It’s important to fill your time with something constructive, engaging and enjoyable.
Find a new hobby, start volunteering, further your education, or do anything else that you feel will help set your new life on the right path.
Exercise plays a crucial role in our day to day happiness, energy levels and health.
A regular exercise routine can make a world of difference in improving your energy levels, your self-confidence, and your sense of well-being.
Whether you decide to take up running or cycling, going to gym or joining a sports team, getting into shape will help you take things to a whole new level.
Additionally, an added benefit of exercising is it tends to put you in company with other healthy living enthusiasts, which will in turn help to support you and your new life choices.
You are what you eat – it’s no lie.
Now that you are focussing on your health, you need to make changes to your diet. Cut down on caffeine and sugar, include more fresh vegetables and increase your water intake.
It won’t happen overnight, but with time you will start to feel the positive effects of your healthy diet.
You will notice remarkable changes in your energy level, appearance, immunity and overall health.
Just like exercise and healthy diet, regular sleep is vital.
Regular sleep translates into to higher energy levels, a far better mood, sharper mental alertness, less illness and more.
You will also feel more equipped to deal with day to day stresses, which may also help you avoid possible relapse situations.
There is no better reward than working towards a goal and finally achieving it.
In fact, working towards a goal will help you align other things like getting enough sleep, eating the right types of foods, and spending more time with people who are also goal orientated.
If you have not yet made the transition and would like to begin your recovery, please contact us.
Our residential addiction treatment centre will give you the chance to change your life.
Your life is the result of the choices you make, if you don’t like your life it is time to start making better choices.
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