Addiction Recovery: Everything You Need to Know to Get Sober
Let’s start by celebrating something that may seem small but is far from it: you’re here. You have an interest in getting sober. Perhaps you’re at a crossroads. Do you turn back or do you keep going, and if you keep going (that’s the goal!), you might wonder, “How do I get sober?”
Taking the initiative to learn about the addiction recovery process is a great sign, so keep reading to find out what to expect on your path to a healthier, sober life.
No recovery journey is the same. However, there are some commonalities among addiction recovery journeys that can help you better understand the path ahead of you and to remind you that you’re never alone, and others have successfully gone before you. You can do this.
Accept Where You’re At and Be Realistic
Whether you’ve hit rock bottom or you know you’re on your way and you’d like to prevent getting there, an addiction recovery journey cannot truly begin until you admit where you are and that you have a problem. This is not an easy part of the process, and it requires a lot of self-reflection, but this is a very empowering opportunity to take control of this journey from the beginning.
This journey is a process, and it’s important to be realistic about that. It’s not an overnight fix, and it’s not completely linear. It will have ups and downs, progress and setbacks, and good days and bad days. It’s best to know that from the start. Setbacks and bad days are not signs of failure; they’re completely normal. Keep going.
Think of Your Goals and Understand the Importance of Willingness
When you begin your recovery, your focus is on your future and the reasons why you want to get sober. It’s important and a great idea to think about the new lifestyle you’ll be working to achieve. What are the goals for your future? What are the fundamental reasons you no longer want to be an addict? Write down your goals, commit them to memory, and always remember your reason why. Having a strong reason will help you on the tough days and during the tough moments when triggers present themselves.
Having goals and a focus on your future is invaluable; but nothing happens without your willingness to put in the work, start and continue the process. Now is the time to point your finger at yourself and take responsibility for the life you want to lead moving forward. Support will be an important part of the process, but at the end of the day, the journey is in your hands. Don’t let that intimidate you; consider it an empowering position.
Identify Your Tools and Support System
You’ve decided it’s time to get help, and you’re ready to change your life. This is not something you should or need to do alone. Equip yourself with the right tools to best prepare yourself for the addiction recovery process. Among the first tools to identify is finding the best rehabilitation facility for your needs. Working with your family, your primary care provider, and/or other colleagues who have gone through this journey will be helpful in determining which rehab program best suits your needs.
Surround yourself with helpful, caring, and supportive friends and family. These connections and support groups will prove invaluable for the rest of your life. Addiction support groups will remind you that you’re not alone: you can share your struggles and victories with a nonjudgmental group and potentially learn new coping techniques. Finding your support system will require removing toxic friendships and previous social circles that involved drugs or alcohol from your life. Your support system will be one of the most important tools you’ll have during this journey.
Begin Detox and Drug Addiction Treatment
A comprehensive rehab center will provide elements that are key to a successful recovery including medical detoxification. Before therapy can begin, starting with a detox program is the first step. Detox involves removing the toxic substances from your body. In a rehabilitation center, this process is monitored by a medical staff to ensure that it happens safely and to make the withdrawal process as comfortable as possible.
Once detox is complete, the next step includes multiple forms of therapy that address a variety of issues related to the addiction. You are an active part of your recovery journey. A rehab center, like Beach House will provide ongoing access to professional medical and psychological support, as well as someone who can assess your readiness to re-join the community equipped with a relapse prevention plan.
Develop New Routines and Get Life Back In Order
Staying active and replacing old, detrimental habits with new, more positive ones is key to ongoing recovery. Find hobbies you enjoy that don’t involve the presence of drugs or alcohol. Consider volunteering for causes that mean something to you. Develop a healthy morning and bedtime routine, and add exercise into your day. Drugs and alcohol are no longer in charge of how you spend your days: you are. This is very rewarding and empowering. Work with your support system, your support group, and professionals in the recovery field to help come up with a list of new hobbies to consider based on your interests. Be patient with yourself but stay committed. Stay present in the moment and remember your goals to stay motivated.
As you work on developing a healthier lifestyle with new routines, slowly work on putting the pieces of your life back in place like getting back to the dentist, paying bills again, eating healthier, paying off debt, etc. Use your support system to help with this, and be careful not to take on too much too soon. Remember, this is a process, and it’s important that you don’t take on more than you can handle. Be honest and realistic with where you’re at and what you’re capable of taking on, but don’t underestimate yourself either. As soon as you feel stressed or overwhelmed, talk to someone, refer to your relapse prevention program, and/or visit a support group.
Do Not Quit
No one said addiction recovery was easy. Anything that’s worth it isn’t easy. This is worth it. Do whatever you can to avoid relapse. Recognize triggers and address them. Do not become complacent in your journey when things start going well. If you do relapse, that does not mean you are a failure or that recovery is impossible. It’s a setback. Talk to someone and get back on the road to recovery.
Stay present, and use your tools. There will be times when life will be hard and times life will be great. Either way, it’s so much more fulfilling to navigate these times when you’re sober.
Take the recovery journey one step at a time, and remember that even small steps are still progress.
The Beach House Center for Recovery offers comprehensive addiction treatment and recovery programs. Contact us to learn more about our rehab & treatment programs and how we can help you or your loved one begin their journey toward a sober life.