You’re going to hear lots of advice about how to live in sobriety as you start interacting with people within the recovery community. However, you might be at the very first stage of choosing to get help, and you may have many questions about what to expect along the way. The best treatment and recovery advice comes from people who have been there before, and you’ll quickly find that it helps to remember that even people who have over a year of sobriety still have questions now and then. As you get ready to embark on the journey of your life, following these words of advice will help you stay on course.
Don’t Attempt to Get Sober On Your Own
This is the first and perhaps hardest pieces of advice that anyone who is new to recovery needs to know. Trying to get sober on your own is a common mistake that many people make. The powerful effects of drugs or alcohol on your body are simply too strong to fight on your own. During the first stage of recovery, you could be dealing with intense cravings. It is also normal to feel emotionally exhausted as you attempt to deal with issues that you might have ignored for a long time.
Seeking help with getting sober is the most effective way to make sure that your recovery is a success. Going to a treatment center helps you to begin piecing your life back together. You’ll also get support with learning how to avoid caving to temptation, and dealing with withdrawal symptoms is much easier when you know that someone is looking after your health. Once you complete treatment, you’ll still want to surround yourself with supportive people who can help you transition into your new life at home.
The Only Real Right Time to Seek Help is Now
Another common fallacy among people who misuse drugs or alcohol is that they need to find the perfect time to go to treatment. If you’ve caught yourself making excuses such as that you’ll go during the next long break from work or when your kids aren’t home for the summer, then you need to know that there is never a perfect time to go to rehab. The reality is that the sooner you go to rehab, then the faster it will be for you to start feeling better.
Choosing not to delay going to rehab helps you to enjoy these benefits of being immediately proactive about your recovery.
- Prevent an overdose and other health problems
- Avoid further financial, relationship or career trouble
- Preserve your professional and personal reputation
- Stop feeling guilty or frustrated with yourself
The negative effects of addiction tend to just get worse over time. You never know if the next day could be the one where you make a life-threatening mistake or hurt someone you love. Choosing to enter rehab is the only sure-fire way to know that you’re going to be safe. There’s also an amazing sense of relief that you feel when you enter rehab and discover how many people understand what you’ve been going through.
Embrace Each Moment of Your Time In Rehab
There are very few times in your adult life when you can focus solely on yourself. You’ll still have time to work out relationship issues in family counseling, but a large amount of your day spent in rehab is about learning what makes you tick. You’ll work with a counselor in therapy sessions to identify what things trigger your cravings for drugs or alcohol. On top of that, you’ll have time in your schedule to finally start up an exercise routine and do a few hobbies.
Addiction treatment is definitely not like a stay at a resort, but many people who have gone through it will tell you that it is even better. Having the time and support you need to rediscover yourself makes it possible to fully enjoy life again. Plus, you’ll have access to nutritious meals and opportunities to engage in recreational activities that help you to feel better. Whether you stay in rehab for a week or a month, each minute is something that you’ll treasure as you see how far it helps you get in your recovery. Do you still have questions about addiction treatment and your recovery? We’ve got tons of advice and are eager to share it with you. Reach out to us 24/7 at 772-266-5320.