3 Methods for Recovering From Substance Abuse
The road to recovery from substance abuse can be a long, difficult, and painful process. However, with the right support, guidance, and personal sacrifices, anyone can get clean and stay that way. While substance abuse is a complex condition that requires specialized care and attention to recover, recovery happens when a person is ready to put forth the effort to do so. If you are ready to get clean and begin the road to recovery, here are some of the assistance you may need:
Develop a Support Network
A support network is essential for the substance abuse treatment process. This network should consist of people who are willing to help you through the process of recovery. These people can be family members, friends, or professionals who can provide you with emotional and practical support, they can also be a support group filled with other people trying to overcome addiction who choose to rely on one another and hold each other accountable. A support network is also important because it helps you stay motivated and focused on your goals, providing you with people to rely on to avoid a relapse.
Find Ways To Cope With Cravings
Cravings are a common symptom of substance abuse and they can be particularly difficult to overcome. Cravings can be very difficult, especially when you run into a situation that might trigger them, such as whatever might have led to you using in the first place. However, there are ways to cope with cravings and avoid relapse. One way is to find ways to distract yourself from the cravings. For example, there could be methods you learned in either therapy or your support group that you can rely on, such as the DISARM method (Destructive Imagery and Self-talk Awareness and Refusal Method), which calls out the methods of thinking that lead to you taking drugs. You can also distract yourself by doing other actions or activities, such as exercising or reading a book. Anything that takes your mind away from thinking about your craving.
Find Ways To Cope With Withdrawal Symptoms
Withdrawal symptoms are also common symptoms of substance abuse and can be very uncomfortable and painful, sometimes leading to relapse in order to escape them. Stress is a common trigger for substance abuse and makes recovery that much more difficult. There are a few methods to coping with withdrawal symptoms, ranging from exercise and staying hydrated to enrolling in medical detox programs. It honestly all depends on how bad your symptoms are and how much you think you can handle on your own at home. This is also an area of the recovery process that can benefit from a support network, such as a support group. If you feel you need immediate assistance, there are also hotline numbers you can call.
Addiction is a serious condition that requires specialized care and attention in order for a person to recover. However, recovery only happens when a person is ready to put forth the effort. Recovery from substance abuse requires serious support to get through successfully. It requires commitment and a willingness to negotiate difficult milestones and change your old, negative habits. People have overcome serious addictions and resumed normal life for the better, and you can too.