IT’S HARD AT FIRST

Posted By on Feb 22, 2017 |


Recovery from drugs and alcohol is a process. Find a new meaning for life. A purpose.

IT’S HARD AT FIRST

EARLY RECOVERY CAN BE A STRUGGLE

Life without drugs and alcohol.  Wow, this is great.  But how do I stay this way?  It’s been said many times that getting sober is hard.  Staying that way is harder.  For those new to sobriety, there are many challenges early on.  Recovery means change in your lifestyle, relationships, coping skills, you name it.   Change can be a struggle.  Here are a few struggles we should work hard to avoid.

Old Friends.  A huge trigger.  It’s difficult to avoid or even sever relationships with those you used to drink or use with.  There is a likelihood few if any of them are in the same recovery boat you are in or will be able to understand your situation.  As hard as it might be, it’s crucial to do your best to steer clear of friends or others who might use around you.  Boundaries are so important, especially early on.  It will become more and more important for you to meet new, clean friends to travel the sober road with.  Twelve step or therapy meetings are a great starting place.

Substance Abounds.  Your roommate has beer in the refrigerator.  Your dad has a well-stocked bar and your mom has painkillers and benzos laying around.  Your favorite lunch spots serve booze.  Face it.  It’s everywhere.  But it’s your recovery and encouraging others around you to provide a drug and alcohol free environment is not asking too much.  Make friends and family understand how important this is to your sobriety.  As for the restaurants and supermarkets, there are plenty of places that serve great food without the alcohol and you can probably find a way to the snack aisle without passing through the booze at the grocery store.

Feelings.  Anger, sadness, stress, irritability, depression.  These are all feelings we seek to escape.  How did we used to do that?  By drinking and using.  But now, many of those feelings may still exist and our go-to cures have gone away.  It is imperative that we find alternative ways to get out from under the crushing weight of some of these emotions without drinking and using.  This is where lifestyle changes like exercise, diet, rest and routine can play a huge role, above and beyond whatever counseling and 12 step program we are also using.

Loneliness.  There’s a temptation to hide.  Perhaps out of guilt or shame we lull ourselves into believing we are not worthy of the company of others.  The boredom that will creep in can be crippling and is a major threat to our recovery.  It is important to get out and reach out.  Pick up the phone.  Connect with some you’ve lost track of.  Resume doing some of the things you used to love that didn’t involve getting high.  Lean on your family and friends. You will be quite surprised how many people might be thrilled to see or hear from you whether they know you’re in recovery or not.  Don’t be a hermit.  You cannot do this alone and there is no reason to try.

Happiness.  Believe it or not, happiness, joy, and celebration are huge triggers.  Your team wins on a last-second three!  You got accepted to the school you wanted!  Your friend just got engaged!  Triggers all.  How easy it would be to have “just one” on this very special occasion.  Calm yourself.  You can be just as happy, joyous and celebratory with a nice glass of iced tea.

Relationships. They are a major contributor to relapse.  Dating early in recovery is not recommended.  Many who are newly sober have yet to figure out who they are and why they turned to alcohol and drugs to begin with.  They certainly aren’t ready to meet the needs of someone else.  Many new to recovery simply transfer their addictions to drugs and alcohol over to relationships or sex.  Often neediness and codependency arrive and replace love and mutual respect.  It is wise for those new to recovery to focus on rebuilding relationships with family and friends, and building a strong support network before venturing out into the dating scene.

The road to recovery is littered with cracks, ruts and potholes.  But keep going.  This is a road worth trudging.

 

From your friends at www.commonbondrehabcenter.com and www.just4usgirls.net   Santa Clarita, CA.

Common Bond Rehab Center takes most Insurances.

California State Licence