Dec 22, 2024 | Alcoholism
Falling off the wagon is, unfortunately, a very common part of recovery for many addicts. Many things can cause people to wind up drinking or using again even after quitting, but it can be hard to get back on track. You’ll need to acknowledge that you need help, and accept that the relapse happened. It’s helpful to try to pinpoint the root cause of the relapse so that you can try to avoid it in the future. Find support and refocus on the reason why you wanted to get clean and sober in the first place. It can be difficult to forgive yourself when you have a relapse, but recovery is not a straight line for anybody. There will be ups and downs, but as long as you continue to stay committed and ask for help when you need it, you can be successful in your goal of sobriety.
Falling Off the Wagon When in Recovery: Getting Back on Track
Acknowledgement and Acceptance
Falling off the wagon is a common occurrence for those in recovery for drugs or alcohol. Often, these occur due to stress or unexpected changes. But they are something that a lot of people face and move past successfully. Don’t try to make excuses, but instead, accept that the relapse happened. Apologize for anything you need to apologize for, and begin to forgive yourself for the mistake. Focusing too much on it will hinder your recovery, so try to use it as a learning opportunity.
Finding the Root Problem
One thing that can be helpful after falling off the wagon is to figure out what the root of the issue might have been. For many, stress is a huge contributing factor to relapse. It can also occur when you are going through emotionally draining situations like grieving a loved one, going through a breakup, or dealing with social issues. Learning healthy ways of handling stress is imperative because there will always be things that can cause stress in your life.
Finding the Right Kind of Support
It’s important to find support after going through a relapse. You might investigate recovery facilities in your area, reach out to your sponsor, speak with an addiction counselor, or start going to group support meetings again. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. Don’t let embarrassment prevent you from getting the support you need because you’ll be less likely to be successful in your journey.
Refocusing on Your Why
Finally, after falling off the wagon, you’ll need to refocus on your why. That’s the thing that finally made you make the decision to get clean in the first place. Maybe it was something like getting healthy for the arrival of your child, a health scare, or problems with work or your social life. Try to bring that inspiration back to the forefront of your mind and refer to anything that helped you stay sober when you were first starting out. Forgive yourself for the mistake and begin to move forward.
Falling off the wagon when in recovery is something that a lot of addicts experience. You are always going to have ups and downs, and stresses that come up in your life. Learning to navigate these in a healthy way can help you avoid relapse in the future. Accept that it happened, and don’t make excuses. Take responsibility and forgive yourself. Then, start trying to figure out the root of the issue and why you think you relapsed in the first place. If you can identify certain triggers, you can work with a counselor to find ways to manage those. Ask for support, and investigate resources in your area. Finally, refocus on the reason why you decided to get sober in the first place. Hopefully, by forgiving yourself and moving forward, you can get back on track with your recovery and be successful in your journey.
Sep 22, 2024 | Alcoholism, drinking
Getting healthy while in recovery is a great idea as long as you have your doctor’s approval. You don’t want to strain your body with too much change at once. However, if you’ve been cleared for exercise and a diet change, it’s a great way to repair some of the damage that drinking can cause. Keep it gradual though. Slow and steady is the safest way to make any lifestyle changes. Get plenty of exercise, especially heart-healthy exercise like cardio. In addition, it’s a great idea to clean up your diet and aim for whole foods with as few additives as possible. Getting enough sleep is incredibly important for your overall health. And finally, don’t skip your mental health. Recovery is hard, so make sure to take care of yourself emotionally as well. Hopefully, you can be well on your way to a cleaner life. Your body will thank you!
Getting Healthy While in Recovery: Slow and Steady
Exercise
Exercise is very important for getting healthy while in recovery. Drinking can be very hard on your organs, especially your heart. Heart-healthy exercise like cardio can help repair some of this damage. Pairing cardio with strength training is a great way to increase your strength and tone your body. Take things slowly at first, and speak to a doctor before you attempt exercise if it’s been a while.
Eating Healthy
Eating healthy is another important factor for getting healthy while in recovery. Drinking can add on the pounds, as alcohol is chock full of empty calories, carbs, and sugar. If you’re looking to trim down while in recovery, aim for whole foods. Load up on vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean proteins.
Sleep
Another important factor for getting healthy while in recovery that often gets overlooked is sleep. Sleep is incredibly important for your overall well-being. Long-term alcohol abuse can cause sleep issues, so you might be having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. Try to set the stage for good sleep by investing in room-darkening curtains, a sound machine, and comfortable sheets. Listen to calming music, take a warm bath, or inhale calming lavender before bed. And cut the screen time off within the last hour before you go to sleep.
Mental Health
Finally, your mental health can’t be ignored when getting healthy while in recovery. Detox and recovery are incredibly hard and stressful. You might be getting some therapy as part of a detox program. However, once you leave a rehab facility, it’s up to you to continue this. A therapist can help you grapple with stress and set you up for successful goal-setting. Make sure to set aside time in your schedule for taking care of your mental health. Perhaps that means booking a session with your therapist, making time for coffee with a friend, or just sitting outside for a little peace and quiet.
Getting healthy while in recovery is a great idea to change your entire life. You’re already making such a great decision for your health by cutting out substances. You might as well take this opportunity to invest in your overall health. If a doctor has given the okay for you to exercise, start with some gradual activities and slowly build up. Aim to eat cleanly by focusing on lots of fruits and veggies. Set yourself up for a successful night of sleep each night, and aim to get between 7 and 9 hours of sleep overall. And finally, make sure to focus on your mental health while you take care of your physical health. You are well on your way to repairing many of the negative effects of long-term substance abuse and living a cleaner, happier life.
Aug 4, 2024 | Alcoholism, Drugs
Leaving rehab can be a little scary. Keeping up with sobriety in a place where that is the entire focus is manageable. But keeping up with sobriety once you leave and go back to normal life can be much harder. Work stress, family stress, and social pressures can all challenge your sobriety. Try to follow up with therapy to keep your goal in mind. It’ll be important to make some significant lifestyle changes as well. You may even need to find a new social group to hang out with. And finally, keep yourself busy because being bored can be a trigger for many people. Hopefully, you’ll be able to come home from rehab and continue your journey of sober living.
Leaving Rehab: Set Yourself Up for Success in Sobriety
Follow Up Therapy
One important thing to plan for when leaving rehab is follow-up therapy. Sobriety will likely be a lifetime struggle for you. But the reward is so high that it’s worth it. But there will be times when you are tempted to drink. In fact, you are most likely to relapse within the first six months after leaving rehabilitation. To prevent this, seek therapy once you come home. Find an intensive outpatient therapy or a 12 step program like Alcoholics Anonymous to attend. This will help keep you focused and give you an outlet to connect with others going through the same thing.
Lifestyle Changes
It’s likely that after leaving the rehab you’ll need to make some pretty significant lifestyle changes. You want your home to be a safe place, so get rid of any alcohol or illegal substances. If your spouse drinks, consider asking them to abstain while you are fresh out of recovery. Or ask them only to drink outside the home and with other people. Part of your rehab will likely be figuring out what your specific triggers are. They might be specific people, places, or stressors. You’ll need to make some lifestyle changes to avoid these things so that you aren’t triggered to start drinking again.
Social Life
For many people leaving rehab, a new social group is a necessity. If you are coming from a group that puts a lot of focus on drinking and partying, you really should avoid seeing them. Unless they’re willing to support you with your sober living, they will most likely be a trigger. See if you can find a new group that is supportive of your goals. There are meetup groups that you can find that specifically cater to sober activities.
Stay Busy
Finally, after leaving rehab, it’s important to keep yourself busy. Recovering alcoholics often find that boredom is a major trigger for them. If you’re bored at home, there’s not really anything to distract you from your desire to drink. Therefore, it’s important to keep yourself busy and have a goal for each day. It’s especially important to make sure and stay busy if there are certain parts of the day that make you want to drink more. For example, if a cocktail hour is difficult for you, plan to find an exercise class for that time.
Coming home from rehab is something to be proud of and to celebrate. But it’s not the time to get too relaxed about your sobriety. In fact, the first weeks and months home can be the hardest for many recovering alcoholics. After leaving rehab, plan to continue intense therapy or treatment for a long time. You might even be in treatment or attending meetings for the rest of your life. Make lifestyle changes to help you avoid triggers. In addition, you might need to meet some new friends who will be supportive of your goals. And finally, keep yourself busy. Hopefully, you’ll come home from rehab and be able to continue your sober living without too much difficulty. Remember that the rewards for giving up alcohol are well worth the struggles.
Mar 3, 2024 | Alcoholism, drinking
Drinking in moderation can be a good way to relax and enjoy yourself. However, if you notice that you’ve been drinking more and more than usual, it could be the sign of some dangerous behavior developing. That’s why it’s good to know what you can do to cut down on your alcohol intake. This can help you keep healthy while still enjoying your favorite drinks…
How-to Reduce Alcohol Intake: Important Techniques
Set a limit
One good way to lower your alcohol intake is by setting a hard limit. Usually, before someone start drinking, they’ll have a basic idea of how much they want to drink. Yet, once they begin drinking, it’s easy for them to drink way more than they expected.
By setting a hard limit, you know exactly how much you want to drink. That way, when you start drinking, you know when to stop. Plus, it’s good to let any friends with you know what your limit is as well. This will help them not pressure you into drinking past this limit, and instead help you stick to it.
Eat beforehand
Some people try to not eat much before they drink. In their eyes, they try to balance the empty calories that comes with drinking by limiting what they eat. In reality, it’s not a good idea to drink on an empty stomach, especially if you want to limit your alcohol intake.
By drinking on an empty stomach, you’re setting yourself up to drink way more than you should. It’s pretty simple, as the more space there is in your stomach, the more you can drink before feeling full. By eating beforehand, you’ll be able to better limit your alcohol intake. This will also help you avoid feeling sick or nauseous after a few drinks.
Choose healthier options
Picking healthier choices is also good for when you want to cut down on your alcohol intake. Of course, the most apparent choice is water. Drinking water will help keep you hydrated after drinking alcohol. Plus, it’ll also help you feel full without needing to drink any alcohol. You can also try out some non-alcoholic drinks. Many of these drinks will taste similar to their alcoholic ones, just without the alcohol in them. Choosing these drinks can be good if you want to watch your intake, but still want to experience some unique flavors.
Feb 11, 2024 | Alcoholism, drinking
Recovery from drug or alcohol addiction can be a very long and difficult journey for many people. Trying pet therapy for addiction can be very useful for recovery for several reasons. Pets have been proven to boost your mood. Who can’t resist a happy dog’s boundless energy? In addition, pets instill a sense of responsibility for their owners which can be an important step in recovery. Pets have also been shown to increase self-confidence. And finally, a therapy pet is an excellent source of support when you are feeling overwhelmed or stressed. If you’re struggling with addiction, consider adopting a therapy pet to help you with your recovery and provide a great source of happiness and fun in your life.
Using Pet Therapy for Addiction: The Many Benefits of a Therapy Pet
Improve Mood
One reason why pet therapy for addiction is so helpful is that pets improve our moods. Most people feel calmer in the presence of their therapy pets or even household pets. Some studies have shown that having pets present during therapy sessions allows patients to open up more fully to their doctor. Pets are cute, cuddly, and so loving. Just being around them can boost your mood and make you feel less stressed about recovery.
Instill Responsibility
Another reason why pet therapy for addiction is beneficial is that pets create a sense of responsibility for their owners. Taking care of another living thing is hard work. You have to be present for them every day and keep track of their schedule along with your own. Some addicts find that taking care of their pets is a big reason as to why they want to get sober. It’s hard to be a good pet parent if you’ve fallen off the wagon. Therefore, owning a pet might give you a further needed push to get clean.
Boost Self-Confidence
Pet therapy for addiction also boosts self-confidence. Being a good pet owner is incredibly rewarding. Pets show gratitude for even the smallest gestures, so you’ll feel great every time you show your pet some love. This feeling of achievement and goal-reaching can boost your self-confidence. Being a responsible pet owner is a big job, and doing it well should boost your self-worth.
Be a Source of Comfort
Finally, one final and obvious reason why pet therapy for addiction works so well is that pets are a great source of comfort. Battling addiction comes with a lot of struggles. You’ll have hard times when you’ll want to throw in the towel. But a comforting pet might just help you get through the hard times. Pets are sympathetic animals, and can usually sense when their owners are unhappy. They’ll probably try and comfort you when you are feeling overwhelmed. Even the very act of petting an animal has stress-reducing effects on the human brain. A pet can be a great source of comfort for anybody struggling with addiction.
Pet therapy for addiction has been successful for many people in recovery. Pets can become a huge and loving part of your life that will give you the strength to get through the struggles of recovery. Pets improve your mood and can be a great source of comfort when you are feeling down. In addition, they instill a lot of responsibility in their owners. Being a great pet owner can be a huge boost in your self-confidence. All of these things can help make getting sober easier for you. In addition to helping with your recovery, you might just find that your pet is a loving and fun companion for many years.
Dec 17, 2023 | Alcoholism, drinking
When you begin your road to recovery, it can be tough to go it alone. As such, it’s helpful to build up recovery relationships. These bonds can go a long way in giving you the extra support you need during this time…
Recovery Relationships: Helpful Support
Value of relationships
Recovery relationships are quite helpful for those who are seeking to get sober. If you try and do things alone, it can be hard to resist things such as cravings. You could also start to feel rather discouraged and lose your enthusiasm as you begin to face some difficulties.
However, having people to support you can make things different. Here, you’ll have people who can encourage you to keep sober and help to hold you accountable. Not just that, but you’ll also have people who you can trust and be honest with. Knowing you have people in your corner goes far in giving you the strength you may need to get and stay sober.
Unhealthy relationships
If there are recovery relationships you don’t want, it’s any unhealthy ones. These toxic relationships will serve to hurt your efforts to get sober. Instead of support, these people may tear you down instead. Or, it could be the case that they are a bad influence and try to encourage you to relapse back into drug use.
These kinds of relationships can be hard to cut off, as they may be people you know or did drugs with. Still, you have to understand that it’s what’s best for your well-being. Being around these kinds of people will just add a lot of unneeded stress during an already-stressful time.
Creating new bonds
Building recovery relationships can be done in a number of ways. For starters, it’s good to turn to existing friends and family. Those who show that they’ll still help and support you are great to keep around. It’s only those who won’t that you’ll want to cut off.
As for new friends, many people create new bonds when they go through treatment. Meeting people at these facilities is great for making new friends that know exactly what kind of situation you’re in. You can also find new friends at group therapy or treatment sessions. It’s easy to form new connections as you share stories about your experiences.
