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.
Oct 23, 2023 | Alcoholism, Drugs
Building self-esteem in recovery from alcoholism is so important because alcoholism can be associated with low self-confidence. Boosting your self-esteem can help with your overall recovery. One of the most important steps to building self-confidence is to forgive yourself for past mistakes. Another thing you can try is to keep a progress report of how far you’ve progressed. Try to accept compliments when people say nice things to you. And finally, try to do something nice for others. All of these things can hopefully help you build self-confidence and in turn, help you with your recovery.
Building Self-Esteem in Recovery from Alcoholism: Recognizing Your Progress
Forgive Yourself For Past Mistakes
One important aspect of recovery, in general, is to be able to forgive yourself. It’s especially important if you’re building self-esteem in recovery from alcoholism. Even if you’ve made mistakes in the past, you’re actively trying to right them now. That’s the important thing to remember. It’s also important to forgive yourself if you fall off the wagon. Forgiving yourself for mistakes will allow you to move past them and continue to work towards your goal.
Keep a Progress Report
Building self-esteem in recovery is a bit easier if it’s easy to look at the progress you’ve made. Therefore, it can be helpful to keep track of all your goals and triumphs. You can use apps for this or good old pen and paper. Journaling in recovery can be very helpful for seeing the progress you make. When you’re having self-doubts you can look back on earlier entries and see just how far you’ve come.
Accept Compliments
Part of building self-esteem in recovery also means accepting compliments from others. When you are making great progress, people are bound to notice. Recovering from alcoholism can have tons of great effects on the body, from improved mood to brighter skin. If somebody notices how hard you’ve been working, accept the compliment they give you as truth.
Be Kind
Finally, building self-esteem in recovery is easier if you’re kind to others. Studies have shown that doing one nice deed for another person each day can lead to more feelings of self-confidence. You feel important and helpful, and others are appreciative of you. All of these things can help your self-esteem. Plus you’ll probably gain some new friends.
Building self-esteem in recovery from alcoholism can be difficult but will help you in the long run. There are many things about recovery that can tear down your self-confidence, but it’s important to remember all the progress you’ve made. Try to keep track of all your successes so you can review them when you’re feeling low. Accept that you’ve done things in the past you’re not proud of but that now you’re turning yourself around for the better. Accept compliments when others recognize how well you’re doing in recovery. And finally, try to do one nice good deed for somebody else every day. All of these things will hopefully allow you to increase your self-confidence. The recovery process is much easier if you’re armed with high self-esteem. You’ll know your own worth and know how important your sobriety is.
Aug 13, 2023 | Drugs, Felony Drug Possession
There are many long-term consequences of drug use that are important to know about if you or anybody you know are using drugs. While many effects depend on the type of drug you are using, there are some similarities across the board. There are emotional effects like changes in mood and sleeping patterns. In addition, the social effects can be extreme and cause damage to relationships. There are psychological effects from the changes in the brain that come with addiction. And finally, there are physical effects to the body that can lead to damage and even death. If you or somebody you know is struggling with drug use, it’s important to know the long-term harm that it can cause. Hopefully, knowing this will help you get the help you need to get clean and sober.
Long-Term Consequences of Drug Use: Negative Effects
Emotional Effects
There are many emotional effects that are long-term consequences of drug use. Oftentimes, long-term drug use can lead to feelings of depression and hopelessness. In fact, many drug users also have other mental health problems. These negative feelings can lead to moodiness and aggression. In addition, long-term drug use has also been linked to sleep issues like insomnia.
Social Effects
The social effects are the most obvious long-term consequences of drug use. Drug use can cause damage to all kinds of relationships in your life. Often friends and family are worried about the drugs, but the drug user isn’t able to quit. This can lead to a lot of damage to the relationship. Drug use can also be isolating because friends and family might not understand why it’s so hard to quit. In addition, the moodiness and aggression that come with long-term drug use can cause relationship problems too. It can be hard for drug users to maintain close relationships.
Psychological Effects
There are also long-term consequences of drug use that affect you psychologically. Drug use causes your brain to become chemically dependent on substances. Your body gets so used to the drugs that you are no longer able to function normally without them. This is what makes quitting so difficult – your body has become too reliant on the drugs. Drug use can cause memory problems both short-term and long-term. And finally, drug use can also cause paranoia and even hallucinations.
Physical Effects
Finally, there are many long-term consequences of drug use that are physical. Many types of drugs can cause strain on your internal organs, especially your heart. There is an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and seizures. Drugs also cause a lot of strain on the liver, which can lead to organ failure and has been linked to cancer as well. Some minor effects of drug use include things like increased heart rate, confusion, and overheating. All in all, long-term drug use is incredibly harmful to your body physically.
There are many negative long-term consequences of drug use. Drugs can cause emotional issues like mood changes and sleep problems. They can also cause relationship issues with family and close friends. There are psychological effects like paranoia and memory issues. And finally, the physical effects can be deadly. There are so many ways in which long-term drug use is harmful to you. However, it can be very difficult to quit using them. If you or somebody you know is struggling with drugs, reach out and get support. It’s important to know the long-term effects so that you can be more focused on recovery.
Jul 22, 2023 | Drugs
Drug withdrawal can be a very difficult and painful process. However, the benefits of getting clean will help you live a longer, healthier, and happier life. Know a little bit about what to expect before you even begin. It’s a good idea to get help from a treatment center or doctor. You might also want to get support from other people in your community who have been through similar things. Trying a Narcotics Anonymous group, or speaking to a therapist can be very helpful. Drug withdrawal is difficult, but it will be worth it in the long run.
Managing Drug Withdrawal: How to Get Clean Safely and Stick to Your Goals
Before Starting
Drug withdrawal can actually be quite dangerous if your body has a dependency on substances. Drugs affect the way your brain and body function. When they become dependent on the substances, it can put your body into shock if you suddenly quit using them. You can experience things like irritability, chills, and vomiting. But also more intense reactions like seizures, hallucinations, and delirium. Prepare yourself by researching what to expect from drug withdrawal.
Where to Get Help
Because drug withdrawal can be so dangerous, it’s best to have support while you attempt to quit using. It’s a good idea to have a medical professional helping you with your treatment plan, and helping manage symptoms. In addition, you could also try a treatment facility. In a specialized facility, you’ll be monitored by medical staff for your symptoms. But you’ll also receive counseling and tools to help you cope with the mental difficulties of withdrawal.
Medical Support
In some cases, drug withdrawal can pose a danger and require medication. Methadone is a well-known medication that is prescribed for people trying to quit opioids. It provides pain relief without giving people the sensation of being high. Once you are past the acute stages of withdrawal, a doctor can taper off the dose so that you are eventually completely clean. There are other medications to help with withdrawal from other substances. Therefore, it’s a good idea to involve an experienced medical professional if you decide you want to quit using.
Try Therapy
Finally, drug withdrawal is much easier if you have plenty of support. Doctors can help you with the medical side effects. But there is also a huge mental component to quitting any sort of addiction. It might be helpful to talk to a therapist. And of course, Narcotics Anonymous has helped thousands of people with substance abuse over the years. In therapy, you’ll probably try to figure out the reasons that you started using in the first place. Once you identify what triggers you to use drugs, you can begin to learn healthier ways to cope with your triggers.
Drug withdrawal is an incredibly brave thing to go through. It shows that you’re taking control back over your life. However, the process can be hard and it can sometimes be dangerous. Especially if you’ve been using it for a long time in large quantities. Do your homework upfront and know what to expect. Speak to a trained doctor who can help walk you through the process and monitor your symptoms. If it’s possible, a treatment center can help you survive withdrawal and give you tools to continue living cleanly. You will probably need to find support to manage your sobriety for the rest of your life, so getting involved with NA or other programs can be very helpful. Hopefully, you’ll find the strength to get through withdrawal and begin living a clean life.
Jun 17, 2023 | Alcoholism, Drugs
Taking the first steps towards sobriety can be life-changing and can put you on a path to recovery for the rest of your life. Deciding to quit using alcohol or drugs can positively impact your health and social relationships. However, getting started can be half the battle. Decide why you want to be sober in the first place, and set in stone your goals. Confide in a friend or family member that you trust so you have some accountability. Speak to your doctor before quitting cold turkey, and ask for recommendations for a recovery program. And finally, find support from others who have walked this path before. Recovery is not a straight line, and it can take a few false starts before things click. But once you are on your way, the journey will be worth it.
The First Steps Towards Sobriety: Beginning Your Journey
One of the first steps towards sobriety is figuring out your “why.” This is the motivational idea, the person, or the thing that makes you want to get sober. Maybe it’s for your health, maybe for your children, or maybe another reason entirely. Whatever the motivation is, cement it in your mind so that you can come back to it when you are feeling tempted to give in to your cravings. Set short-term goals for yourself instead of looking years into the future.
Confide in a Friend
Another of the first steps towards sobriety that can be helpful is to confide in a friend or family member that you trust. This gives you accountability and makes the goal more real. You might be surprised at how supportive friends and family are. Hopefully, they’ll agree to help you on your journey.
Speak to Your Doctor
It’s important to speak to your doctor before taking any first steps towards sobriety that involve quitting cold turkey. If you are a long-term alcoholic or drug user, quitting suddenly can create health hazards. Instead, your recovery should be monitored by a medical professional. Your doctor can also recommend treatment programs like in-patient and outpatient rehabilitation.
Find Support
Finally, it’s important to find support when taking the first steps toward sobriety. While friends and family are helpful, finding others who have walked this path before you can be more helpful. To investigate local twelve-step programs like Alcoholics Anonymous or others where you will meet with peer support groups. You might even decide to move forward and pick a sponsor or personal guide to your recovery.
Taking the first steps towards sobriety can be an exciting time in your life. However, the road to recovery is not easy. It’s important to prepare yourself as much as possible in advance. For example, decide on your motivation for getting sober and set goals. Then, reach out to a friend or family member. Speak to your doctor before quitting cold turkey, and ask about rehabilitation programs. And finally, find support from others like yourself. Hopefully, you can find the resources to get help and begin your journey to a new and sober life.
Dec 10, 2021 | Alcoholism, Drugs
It can be difficult to know when it’s time for rehab. However, the most important thing is that you make sure that you’re ready for it. Deciding to go to rehab is a deeply personal decision. You need to feel motivated to make the rehab successful. So if your heart isn’t really in it, it’s probably not going to work as well. When alcoholism starts affecting your relationships it might be a time when you decide enough is enough. Or if it’s affecting your work and making it difficult to keep a job. Others choose rehab when they start suffering from health issues. However, the choice must come from you and you must put your whole heart into it. Hopefully, you will be able to find a rehab facility that works well for you and you’ll get the help you need to start living a sober life.
How to Know When It’s Time for Rehab: Get the Help You Need
When Alcoholism Is Affecting Your Relationships
Some alcoholics know that it’s time for rehab when they start seeing effects on their relationships. Alcoholism affects every part of your life. It can result in a short temper and mood swings. Not to mention the shame and guilt involved with heavy drinking. All of these things can have a very negative effect on your relationships with your spouse, your friends, and your family.
When You Can’t Keep a Job
Another warning sign that lets some know it’s time for rehab is when drinking starts affecting their job. Many people find that their alcoholism gets in the way of work because they have a hard time concentrating. Or getting to the office on time in the morning is difficult with a hangover. If you are beginning to see problems at work, it’s a good time to assess your drinking and decide if it’s time for help.
When You’re Suffering Health Effects
Another obvious warning sign that it might be time for rehab is if you’re suffering from health effects. Alcoholism causes a whole host of health issues in the body. It can cause insomnia, headaches, irritability, and nausea in the short term. It can also put a strain on your organs like your liver and heart. In addition, blackout drinking can cause you to stumble or fall and get injuries that you might not even remember. Alcoholism has even been linked to cancer. If you’re seeing health issues from your drinking, it’s probably time to get some help.
When You’re Ready
Finally, the most important thing to remember is that it’s only time for rehab when you’re ready. If others are pressuring you to go to rehab, you won’t be successful unless you also are wanting to get clean. Rehabilitation from alcohol or substance abuse takes a lot of dedication and work. If your heart isn’t really in it, then you’ll have less success. Make sure that the time is right for you and that you can put all your energy into learning how to live cleanly.
Deciding when it’s time for rehab can be difficult to pinpoint. However, if you have significant issues in your life from your drinking habits, it can be a signal. For example, if you are suffering from problems with your relationships because of your drinking. In addition, if you’re having trouble at work or keeping a job, it might be time to research rehab. Or if you’re suffering from injuries or health issues from drinking. However, the most important thing to remember is that the time must be right for you. If you aren’t fully committed to the program, you won’t be as successful. So wherever you end up for your rehab, make sure that you are ready and dedicated to learning how to get clean and sober.
