Everyone deserves the right to a clean and sober life, but how do you make that happen? You’ve probably tried rehab, counselling, and other tactics, but they don’t work. You may have given up hope. The number of people who abuse drugs and alcohol every day is staggering. Many of these people have lost hope or have given up on their dreams, while others are still fighting to stay sober. Millions of people worldwide have entered a treatment program (https://impactrecoverycenter.net/) and have led successful lives. Here’s how:
1. Find a Support System
Finding a support system is crucial, but it’s also essential to find the right support group. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), there are many types of groups that can be helpful for people going through addiction recovery. Communities may not offer all these options, so it can be beneficial to research these alternatives online.
2. Be Prepared for Cravings
A craving is an intense desire to use drugs or alcohol, which can come in many forms. You may have an actual physical desire for a substance, or you may want to repeat the experience of using it so that you can feel the same type of high. Cravings can also be triggered by emotions, including anger, anxiety, and stress.
3. Going Through the Detox Treatment
Detox treatment helps you permanently cut ties with drugs or alcohol. This process is necessary because long-term drug or alcohol abuse causes chemical changes in the brain that compel you to keep using it. Withdrawal will begin shortly after quitting and can last for up to a month or longer, but it’s possible to overcome withdrawal symptoms with the right treatment plan.
4. Stay Away From Triggers
Triggers are external situations or internal thoughts and emotions that cause you to crave drugs or alcohol. Triggers can be anything–people, places, things, emotions like stress or anger. To avoid relapse and stay sober, you must find healthy coping mechanisms to deal with triggers. Here are two strategies that can help:
- Avoiding the Trigger – The best way to deal with triggers is avoiding them entirely. If there’s a particular bar you used to go to on the weekends where you did a lot of drinking, try not going there anymore. Maybe one of your friends got you into using drugs and led you down the path of addiction. If a particular emotion causes your cravings, such as stress or depression, try doing something new to keep your mind occupied when these feelings arise, such as exercise or meditation.
- Coping With the Trigger – Sometimes, it isn’t always possible to avoid triggers altogether, so it’s essential to learn how to manage them when they arise so they don’t lead to relapse and undo all the progress made in recovery up until this point.
5. Keep a Journal
Journals help you understand your triggers, record your progress, and develop self-confidence. It’s essential to start with whatever method you use: pen and paper, computer, phone app. You can write anything from what made you angry yesterday to what made you happy today.
Conclusion
Many people are struggling with drug or alcohol abuse and addiction. However, if you are suffering from these, there is still hope. It takes a lot of effort to overcome an addiction. The commitment to stay sober has to come from within and stems from the individual who wants to find what makes life worth living again. Finding a program that helps you along the way will be beneficial in your battle with drug and alcohol abuse.