Overcoming substance abuse is one of the most difficult things you can ever do, but putting the time, energy and effort into such a noble cause is certainly worth it. You don’t have to face the battle alone, though. Plenty of family and friends will be there to aid you along the way, and you can make progress by following these tips as well.
Avoid Temptation
Recovering from addiction doesn’t happen when you stop using drugs. To really change your behavior and your life, you have to create a new life that makes it easier to not use drugs than to use them. One of the best ways to keep from using is to avoid situations that make it more likely to use. These times often occur when you are hungry, angry, lonely or tired--feelings that often come up at the end of the day.
You can avoid these situations by taking better care of yourself. Eat more during the day so you’re not as hungry at night. Find a support group and/or some good friends so you’re not alone. Learn to let go of your anger (some therapy might help here). Build better sleep habits so you’re not constantly tired. Avoid physical places where you will be tempted--your local bar, your old dealer’s house--and avoid being with people who make it more likely you will be tempted, such as people you used drugs with in your previous life.
Learn to Relax
Relaxation may sound like an optional part of recovery, but it’s absolutely essential to have some time to relax as you fight this battle. Tension can build up quickly in your life, and you need a regular mechanism to be able to clear the tension away and focus on what’s important. You should set aside some time every day for relaxing in whatever way works best for you. This may be a walk, a nap, or working on a hobby that you particularly enjoy. You should do whatever works for you to clear your mind and recenter your focus on your goal each day.
Meditation is another great way to relax, even when everything around you is busy and crazy. Try a few different types of meditation until you land on one or two that work well for you. There is no right or wrong type, so just go with whatever your preference is. The most important thing to remember is that stress management is absolutely crucial to maintaining emotional balance and thus avoiding the temptation to backslide into substance abuse and addictive behaviors.
Adopt a Service Dog
Service dogs are trained to act as companions for people who have some sort of disability. This has traditionally included physical impairments, but dogs are now being trained to help people who have disabilities that aren’t visible, such as depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder. Trained mental health service dogs like this can help with anxiety by bringing medication during an anxiety attack, leading you to someone if you’re in a crisis, or providing physical pressure against you to calm you down. You will need a recommendation from a licensed medical health professional to apply for a psychiatric service dog, but this may be something to look into if you are facing depression on your road to recovery. You don’t want to leave depression untreated because it can lead to deeper issues down the road.
These simple tips are a good start that will help as you fight for sobriety. Always be honest with those around you; this is one of the most important issues you will face, and you cannot make progress by hiding anything. Bringing everything into the open will give you the freedom you deserve on your road to the rest of your life.
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