7 Great Tips To Help You In Early Drug Addiction Recovery +podcast

September 1st, 2007 · 10 Comments

There is probably nothing more dismal to a recovering drug addict then the fact that they are going through a process which seems like it takes forever! If you have just gotten out of an addiction treatment center or other drug and alcohol rehab center, chances are that you experienced one-on-one counseling, group therapy, as well as a variety of other experiences. Those are the experiences, though, that you should continue throughout your addiction and addiction recovery process.

Here are some actions that are most strongly suggested, in order to continue to be successful in addiction recovery for the long term.

1. Continue Counseling- the best thing that you could do for yourself is to continue counseling outside of the addiction treatment center. Your therapists and counselors will be the main ones to keep you right on track in your recovery efforts!

2. Remember Time - After you have gotten out of the addiction and recovery center you may be frustrated with the thoughts of alcohol or drugs that are plaguing your mind. However, you must remember that recovery is a process that takes time and there is nothing you can do to speed up the process of time, no matter how dismal or depressing that thought seems.

3. Keep yourself Occupied - Many recovering addicts often find it hard not to go back to their old lifestyles, but the one thing that can help greatly is to keep yourself productively occupied. Getting a hobby, surrounding yourself with positive friends each day, and filling your day to keep you busy in order to be preoccupied will prevent you from destructive behavior.

4. Take One Day at a Time - If you are becoming so frustrated that you’re feeling like you just want to have some more alcohol or that one last taste of drugs, stop before you get there! Take a deep breath and realize that your recovery will only go one day at a time! Many people have to force themselves to take one minute, hour, and day at a time simply to keep their heads above water.

5. Find New Behaviors- this is something that many addiction counselors will focus on, but what are you going to do when it should have been the time for your daily dose of alcohol, LSD, marijuana, or other drug? Finding something different to do and replacing that part of your day with something cleaner and better for you will help you in the long run.

6. Let your Family Know. - Many recovering addicts choose not to tell their families, but these are the first people that you should tell. They will help you get back on your feet and stay there and provide a lot of emotional support when you need it the most!

7. Never Give Up! - This is a very old cliche, but has proven to work many times over! A recovering addict is an individual who cannot afford to give up. The drugs and/or alcohol that you just got away from will return to tempt you, so you must remember to never give up in the face of temptation or frustration.

Remembering all of these 7 steps for drug addiction recovery is crucial to getting past the first days, weeks, and months following your decision to stop the substance abuse in your life. By following all of these steps and surrounding yourself with positive influences will help you now and in the future when you absolutely need it.

10 responses so far ↓

1 Mighty Morgan // Sep 2, 2007 at

These are some excellent pointers you shared here..as well as the most trying aspects of early recovery. I know in my own experience the most important one had to be
“Don’t give up!!!”
Often the frustration of early recovery is so overwhelming that addicts/alcholics choose the familiar routines of misery (aka=using) in order to “escape” the normal adjustment period that accompianies early recovery.
It’s seemes like the uncomfortability will last forever in the moment…but as the old saying goes….
“This too shall pass”
Good stuff and great reminders for myself of the price I had to pay in order to gain back the freedom in my life today!!!
2 Jennifer // Sep 15, 2007 at

I work in a rehab center and have many who think they do not have a problem mainly because they have not lost everything or they only smoke weed. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to open their eyes? It is frustrating when you have 30 clients and 5 of them are rebellious. We all know that they aren’t sent to rahab for nothing so how so we open their eyes? Please help. Addict named Jennifer
3 Bill Urell // Sep 15, 2007 at

Jennifer,
I know the frustration. If you look at things from the patients’ point of view their ‘resistance’ might make sense. If I really do not believe I have a problem, why in the world would I buy into your solution?. Treatment would not make sense.

Getting a patient to understand that a problem exsists is a definite priority to begin treatment. A question I ask myself about the patients denial is: is the denial here a defense against changing things? or is it a case of the patient really not seeing what is obvious to all those around him. That will usually point me in the right direction.
4 Harry Galdeira // Feb 7, 2008 at

Jennifer - what is your capacity there? are you a counselor, office clerk, aid? are you in recovery, as well? it would really help to know this info. have a great day!!
5 xiflada // Apr 20, 2008 at

Those tips are pretty great. The last one is the one thats sticks out the most. Most people that try to quit, fail at the process. So it is important to make sure that they don’t quit. My dad has tried over and over and harder each time, but somehow he always manages to give up.
6 xiflada // Apr 20, 2008 at

Jennifer, you don’t know how much it bothers me that some people feel smoking weed is not a bad thing nor an addiction! I constantly hear grown adults saying “It’s nothing, just a little weed” When are they going to realize that this is as bad an addcition as it gets!?
7 Xiflada // Apr 29, 2008 at

You know family is really important here like number 6 says. I think a lot of times addicts feel like they won’t have support from their family. Or maybe is just the anticipation of wanting to give their family a surprise of their recovery.
8 Sharon // May 25, 2008 at

Denial is one of the main topics we address at the treatment center I work in. One day I will have the clients go around and tell a mini version of ‘why are youe here?’ They are not allowed to name their DOC, so the focus is on the behaviors. I ask the clients what made you choose treatment/why were you court orderd? The next class is on denial. within a week, those lost in denial and/or justifing ‘alittle weed’ see where addiction goes through the experiences of thier peers…it has opened more than one set of eyes. Hope it helps.
Many thanks to this site, we have a LOT of classes over info from here. Sharon Addict.
9 Bill Urell // May 25, 2008 at

Thanks, Sharon.

An exercise I have folks do to prove the power of addiction is this…visualize some foolish, dangerous or life altering poor decision you made or did when high. Don’t tell me what it is. Now here is how powerful addiction is…when you did it, it made perfect sense to you.

Now you look back and say, ‘man how could I have nbeen so stupid’. When we are in the middle of it we lose sight of logic, caution and reality.

Bill
10 musicman // Sep 3, 2008 at

I am on day two of “being sober” from weed and pain killers(opiates).This is unequivically the single hardest thing that i have ever done!I have tried soooo many times to stop on my own,only to fail.I have realized that I can’t do it without the help of professionals and have sought out the help that I need.”just a little weed” or “I can stop anytime I want” were my biggest copouts and I can assure anyone with that attitude that weed is most definately an addiction!!!!! If you dont think so,stop using it for a week.The stress and discomfort you will feel as a result is proof of your “need” or addiction.But believe me,you can beat it and there is help if you look for and want it!!!!!

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