This month we join in celebrating the millions of people who have found and are still finding their own path to recovery, health and personal growth. National Recovery Month reinforces the positive message that behavioral health is essential to overall health, that prevention works, that treatment is effective, and that people can and do recover. We’ve joined the Northport-East Northport Drug and Alcohol Task Force and the Town of Huntington in recognizing National Recovery Month. Throughout September we will be celebrating individuals in recovery and offering hope and resources to those that are struggling.
After an individual has faced their addiction and admitted to a problem, they are now faced with the new challenge of facing recovery. Living life on life's terms for a recovering person has its challenges, whether in recovery for 3 months or 30 years. 12 step programs can provide tremendous support. Individual treatment with a therapist who understands the challenges of addiction and recovery can be equally valuable to any 12 step support system.
Being mentally prepared and staying proactive during the beginning months of this new life is crucial to a successful recovery. It is also important for family and friends to understand the challenges people in recovery face everyday so that they are aware and can be supportive during this time.
Challenges:
Dealing with cravings - Identifying and avoiding triggers is a constant battle. Post-recovery cravings can be set off by stress, anxiety, as well as old acquaintances.
Developing new coping skills - Establishing new ways to manage stress, anxiety and cravings is necessary for a full recovery.
Facing the “wreckage of our past" - It is very common for past trauma to act as a barrier to establishing a sense of new normalcy. Working with experienced therapists that focus on substance abuse and addiction can help personal growth exponentially.
Building new relationships - Relationships are usually the first to suffer and figuring out how to reconcile damaged ones or build new ones can be difficult.
Addressing trauma - Dealing with trauma and shame without substances can be very difficult. Working with the right counselors and therapists can be critical to finding abstinence.
Financial - Addiction is almost always hard on your finances. After completing a successful treatment, realizing the financial burden you have created can be daunting.
Finding fun again - Finding things to do that take up the time that drugs and alcohol used to take up is no easy task. Having a ton of free time or experiencing boredom is a challenging part of recovery.
Finding purpose - Many people come out of rehab and feel that they have no purpose in life. Drugs and alcohol played such a large role in their everyday lives that learning how to adapt to a life that doesn’t revolve around substances is very difficult.
5 Tips To Ensure A Strong Recovery Plan
Build a sober support network
Be a part of a recovery community: AA, NA, Smart Recovery, Get a SPONSOR & HOME GROUP.
Find social groups and networks that are also sober.
Think about prevention: Avoid people, places and events that may be a trigger. This is not an easy task but a very rewarding step to take in recovery.
Improve your sleeping patterns.
Manage stress
Get active - physical activity is one of the best tools with addiction. Addiction is a 3-fold disease; mental, spiritual and physical. We need to remember the physical in our recovery plan.
Practice Mindfulness/Meditation - Learn to be with yourself as you are as opposed to escaping or numbing out.
Talk with others
Engage with a therapist FAMILIAR WITH ADDICTION & RECOVERY. Having access to a great therapist and being committed to your personal growth and success is an important part of living a life in sobriety.
Please remember you never need to face recovery alone. There are plenty of resources available to anyone facing sobriety and here at Gooding Wellness we have several therapists specially trained in the field of addiction to support you. Feel free to contact us today!
This month, and always, Gooding Wellness Group along with our sister company Long Island Teletherapy, will come together to reinforce the positive message that behavioral health is essential to overall health, that prevention works, that treatment is effective, and that people can and do recover.