You’ve worked hard to get clean, going through your rehab program to end your drug addiction. That’s great news…but of course, the work is just beginning
Fixing an addiction is not at all like taking your car to the neighborhood mechanic where you find the problem, replace a part and you’re on your way down the road. The solution requires a lot of work, as does maintaining your sobriety.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration outlines four major points in supporting a life of recovery. Let’s take a good look at these points and expand on each of them:
Beating Addiction Requires Healthy Choices
There are a few layers to this idea. Not only does this cover abstaining from or managing their specific addiction; it also has to do with refraining from other addictive behaviors. In other words, don’t replace one drug with another, or with alcohol. Also, be mindful that misuse of existing medications – often the root of many addictions – can very easily create a new set of problems.
In addition to this, it’s important to make fuel your body with proper diet, physical activity and fitness and overall healthy choices. These healthy choices support physical and emotional well-being.
Home Needs to be Safe, Stress-Free Zone
The phrase ‘there’s no place like’ has some real value to it…provided home is a healthy, stress-free environment. Try your best to maintain a sense of order.
Even something as basic as having an uncluttered, distraction-free place for hitting your internal reset button – a bedroom, sitting area or an outdoors space – makes a world of difference.
Examine Your Daily Routine
Take a good look at how you spend your time; write it down in calendar-form and look closely at it to get a good sense for what fills your days. Do you have structured time? Do you live day to day or even minute by minute?
A big part of creating an environment conducive for a healthy recovery is having a productive routine. This includes meaningful, positive activities on a regular basis such as employment, volunteer activities, interaction with family and creative activities. If you enjoy painting, paint; make time to read a good book if you like to read. Exercise can be made more enjoyable if you prefer to shoot baskets, jog, lift weights or even take regular, brisk walks.
The idea is to make time for not only productive daily activities, but also those that stimulate your body and mind.
A Sense of Community, Positive Relationships
Ever feel like you feed off the types of people who surround you? It’s true. Seek out those around you who truly provide support. Just as negative people or negative words and actions tend to dampen the mood, positive and upbeat people help give you a better outlook on life.
Surrounding yourself with those who offer support, friendship, love and hope allows you to embrace those very traits.
What Our Program Offers Recovering Addicts
Our aftercare program is designed around the reality that our rapid detoxification program is only the beginning of the recovery process. We offer unlimited aftercare and support with our medical doctors.
Although patients are encouraged to continue use of Naltrexone, an opiate blocker, we also encourage ongoing psychological support and therapy. The could come in the form of individual or cognitive therapy, group therapy, support meetings (and 12-step programs) through groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous and rehab treatments (outpatient or inpatient).
Each method of follow-up care is useful as it provides an opportunity for all patients and our medical professionals to determine the best possible path to recovery.
To speak with one of our compassionate medical professionals, call All Opiates Detox at (800) 458-8130.
