5 Ways to Overcome the Addiction Center Blues
Breaking the bonds of drug addiction is never easy and if you’ve ever spent time at an addiction center you know that times are not always bright. While it might seem simple to stop using drugs, ongoing commitment and professional support is needed to enable long-term lifestyle changes.
5 Ways to Overcome the Addiction Center Blues
Drug treatment centers offer a range of programs to support every aspect of drug discontinuation and recovery, including medical detox, inpatient and outpatient rehab, and aftercare support systems. While drug addiction treatment can seem overwhelming at first, recovering addicts are much less likely to get the addiction center blues if they keep the following things in mind.
Take Drug Therapy One Step At A Time
Overcoming a drug addiction takes time and perseverance. While it’s important to be motivated at the outset of the process, it’s equally important to be realistic and not expect change to happen overnight. Recovering drug addicts are always advised to take one day at a time, focusing on immediate abstinence and daily recovery while leaving the larger process to take care of itself.
It’s Okay To Be Scared During Drug Rehab
Entering a professional detox or rehab program can seem scary, especially if it’s your first time. While there’s really nothing to be afraid of, it’s important to give yourself permission to feel whatever emotions may arise during this process. Access to professional therapy is crucial for this very reason, with cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), family therapy, and other psychotherapeutic systems designed to help people with the emotional complexities of recovery.
All Good Things Take Time (Especially in Substance Addiction Treatment)
Drug and alcohol rehab includes a range of treatment systems designed to work together. It’s important to remember that change doesn’t happen overnight, with different programs needed to treat the physical and psychological aspects of drug addiction. Rehabilitation is a sequential process that often takes place slowly over a period of weeks or months, with each phase of treatment bringing new challenges to the table. For example, while detox programs are designed to help people stop using drugs, behavioral therapy and aftercare systems are also needed to support psychological growth and promote long-term lifestyle changes.
Practice Mindfulness When Recovering From Drug Abuse
Mindfulness plays an important role during the recovery process, with people much less likely to relapse if they are aware of the thoughts and feelings that arise during recovery. While mindfulness is often linked with meditation and eastern spirituality, it simply means the act of paying attention. By listening to your internal responses as they unfold, you are much less likely to get carried away by the impulsive and compulsive behavior patterns you are trying so hard to avoid.
Drug Addiction Recovery is a Lifestyle Choice
Recovery is a lifestyle choice that requires ongoing commitment and external support. While detox helps people to stop using drugs and rehab addresses the psychological undercurrents of addiction, aftercare programs are also needed to support long-term recovery. Common aftercare systems include individual counseling, 12-step programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), and SMART Recovery.