Recovery from addiction is still a much-misunderstood subject. Many are ignorant of what happens during recovery having never seen it first hand. Ideally, it’s something none of us would ever have to go through. Whether it be for ourselves or supporting a loved one, the effects of addiction can be far reaching.

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pic credit Hernán Piñera

Recovery from addiction doesn’t happen when someone stops using drugs. Recovery, genuine recovery, begins when the addict starts to create a new sort of life for themselves. A life where they keep their backs firmly turned on the substances they were abusing. A healthier life.  They don’t have to change every single element of their lifestyle, but some are necessary. Otherwise, the same old behaviours will follow the well-ingrained patterns and relapse are likely. Making positive alterations to destructive behaviour patterns will help avoid the chances of going back to square one.

Accept Help.

Once an addict has admitted they have a problem, you’re halfway there. Until they are ready to stop, any attempts to get them to stop using are likely to be fruitless. Once the problem is out in the open, help should be accepted wherever it is offered. It is difficult to overcome addiction alone.

Sometimes, drug replacement therapies can still cause dependency. Take the first step to living a drug free life, and break the cycle of addiction.

Learn how to be at peace with yourself

There are many excuses people give as to why they use drugs, but it always boils down to the same basic reasons. Escapism, relaxation and as a reward. It may sound too simple to be true, but there it is. Those are three main reasons people fall victim to addictive behaviours.

Avoid Temptation

It’s impossible to avoid temptation all of the time, but you can minimise your exposure to high-risk situations. Some of the most popular reasons Some common high-risk situations are summed up by the handy acronym, HALT.

Hungry

Angry

Lonely

Tired

The prime time to be any of these is at the end of your working day. Why do so many people go for a drink after work? It’s the same principle. You’ve not eaten your lunch; you’re hungry. You’re tired, and after a long journey home, you could do with a pick me up. You could be at a party with one set of people and stay sober, but if you go with your party friends, that’s not going to happen. Think about who you’re with and what you’re doing. Do these have anything in common with your triggers? If so, think about doing something else. Don’t make things harder than they have to be!

Telling the Truth.

Addiction needs a lot of mental agility to keep up with all the lies. It also takes a lot of effort, to find drugs, hide drugs and take drugs. They may be trying to hide the effects around other people too. Being truthful is key to staying clean and a successful recovery. If there is someone an addict can talk to during recovery without fear of judgement, staying off drugs will be much easier.

 

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