Living a life in recovery can be amazing. Congratulations on making a huge decision and seeking help for your addiction. You worked hard and faced your challenges. You took the time to learn about your mental health issues and what makes you who you are. Your time in treatment is yours, and you can forever think back to the time you faced your most complex challenges.
Now you get the joy of navigating life in recovery. As you have probably already figured out, the work does not end when treatment ends. You still need to work on your mental health issues, continue to grow, and move forward towards your goals. You have so many choices ahead of you. Make sure you decide on healthy and productive paths as you move towards living your life back in society. Here are a few simple tips for living to keep in mind.
Be Honest
Try to be as honest as possible, both with yourself and with others. Talk about the process you have gone through to get sober. Mention the discomfort you experienced, the hard days of working through your trauma, and those moments when you did not know if you would make it through treatment. Those challenging moments are important because they make you human. When you only share the positives, people will not understand what your journey looked like.
Recovery is impressive, and you are doing a terrific job. Move forward, honestly. Honesty will help you in so many different areas of life. There is a good chance your past addiction affected your relationships. You may have to work to rebuild trust with many people. Being honest is crucial if you are trying to accomplish that.
Accept Support
If you need support, ask for it. There is no shame in needing long-term support from both mental health professionals and from your loved ones. Your support system is there for the sole purpose of helping you during those challenging times. Your loved ones want to be there for you during both your highs and your lows. Let them. Whether you are one day sober or five years sober, accepting help and support is crucial to maintaining your sobriety and overall well-being. Why is it that we often feel as if we cannot or should not ask for help and support? Fight the need to figure out everything on your own. Let others help you. Let others step up and support you during those moments when you question whether or not you can continue with your sobriety.
Most people need some level of support as they journey through recovery. Do not feel weak if you need help as you face unexpected challenges. Treat yourself like you would treat a friend going through a challenging time. You would support them and encourage them to ask for help. Why treat yourself any differently? Talk nicely to yourself as you journey through difficult times. You are doing well, and sometimes you will need to take a deep breath and remind yourself of that.
Respect the Danger
Relapse is a real thing. It is something that many people experience. If you experience relapse, that is okay. Reach out for professional help and get back on track towards your goals. Having a healthy level of respect for the danger that comes along with addiction is important. Take the time to set yourself up for success. Know what your triggers are and how they impact you. Everyone experiences different triggers, so do not simply rely on what others have experienced or told you. Your recovery is your own, and you need to put in the effort to understand your thought processes and how you are affected by different scenarios.
Do you have a plan if you find yourself in a situation that makes you feel uncomfortable? Do you have support ready for you to call? What if nobody can get you out of the situation? What do you do then? Having plans in place will help you set yourself up for success. It is unrealistic to think you will never have to face a trigger. You will eventually find yourself in a situation that makes you uncomfortable. That is life, and that is expected. You worked hard in treatment to learn the skills and tools necessary to face your challenges, and now is the time you will need to use them. Respect your past enough to make sure your future is healthy and bright.
Life in recovery can be amazing. You made it through treatment and are now living a healthy and sober lifestyle. This is the time you get to relearn about yourself. What do you enjoy doing? Who do you enjoy spending your time with? Set yourself up for success. Take time to learn about your triggers and how they affect you. What can you do to secure your safety if you find yourself in a situation out of your control? Learn to accept help when you need it, and enjoy the life before you. Here at The Guest House, we know that recovery can feel out of control at times. You will face new challenges every day, and learning how to handle them can feel scary. We are here to help you every step of the way, regardless of where you are in the recovery process. Call us today to learn more about our treatment options at (855) 483-7800.