After you go through detox and rehab and prepare for life outside of rehab, it can be difficult to know what’s the next step.
After a long time of your life is focused on drugs or alcohol, it can be difficult to know how to reenter the world. You have the opportunity to start over from scratch and the process can be overwhelming. To help you maintain recovery, we’ve taken some common concerns about life after recovery with helpful advice from people who have been in your shoes.
How Can I Repair the Damage I’ve Done at My Job?
During the time of your addiction, it is more than likely your job performance suffered. Now you can dedicate your time and energy to your work, giving you a renewed sense of worth and fulfillment.
Keep in mind, that being a workaholic can be unhealthy, too. Taking on too much can stress you out and that you turn back to substances to cope.
Where Can I Find A Sense of Community?
Groups like Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, SMART Recovery, or other meetings can provide a feeling of community. Attending meetings with people who have similar struggles and experiences helps with the feelings of isolation. AA and NA can assist you in finding a sponsor, someone who can help when you’re struggling to stay sober.
After time in recovery and feel strong enough, you can become a sponsor, which many people find to be helpful with their own sobriety.
What Types of Healthy Activities Can Replace the Drugs In My Life?
You need to keep a healthy balance of fun and work. Your life doesn’t revolve around work and recovery. Having fun is possible without the use of substances. Your idea of fun can change as you try new things and have new life experiences. Joining friends in sports activities, concerts, bike rides or movies, are just some of the many activities you can try while in recovery. Having a positive attitude and surrounding yourself with the right people, can make any recreational activity enjoyable.
Do I Stay In Contact With Friends Who Use?
You are the only who can make this decision. Ultimately, you’re the only who knows whether or not it’s in your best interest to spend time with people who use drugs. Keep in mind that a third of people in recovery relapse due to peer pressure from others.
Some people who still use might not like that you’re in recovery, because of their own feelings of guilt and rejection. If you do decide to continue the friendship, there are certain facts to keep in mind and skills to practice:
-People who know you’re in recovery and still offer you substances do not have your best interest at heart.
– Learn how to say NO with conviction
-Change the subject so the conversation isn’t about drugs.
How Do You Repair Your Relationships?
While you were abusing drugs or alcohol, your relationships will suffer. To repair them in your time of recovery, consider including your loved ones in your treatment. With the love and understanding of others, the treatment itself can be more successful.
As a result of drug use, trust is lost by family and friends. In order to repair the relationship, you have to repair the trust. This will take time, and the amount of time will vary from person to person.
Which Living Environment Is Best?
Entering ao sober living environment may be a viable option while in recovery. Studies have shown that people living in such a house for a length of time (15-17 months) saw an increase in attendance in educational settings, more days working, more days taking necessary medications. The better your life in recovery is, the less likely you are to relapse.
Now that you know what’s worked best for others, you can choose to apply it to your own life. Life past addiction can seem scary, but hopefully, you can move forward with improved confidence, and ready to start life with a new outlook.
If you or a loved one is experiencing any side effects of heroin use or is suffering from addiction seek treatment today. Asana Recovery is here to help. Contact us at 949-438-4504.
