Sobriety can be uncomfortable, and sometimes even boring. We don’t like to focus on that for fear of encouraging relapse, but the truth is that recovery is all about acknowledging both the good and the bad. Recovery from any addiction is hard in a vast amount of psychological ways. Below are three unexpectedly hard things about sobriety. These serve as a reminder that you’re not the only one that experiences them!
Change isn’t comfortable
What many people don’t understand about recovery (until they go through it themselves) is that the whole process is uncomfortable because it isn’t familiar. Addiction is always ‘known.’ It keeps you in the same feelings, places, and state of being for however long you’re living it.
When you go through recovery (particularly in the first few months), everything feels uncomfortable and strange because you’re seeing the world through sober eyes again. It is good to learn to accept the discomfort and work with it, rather than trying to push it away; this will make you stronger in the future.
You have unrealistic expectations of remaining strong
There’s always the assumption that accompanies the choice to seek recovery; it’s that feeling that you’ve made the decision to get clean, and everything should change for the better, the way it’s supposed to.
This won’t ever happen! We put too much pressure on ourselves to be perfect throughout recovery. Usually, we have the support of our friends and family throughout the process, and we do not want to let them down. No matter the reason you entered, there is always the pressure to stay in it; this is the easy part. The hardest part is understanding that it will not be flawless.
Boredom
Nobody likes to admit this, but life can feel quite boring in the first few months of recovery – which can be a reason why people relapse at such fast and alarming rates that they do.
Now that you’re no longer hanging out with the people you drank and did drugs with before treatment, you will likely feel a sense of boredom. When you’re feeling like you want to drink out of boredom, restlessness, or loneliness, call your support group. Make new friends, pick up some new hobbies, and return to the activities you enjoyed before you started blacking out and forgetting about life. Find employment, return to school, occupy your time. Having plenty to do will help with the feelings of self-worth, but you have to be willing to put yourself out there and explore.
At Asana Recovery, we understand how difficult recovering from these addictions through our daily work to help those struggling most from this disease. While some may believe they can make it alone, rehabilitation programs are essential in the fight to break the dependency. The road ahead is not a smooth or easy one, but you can traverse it if done so with the support of the right team. Counseling and aftercare processes can assist you by addressing the psychological facets that led you to addiction and help you build a structure from which to better cope with life without succumbing to addiction.The supervised detoxification and residential treatment programs at Asana Recovery are offered in a supportive, relaxing, and inspiring environment. We’re deeply committed to ensuring your long-term recovery and guiding you on your path to a healthier and happier future. There is no better time than now, and we’re always available to speak with you. Call us at (949) 438-4504 to learn more about our comprehensive drug and alcohol addiction treatment program today.
