Whether you are rehabilitating from drugs, alcohol, or another addictive substance, the rehab recovery process is never easy. From creating a positive environment that is conducive to a sober life to finding social support networks and professional help, there are a variety of things you can do to make the drug and alcohol rehab recovery process easier on yourself and those around you. This guide will cover some of the best rehab recovery tips to help you start your journey to a clean and sober life.
1) Remove Obstacles in Your Home
When you are going through rehab recovery, one of the best tips is clearing out any potential obstacles from your home environment. Rehab recovery is a challenge even in a perfect environment, so you want to create a home life that is peaceful and free of anything that could become a distraction. If you are going through rehab at home, you should make sure that your entire home is completely free from drugs and alcohol. The goal should be to set your home up in advance so that the substances you are trying to recover from are as difficult to obtain as possible. This ensures that you won’t just reach for the source of your addiction in a moment of weakness.
2) Consider Attending an Inpatient Rehab Recovery Center
Close proximity may not seem to be a problem when all is going well and you are filled with motivation, but having the option to relapse right in front of you is a sure way to sabotage the rehab process. Because a drug- and alcohol-free environment is so crucial to rehab recovery, many people choose to attend an inpatient rehab recovery center. These centers provide a completely sober environment that can make the first days and weeks of the recovery process less difficult. Inpatient treatment centers are staffed by health care professionals from a variety of medical branches who specialize in the rehab recovery process. Just knowing that medical professionals are available at all times is enough reason for some people to choose to go through rehab recovery in an inpatient center.
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3) Find a Support Network
Studies show that people who have access to strong communities and a caring network of social support experience faster rehab recovery and are less likely to relapse into addiction. Family is often the most convenient form of support for addiction, but if you don’t have family members you can trust, plenty of social support groups are available for people in various stages of the rehab recovery process. The best rehab recovery groups feature peer mentoring programs, which pair an experienced member who has been in recovery for a significant period of time with new members. These groups offer a judgment-free space where you can share your experiences and receive encouragement from other people who have been where you are at now. Even if you make a mistake, these groups are there to provide the support and accountability you need to stay committed to rehab recovery.
4) Prepare for Withdrawal Symptoms
Be realistic about your rehab recovery goals, and be aware that even the best recovery process comes with its challenges and difficult moments. Addiction can be both physical and psychological, and you will likely deal with both physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms. Some of the most common physical symptoms of withdrawal include nausea, headaches, tremors, and fatigue, while some common psychological symptoms include anxiety, depression, mood swings, and hallucinations. Educating yourself about these symptoms is the best way to be prepared when they occur. Severe withdrawal symptoms generally last for a few days. Withdrawal is one of the reasons that many people feel that the best rehab recovery decision is to begin their journey at an inpatient facility, where they can be monitored and will not have access to substances during the most severe stages of withdrawal.
5) Persevere through Failure
Even the best rehab recovery success story has at least one moment that could be considered a failure. Whether you relapse completely or simply aren’t making as much progress as you would like, failure can be a very discouraging experience. In some cases, you may be tempted to give up on the rehab recovery process because you are so discouraged by a perceived failure. Failure is one of the reasons that establishing a strong support network before you begin the rehab recovery process is so essential. It is important to speak with others who have experienced not only the best rehab recovery moments but also the lowest. Encouragement and positive reinforcement is a necessary part of the recovery process, especially in moments of failure. Discouragement will only push you further towards your addiction and away from your goals.
6) Keep a Positive Attitude
After making a mistake in your rehab recovery journey, the best thing you can do is to forgive yourself and move on. While it is important to acknowledge your mistakes and keep accountability with your social support system, dwelling on mistakes you’ve made will only make the rehab recovery process more difficult. Instead, try learning from mistakes you make and remembering how they made you feel. Remember that feeling the next time you are tempted to fall off the bandwagon, but also reward yourself each time you make a positive stride toward your recovery goals. Addiction tends to make people harp on their negative qualities while diminishing or ignoring their positive qualities completely. Studies show that forcing yourself to think and speak positively about yourself will eventually lead to organic positive thinking. You are what you think, so a positive perspective can do a world of good in creating the best recovery journey possible.
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7) Make Other Lifestyle Changes
Some of the best tips for rehab recovery are simple, such as living a healthy lifestyle. It may be difficult to find the motivation you need to take care of yourself when you are already devoting so much time, energy, and attention to the rehab recovery process. It may take some effort to revamp your diet and find time to spend on relaxing hobbies and exercise, but the benefits you reap will be well worth it. Addictive impulses can often be mitigated by minimizing stress in your life, and there is no better way to relieve stress than to receive the proper nutrition your body needs to function at optimum levels. From getting eight hours of sleep to drinking plenty of water and eating a balanced diet of healthy foods, there are plenty of small changes you can make in your lifestyle that will aid you in the rehab process.
8) Find New Alternatives to Addictive Substances
Most people become addicted to drugs and alcohol in the first place because they are trying to compensate for something that is missing in their lives. Part of the rehab recovery process is figuring out why you fell prey to your addiction in the first place and coming up with healthy alternatives to addictive substances and behaviors. If you realize that you became addicted to fill an emotional void, consider seeking professional counseling to delve deeper into those issues. Continue to analyze your own behavior, and be open to new and healthy alternatives that present themselves in the rehab recovery process.
