Life After Addiction Recovery

Sobering up is the most crucial step in addiction treatment and recovery. Unfortunately, most people don’t realize this. It takes a lot to get there, and one must be prepared to start over after the rehab session. Fortunately, it is not always complicated if you truly mean it.

Make Sure to Surround Yourself with Positive People

The people you hang around will influence you. It is up to you to decide the kind of influence you want. No matter how strong you are, which you aren't, people will rub their habits on you. So make sure you choose your crowd wisely and only hang out with supportive people who want to see you overcome your addiction struggles.

Accept your Past Shortcomings

Only the brave are cap[able of accepting the past mistakes they made. This is in the past and should remain there. However, there are certain things your addiction caused damage to. Since most of these are irreversible and cannot be fixed, the best you can do is focus on the future and improve. Apologize where possible and rectify your mistakes moving forward.

Your Eye Should be on the Goal

Now that you have taken the necessary measures to turn your life around, always focus on the future. Work on building a stable life and choosing decisions that lead towards that. This may be a great time to rediscover yourself, find new hobbies, forge a career and do anything else that contributes to your growth. Take up responsibilities you may have been relegated to due to your addiction illness. 

Stay Positive

Recovery is not going to be a walk in the park, and it doesn’t have to be. However, you need to be open minded and ready to put in the hard work if you want to come out stronger. Considering that this is going to be a life-long journey, you should be prepared for it.

Keep your expectations at a minimum and look inwards more. Most of the work of staying sober is dependent on you. Understand that the desire to get sober and stay sober is entirely yours and that people may be supportive but you have to be willing to do the work.

Staying focused on your need choices is crucial. This is the only way to ignore naysayers and discouragers who do not believe in your ability to become better. Instead, understand what you want and choose your environment correctly to protect yourself against anything that does not serve your interest. Realize that this is a new choice and it won’t be easy at first but things will definitely get better over time. Just be sure to stay strong all the way.

Show up when needed and deliberate about being present for your loved ones. You may have a lot of compensating to do, but if you are willing and desire to do the work, your future will always be bright. Finally, get support when you need it and strive to lead a life of sobriety.