Deciding to get treatment and attend a rehabilitation program for substance or alcohol abuse is a powerful step that will help you live a life of freedom. Rehabilitation facilities offer a safe, comfortable space for you to achieve sobriety. Getting treatment drastically raises the chances that you will maintain sobriety.
However, there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all treatment facility or process. Each person needs unique care based on several factors, including the substance they’re addicted to, the length of time they’ve been addicted, and whether or not they have co-occurring disorders.
Initiating Treatment
Everything has to start somewhere, including your search for treatment. When looking for professional alcohol and drug rehabilitation care, it is like taking the first step on a long-term journey to recovery. This is true whether you decided to take this step voluntarily or were forced to take this step through intervention or because of a court order.
Regardless of how you start your journey, you will likely have feelings of apprehension. There might even be times when you second-guess your decision. Remember, denial and ambivalence are not your friends during the first days of recovery.
During the opening phase of addiction treatment, you have to convince yourself and will be helped to appreciate the value of actively participating in a treatment program with the goal of long-term abstinence. This can be done by helping you see the following:
• The negative impact addiction has had on your life
• Your feelings of denial regarding your addiction
• Motivating factors that drive you to want to recover
During this first stage of treatment at a recovery center, your history with drugs and alcohol will be examined. Your health will be evaluated, and counselors will work with you to create individualized treatment plans to address your specific needs.
The First Days of Abstinence
At this point, you will have taken some amazing steps forward. You will have gone through the initial detox and withdrawal process. You are well on your way to learning about the triggers that cause you to abuse drugs and alcohol and practical steps to deal with these triggers without relapsing into substance abuse.
Success through this early stage of abstinence from drugs and alcohol is a good indication that you will be able to stay sober for the long haul. However, there are a lot of challenges you will face, including:
• Continued withdrawal symptoms
• Psychological dependence
• Physical cravings
• Triggers that can lead to relapse
During early abstinence, you will face some of your biggest challenges and greatest rewards for your hard work. You may face social pressure, cravings, or a psychological pullback to start drinking or using substances again. However, what you learned during rehab will help you through your recovery.
Key strategies include participating frequently in healthy activities. Look for alternative behaviors to turn to instead of drugs and alcohol. Participate in self-help groups that will give you support to keep you strong regardless of the challenges you face. Finally, identify triggers that cause cravings. This may mean you will have to stay away from things, people, and places you associate with substance use.
The 90-Day Mile Marker
At around 90 days of continuous abstinence, you transition into the maintaining abstinence phase. The goal during this phase is to avoid relapse. You will need to rely on the training you received to identify warning signs that a relapse is on the horizon and then take steps to avoid it. During this third phase, you will see the link between the future quality of your life and your decisions to avoid drugs and alcohol. This maintaining abstinence phase starts at around the 90-day mark and continues through your first five years of being clean and sober.
Long-Term Recovery
You will reach this stage at about five years of abstinence. This is where you can take all the skills and tools you’ve learned and put them to use so that you can live a satisfying and fulfilling life. At this point, you can create long-term goals, form social relationships that don’t involve drugs or alcohol, and find ways to reach beyond yourself to help others attain the same freedom from substance use that you enjoy.
Do you want to learn the strategies needed to get and remain sober while learning how to become more productive and healthier? If so, we want to help you. Contact us today at 833-610-1174, and let us show you how a substance-free life is possible.