Why am I struggling with addiction recovery?

No one ever said that addiction recovery was a walk in the park, but you still might have thought things would be at least a little easier. Sometimes, things are going merrily along when a major roadblock comes your way after you’ve left your initial treatment program. Or, you might be struggling trying to do things on your own, even if you are going to group meetings or talking to people about recovery online. Wherever you are at in your journey, the truth is that everyone struggles at times.

Figuring out why you are struggling with addiction recovery helps you to prevent this new challenge from disrupting your progress. Without knowing your situation, it is difficult to say exactly why you are struggling right now.

But, there are some common challenges that people face in their early days of sobriety, and reading through this list might help you start identifying a few areas where you could use some help.

  • You’re still withdrawing physically from drugs or alcohol.
  • You need a stronger support network.
  • You’re also dealing with an untreated mental health condition.
  • You haven’t made amends and peace with your loved ones.
  • You are struggling emotionally with new events in your life.

When you’ve been using drugs or alcohol to numb your feelings, life can feel quite raw once you stop. You may currently need help with developing new coping skills as you face changes in your life. For example, starting a new job is a good thing, but you may now need help with issues such as time and stress management. Or, you may need help working through a relationship problem now that you’re living with your spouse and children again. Simply quitting drugs and alcohol can make it easier to get through these life events, but you could still need additional support to help you out when you are struggling.

Learn How to Make Your Recovery Easier

It might help to view quitting drugs as the first step to being able to handle difficult times with a clear mind and a treatment team as the people who can help you get to the next step of a more comfortable recovery. Sometimes, it takes an outside perspective to help you figure out what is going on in your head. Addiction treatment centers are prepared to help people at every stage of recovery.

If you’re trying to work through your addiction alone, then connecting with treatment professionals can help you learn more about why you misuse drugs or alcohol along with the best strategies for overcoming your challenges. If you’re fairly along in your recovery, then it might just be time to do something new. People who are experienced with sobriety sometimes struggle when their current plan no longer fits their needs. For instance, you might not be getting enough out of your group meetings, or you might have developed a new mental health condition such as depression after a personal loss.

Working with a professional therapist can help identify new health issues that might change your current plan. Or, they may be able to help you find ways to help others, such as by serving as a mentor to newly recovering addicts. Finding your purpose in life might be what you need to reignite your confidence in your recovery. Working on your recovery will naturally involve highs and lows as you conquer challenges and encounter new ones.

However, realizing that you are seriously struggling is a sign of a potential relapse. You could also be at risk of a relapse if you are thinking about using again or have already taken that step. Feeling like your current coping methods aren’t working is another warning sign that you need extra support. While asking for help might not be easy, you’ll quickly find that being in touch with the right people makes all the difference in the world with how you feel about your recovery.

Are you ready to finally tackle the things that are holding you back from enjoying your recovery? We are available 24/7 to help connect you with addiction treatment professionals who are eager to help. Give us a call today at 833-610-1174!