Addiction doesn’t signify weakness, moral failure, or character flaw. It’s a chronic illness that affects brain function and structure. It exerts a strong influence on your brain and can manifest as a craving for the substance you’re addicted to, loss of control over its use, and inability to stop taking it despite the problems it causes you. Substance abuse, if not treated, can lead to severe emotional, social, and physical concerns.
Alcohol and substance use disorders may stem from anxiety, stress, depression, peer pressure, childhood experiences, and trauma. However, addiction can be treated, and knowing what to expect allows you to prepare better. This article outlines the things you need to know about addiction and recovery.
1. Going for rehabilitation isn’t enough
Going to a substance abuse recovery center is the first step towards conquering an addiction. While there, the rehab center will try to understand what led to your loved one’s addiction to tailor a recovery plan that best suits their recovery needs. They’ll also provide them with the tools and skills essential for their recovery.
Rehab centers provide mental and physical treatments that help fight addiction. They also teach disciplinary and life skills to help addicts cope with and fight their addiction. the journey to recovery is a lifelong one, and it requires daily commitment and focus even after completing the rehabilitation program
2. Sobriety isn’t recovery
Stopping drug and alcohol addiction is the first step to living a sober life. To live a sober life, you have to change the lifestyle and behavior that led to your addiction in the first place. Beware of what can trigger a craving and avoid it or find a way to cope. Indulge in activities that can help you grow and reset your brain while living a healthy recovery life.
3. Forgiveness is key
Substance abuse turns addicts into puppets. They’re never in control of their emotions, thoughts, and actions, which could strain many close relationships, including spouses, parents, siblings, and friends. Trying to recover without settling these differences can’t be successful because it stresses you and increases the possibility of a relapse. Recovering addicts and their loved ones forgiving and embracing each other contributes to full recovery.
4. Relapse doesn’t have to be a part of recovery
While some people may consider relapsing a part of recovery, others don’t. Nevertheless, it can happen, but not to everyone. When struggling with an addiction, maintaining sobriety is a daily challenge, increasing relapse potential. If a recovered addict relapses, getting on the recovery journey can be challenging.
Knowing the warning signs can help you foresee a relapse and avoid it. A relapse is a gradual process involving emotional, mental, and physical stages. Romanticizing drug use is a common relapse sign that can quickly graduate into a mental relapse and later a physical one. This is because it’s easier for an addict to remember the goodness of drug abuse and not the anguish.
5. The pain still lingers
Addiction treatment is meant to impact your life positively. However, you should be prepared to handle the emotional and mental pain that comes with it. The withdrawal symptoms of addiction can be uncomfortable and even life-threatening. When your brain and body get used to substance abuse, breaking free from it isn’t a smooth ride.
To overcome addiction and make a full recovery, you must learn to manage the pain and sometimes endure it all. Part of the pain a recovering addict may have to take includes high blood pressure, seizures, tremors, insomnia, body aches, muscle cramps, anxiety, nausea, intense drug craving, and lethargy.
6. Recovery is a long-term process
Substance abuse recovery isn’t a one-time treatment. It’s a lifelong process you must embrace and commit to. The treatment only equips you with the skills and tools necessary to manage addiction. Full addiction recovery requires long-term management, which involves making healthy lifestyle changes, counseling, and self-monitoring.
Understanding your triggers and avoiding them prevents you from relapsing. Nevertheless, if you relapse, don’t consider yourself a failure. Instead, strive to get back into the recovery journey. Track everything that causes you to crave alcohol or drugs and find ways to deal with it to avoid relapsing again.
7. Addiction is not a choice
The first step to recovery is accepting that you’re an addict and need help. Addiction is a chronic disease that affects your brain. The self-destructive things you do are beyond your control and willpower. This is why you shouldn’t be afraid or ashamed to ask for help or seek medical attention.
Endnote
Substance abuse and its effects on the human brain and body can be dangerous. Understanding addiction helps find recovery methods and techniques unique to you and what you’re addicted to.
