Dealing with substance addiction
How can I deal with my substance addiction?
There are a number of problems that are likely to occur during the first few months of abstinence. They are:
- feeling too confident about recovery
- depression
- insomnia
- fear and anxiety
- changes in relationships with other people
- changes in self-esteem
- trouble with time planning
- trouble fitting back into the family
- the urge to use
- feeling overwhelmed or unable to cope
Some of the things a person can do to make the fullest possible recovery from substance addiction are:
- Keep away from street drugs and alcohol.
- Attend 12 step meetings daily for the first 90 days of abstinence.
- Get a sponsor in a 12-step program.
- Plan your leisure time in ways that avoid contact with drugs.
- Use community supports.
- Attend an outpatient program.
- Avoid fatigue.
- Exercise regularly and vigorously.
- Eat a well-balanced diet.
- Set realistic long-term and short-term goals.
- Avoid testing yourself by using drugs.
- Know the warning signs of relapse.
How can I tell if I’m at risk for a relapse?
Common signs of relapse include:
- denying fears or anxieties about sobriety
- deciding that the only thing needed to remain sober is abstinence
- being too confident about recovery
- avoiding talking about painful issues
- overworking
- overeating
- overreacting to stress and change
- isolating oneself
- expecting too much of oneself
- depression
- mood swings
- viewing problems as unsolvable
- avoiding fun
- blaming others
- becoming overtired
- eating poorly
- letting go of daily routines
- avoiding counseling or AA
- feeling hopeless
- rejecting help from others
- having fantasies and dreams about drinking or using drugs
- lying
- rationalizing that drug use would make life better
- looking up old using friends
- starting to use
- denying that using is a problem