You’re home from rehab – now what? Now it’s time to recreate your life.
You have a new life now, and it’s one without the struggles of addiction. You are free.
It’s not going to be easy, but long-term sobriety is possible. You can do this, and here are five ways to get started:
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Make a Plan
You need an addiction recovery plan. You won’t know what to do if you don’t have one. The first thing you should do is write down everything you want to accomplish now that you are sober. There must be so much you wished you could have done, so write it down. Don’t worry if your goals are not within your reach yet, either. With time, they will be, and with this plan, you’ll get there.
With your plan in place, you will be able to stay busy. This is one of the most important parts of recovery. It’s when you get bored that your mind starts to wander — and it can walk right into cravings.
Create a plan for each day, referring to the long-term plan you first made. This way you’ll stay productive.
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Build a Support System
Don’t meet up with friends who are still struggling with drugs and alcohol. They are triggers, and that’s not what you need right now.
What you need are friends who will show you what the sober side of life can be like. These friends will guide you down the path of recovery you want for yourself.
Your family is so proud of you. They want to see you succeed, too. Turn to them to seek comfort and motivation to keep going. You will likely feel so good about having them in your life again that you’ll be better able to focus on all of the things you want to do in your new life.
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Maintain a Healthy Mind and Body
Exercise can help you stay sober because it’s is a great stress reliever. All of those problems you had will probably surface again, but instead of using, you can gain stress relief from exercising. Weight training and aerobics are perfect to release endorphins that will help you feel good inside.
Your body needs healthy foods to feel good. It’s when you start feeling malnourished that negative cravings can start getting stronger. Be sure to eat vegetables, fruits and all of the other foods groups to keep your energy up for everything life has to offer.
Meditation will also help you live a sober lifestyle. Some people meditate to music, and others pray. It doesn’t matter which method of meditation you choose. Just do what works best for you. Meditation helps your mind and body slow down, so you can deal with everything that is going on inside and outside of you. Life is going to get stressful, and meditation can help you see you are capable of dealing with it.
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Avoid Triggers & Attend Meetings
Do not fool yourself into thinking you can drink a little, and you’ll be okay. Only a sip can take you right back to where you were before rehab. It’s a risk, and it’s a risk not worth taking.
If your friends are using, excuse yourself. You do not need to be around people who are not in recovery right now. The temptation is too strong, and you have to build your strength up before you can overcome it.
Emotions can be triggers just as much as the drug itself. Don’t allow anger, resentment or depression to take over because it makes it easier to see the drug as a means to cope. If at any time you feel that your emotions are getting the best of you, console with a member of your support system or meet with others who reformed.
As much as you may not want to do go to a meeting, it’s great to have people around you who understand. These people can help you in many ways. They can help you keep going when you want to quit. They can give you tips and can listen to you when you don’t feel like anyone else will.
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Be an Inspiration
So many people want to do what you’re doing, but they don’t know where to start. You can be an inspiration to them simply by speaking to them. Open up about what stage of the journey you are on. This way you can talk about your struggles and how you’re overcoming them. You may just lead someone else down the same path.
The important thing is to love yourself through the process and never give up. You have been through a lot. Now it’s time to take the best care of yourself as possible. That means creating a life you are proud of and love. This journey is a long one, but if you start with a plan, build a support system, live a healthy lifestyle, avoid triggers, and help others, you’ll be on your way to a better life.
By: Megan Ray Nichols is editor of Schooled By Science. She loves discussing the latest psychological studies and other scientific news on twitter @nicholsrmegan.