Addiction is a serious condition that requires immediate treatment. Sadly, not all who are affected are willing to seek help or even admit that they’ve become an addict in the first place. This results in many problems, such as broken relationships, financial struggles, and health issues.
But treating addiction doesn’t end those problems. Many individuals who get out of rehab experience a relapse. It’s not necessarily their fault nor the institution that treated them. Addiction is just an obstacle that takes more than willpower to overcome. It’s a battle a person cannot fight alone.
If you just went through rehab and recovered, you should be proud of yourself but not get lax. You would still face many challenges that will test your will to stay sober. So expect to experience these things as you get back to society again:
1. Withdrawal Symptoms
You’ve probably experienced withdrawal symptoms right when you started rehab. When you stop taking drugs or alcohol, your body detoxifies itself, ridding it of the harmful substances you’ve ingested. This resulted in various symptoms, which depended on the substance you took and how long you took it.
If you were an alcoholic, your withdrawal symptoms were likely restlessness or overstimulation because it was the opposite effect of alcohol, which is a depressant. But generally speaking, withdrawal symptoms include changes in appetite, mood swings, irritability, nausea, fatigue, congestion, tremors, and vomiting, to name a few. In extreme cases, hallucination or delirium could be one of the symptoms.
Patients with severe drug addiction are sometimes given a Buvidal Monthly injection. It contains an ingredient that acts as a substitute for opioids. As such, it helps ease withdrawal symptoms. It provides the patient with the sensation of taking drugs without harmful effects. If you’re using it outside of rehab, you should continue getting monitored by your doctor because Buvidal Monthly isn’t free of side effects.
Other treatments for withdrawal symptoms are Catapres, Librium, Buprenex, Valium, Ativan, and Methadone. Anti-anxiety drugs can be given as well if you’re experiencing mental health problems. It can take a while to treat withdrawal symptoms, so go easy on your body and listen to your doctor. Remind yourself that it’s your body’s way of righting itself after putting up with a harmful substance.
2. Triggers
You might face your triggers inside and outside rehab. If you don’t know your triggers, you can easily fall into a relapse. Hence, counseling is part of addiction treatment, as it helps identify your triggers.
The common triggers for addicts, including recovering ones, are stress, people or places connected to the addictive behavior, negative emotions, the addictive substance itself, and celebrations. Stress drives us to habits that give us comfort, which may include drinking or taking recreational drugs. Eating or shopping, too, both of which can also be an addiction.
People or places connected to the addictive behavior instantly remind you of the substance you’re trying to avoid. So even if they are your friends, family, or home, avoid them at all costs. Turn to people or places that support your healing. They are the ones that have your best interests at heart.
3. A New But Rocky Start
Restarting your life is the final stage of addiction recovery. It’s called advanced recovery, and it occurs around the fifth year of your abstinence. At this point, you’re ready to put everything you’ve learned from rehab and counseling into practice.
To boost your advanced recovery, create new, long-term goals, a daily routine, and healthy social relationships. Find a recreational activity that would keep you away from your triggers. Consider community work, social activism, or therapeutic activities that will help you find your inner peace.
You can also reconnect with the people you’ve lost due to your addiction. They’ll surely be proud of you for getting over your condition. You may not mend the friendships and relationships you’ve broken, but at least you can earn forgiveness and live the rest of your life without guilt and regret.
However, as much as starting over sounds exciting, it can also be challenging. Your history of addiction can derail your quest for employment, for instance. The frustration you’ll feel from not getting a job can stress you out, which could then trigger a relapse. Hence, it’s crucial to stay in touch with your counselor even after years of recovering. Keep surrounding yourself with good influence as well. Addiction can take decades to treat completely, so don’t let yourself go astray.
Recovering from an addiction will be uncomfortable, but treating a disease isn’t meant to be easy anyway, so hang in there. Your doctors, counselors, and loved ones are doing everything to help you. But the most significant effort must come from yourself. Use their support and commitment to strengthen your willpower and determination to heal.
