5 Ways to Rebuild Your Life after Opiate Rehab
Repairing and rebuilding life after addiction treatment may not be easy. However, it is definitely worthwhile. All people trying to rebuild their life in recovery will experience triumphs and failures, but they will ultimately experience the satisfaction that they got through the hardest time of their life.
The following are some examples of how to start to rebuild life after drug addiction treatment:
- Financial stability: Addiction can have a huge impact on an individual’s finances. Addiction can cause an addict to avoid paying bills in order to support the habit, which can lead to home foreclosures, car repossessions, and bills being sent to debt collectors. The first step is to consult a financial advisor, financial coach, or simply begin a dialogue with a trusted counselor, who may be able to offer free or low cost referrals and resources. Recovering addicts can start to repair their financial status by saving a certain amount from each paycheck, living with a relative to help pay off debt, and working multiple jobs to reduce the debt owed. However, the first step is to overcome avoidance, and understand the depth of the problem at hand.
- Social involvement: Recovery often involves big changes in social environment, friends, and hobbies. Staying social can help make long-term sobriety possible. Recovering addicts should steer clear of drug-using friends and try to establish new relationships. Fortunately, there are a large number of fun, engaging individuals who support sobriety. Twelve-step groups are not always somber places– in fact, they often include lively individuals with hobbies, welcoming attitudes, and goals that line up with wellness and recovery.
- Physical and mental health: Addiction impacts an addict’s physical and mental health. By improving these, recovering addicts take back control of their body. It is absolutely vital to maintain and preserve the best possible mental and physical health. By feeling your best, you are more likely to meet your best goals and rebuild a better life.
- Personal goals: Setting personal goals is a great resource to help keep anyone on track. In recovery, personal goals take on an even more important role, and help prevent relapse. Personal goals help place the focus on more positive things, and help individuals remain strong in their resolve.
- Improving relationships with loved ones: Unfortunately, addiction and substance abuse take a strong toll on the relationships we often normally value most. Family members, spouses, children, and parents often struggle alongside the addicted person. Relationships are strained by addiction. Family counseling, individual counseling, and relationship counseling can be helpful. Time is also a great healer. While some relationships may not be able to be repaired, others may improve with time, and some may become stronger than ever before.
All recovering individuals have different dreams and aspirations about their new life, and rebuilding life after recovery is a process that takes time. Remember to stay patient in this process. Seek out supportive friends and supportive groups. It is possible to rebuild life after opiate addiction.
Warning Signs of Relapse
Cravings are extremely common for recovering addicts to experience. However, overcoming these can make the difference between continued sobriety and relapse. The following are some examples of warning signs a relapse is about to occur:
- Believing you can control or limit use
- Revisiting drug-using locations
- Engaging with old drug-using friends
When recovering addicts have reached the point where they believe they can control or limit their use of drugs, they are on the verge of a relapse. Many believe they have complete control over their addiction and may begin to experiment with opioids again, or even experiment with other substances to see how far they can push their limits. However, most who try this end up in a downward spiral of addiction. If recovering addicts start to visit previous drug-using locations or friends, chances are that they are thinking about using again.
If any of the above situations present themselves, seek help from others to avoid relapse. You have worked too hard to relapse now. More importantly, place safety first, as opioid relapse can be deadly.
Things to Consider
Opiate Addiction Treatment
If you or someone you know is experiencing an addiction to opiates, please call our toll-free helpline today. Our experienced recovery professionals are available 24 hours a day to answer your addiction questions and help you find the best treatment available. One call can put you on the right track toward sobriety, so call us today!