After going through a program to detox and be free from drugs, you will inevitably start to inch back into everyday life. The world outside a rehab treatment center is a whole new ballgame, and you are practically thrown back into normal life with plenty of freedoms. Drug and alcohol addiction treatment centers effectively provide tools for recovering addicts to grow and stay sober after treatment.
Although this preparation to be integrated back into society is an extensive process, everything that happens outside is unpredictable and very unforgiving. Everyone who exits and finishes the program goes through a period of bliss and confidence in their abilities, which has been dubbed “The Pink Cloud”. However, this cloud slowly floats away, and reality hits hard for most fresh out of treatment.
Feelings and Situations to Expect Post-Rehab Treatment
Life after drugs is never perfect. It is even more difficult in some ways because of all the raw emotions people have to face without a fall-back drug. Once the pink cloud fades, it can be challenging to live day-to-day. However, veteran recovering addicts have shared feelings that arise post-treatment. Here are some recovery roadblocks that people can face:
Temptation
There is no doubt that if your drug of choice was drinking during sports weekends, you might experience the struggles of having to watch an epic sports matchup without a beer in your hand. If you loved marijuana and hung around your buddy’s place to smoke up, it’s probably not a good idea to go there anymore. In these cases, temptations are plenty because of the sentimental value drugs have in your life.
The trick to beating this is not hanging around old stomping grounds and getting rid of the friends who are not suitable for your choices. An old saying in recovery was, “if you hang around the barbershop long enough, you’re gonna get a haircut.” Knowing this, hanging around bars, pubs, people’s homes, and other associated locations will be the death of your clean time. Find friends in recovery, hang around a good coffee shop, and just enjoy nature instead of spending time in dangerous places.
Mistrust
If you’ve done many horrible things that have made your loved ones lose trust in you, then this is likely going to apply. Active users often damage relationships by lying, cheating, stealing, or being unfaithful. If your parents, spouse, or children do not trust you after exiting your drug and alcohol addiction treatment center, just know that it has to be gained back over time.
Sticking to the exit plan you made during treatment, seeking regular help, going to meetings, keeping fit, and taking prescribed medications shows a great degree of responsibility. Once your family sees you being responsible and careful, they will slowly restore their trust in you.
Boredom
Boredom is the enemy of recovery. Most, if not all, addicts relapse because of boredom with life. Being idle for long periods starts to make your brain reminisce about the “good times” where using was heavy, and the highs were high. Once these war games begin to materialize, it becomes an issue.
Beating boredom means finding a healthy hobby that you can channel your stress into with effort. Whether it is sports, working out, painting, or any peaceful activity, addicts will find something productive, taking away the feelings of boredom and cravings. Plenty of recovering addicts get into triathlon training, swimming, lifting weights, and even golf. The amazing part about active hobbies is that it keeps people fit and releases a ton of endorphins, giving a small and natural post-workout high.
Conclusion
Life exists after addiction, and the earlier you get around to treating it, the more time the future has to do and learn plenty of things. Asking an addict about what they would do differently will likely warrant you a response of “being treated earlier” because life is much better lived without drugs.
Hope Harbor Wellness is a drug and alcohol addiction treatment center in Hiram, Georgia managed by people in recovery for those seeking recovery. With customized approaches to help addicted individuals prepare themselves for life after treatment, we wish for clients’ long-term recovery. Contact us to know more about treatment options for you or your loved ones.
