Trading one dependency for another is something that many individuals in recovery do on a regular basis.
Substance misuse is often replaced by other activities such as eating, gambling, or shopping. In and of itself, and when carried out in a regulated way, these things are not harmful.
Nevertheless, they develop into obsessive behaviors (https://psychologydictionary.org/obsessive-behavior/), and they are transformed into replacement addictions. Behavior that progresses to the point of being a replacement addiction may have severe consequences at work or school, cause individuals to be absent from their families, put a burden on their money, and even have a detrimental impact on a person’s health. For long-term recovery to be possible, good alternatives to drug misuse must be explored.
Make a big deal about the good things
It is one of the most important steps in making the shift from an abused drug to a more manageable process to engage in good, healthy, and helpful activities to replace the substance. Whenever it comes to selecting an appropriate replacement, it is important to be self-conscious and aware of the advantages and disadvantages of various options.
There are a plethora of options for filling the hole left by a controlling substance. Walking, jogging, exercising, weightlifting, and participating in sports are all beneficial to the body and, when paired with a nutritious diet, will help to maintain the physical body in excellent form and improve overall health and wellbeing.
Journaling, meditation, literature, learning a new skill, being involved with the arts or music, donating, or becoming active in a local sanctuary are all activities that are beneficial to the mind and spiritually. These activities serve a variety of objectives. While all of these activities are beneficial in terms of managing cravings and filling the time that has been invested on drug misuse, they are also effective in terms of monitoring progress in rehabilitation and holding oneself responsible.
You must have a support system who won’t accept your excuses for failure
Having individuals to hold you responsible and who will celebrate your little triumphs is also quite beneficial in the recovery process. Everybody has an inner need for confirmation at some point in their lives. Being rewarded for making a favorable decision can activate the excitement area of the brain, which will light up like a pinball machine, especially in the early stages of recovery when emotions are still raw.
Since this part of the brain is activated when a person suffering from addiction interacts in their drug of choice, possessing this same sentiment for acknowledgment can over time promote a positive substitute out of simply knowing that a good decision was made and getting it acknowledged can help to create a positive replacement.
Friends, relatives, counselors from rehab centers like Chapters Capistrano Addiction Rehab, and/or other people in recovery will get together to celebrate the anniversaries and moments of good choices made along the journey, as well as the positive choices made by the individual. Surrounding oneself with these sorts of people, learning to detect triggers, and having good substitutes for periods of desire all contribute to one’s ability to recover.
Mr. In-Between is not someone to mess with
When it comes to addiction and recovery, being midway is a perilous position to rest in. There is a steep slope downward when justifications are made for failures in discretion, or when one habit is swapped for another. What else is there at the bottom of that hill?
Relapse.
Staying clean requires a thorough awareness of addictive behaviors, as well as the availability of constructive alternatives to drug addiction and the presence of others who can hold you accountable. In this manner, even if a poor decision has been made or when a not-so-beneficial alternative is introduced by becoming an addictive habit, the individual in recovery has a network of individuals who can help them get back on track and live their best life.
It is possible that life following addiction treatment would be drastically different from life before treatment. One of the difficulties you’ll encounter is figuring out what to do with your spare time after you’ve stopped abusing substances.
Sober Support Systems and Relapse Prevention are two important aspects of being sober
After being clean for a time period, many individuals find it challenging to find something to do with their time. Drug and alcohol addicts sometimes devote a good chunk of time to obtaining, using, and recuperating from the drugs or alcohol they are addicted to. It is possible that they will get bored if they do not have something to do to occupy their time after they have stopped taking drugs or drinking alcohol. Many individuals have a relapse as a result of their apathy.
Having a strong network of support is one of the most effective techniques to minimize relapse and to avoid boredom
When you’re in treatment, you were most likely surrounded by individuals who were also rehabilitating from substance addiction. This was your support network. Once you return home, you may find that you no longer have the same supportive relationships as before. It is possible that people with whom you have previously engaged in drug or alcohol usage may begin to approach you again. Being in the company of those who use it is a significant trigger for relapse. Click here to learn more about possible relapse triggers.
Creating a support team of individuals who are not using substances and who will assist you in your recovery by offering support and encouragement when you most need this the most is critical whether you are recuperating from a drug abuse problem. They may be of assistance by acting as a diversion while you are experiencing a need to use.
Unity or self-help forums are an excellent choice for those who are in the process of recovering from drug misuse. These groups assist in providing social and emotional support for persons as they go through their rehabilitation process. As an auxiliary to professional counseling, mutually supportive groups are very beneficial since they serve to prolong and complement the advantages of rehabilitation.