Lives that were cluttered with destruction and chaos, when actively using, are not necessarily quick to sort out. Oceanside Malibu Treatment Center can guide you to make demonstrable changes necessary in order to both embrace and maintain recovery. Before making outside changes, we must first go inward. Memories and feelings may be overwhelming during the detox phase of treatment. Therefore, it may be helpful to visualize reasonable expectations of what sober feelings and behaviors might begin to look like.
Addicts want what they want when they want it. A need for instant gratification defines drug addiction, so the tendency to apply the same idea to one’s recovery wouldn’t be uncommon to an addict. Though the expectation may be speedier outcomes in the process of changing people, places and/or things that addicts associate with their substance abuse, it may take some time. Oceanside Malibu’s Staff can teach you to change behavior patterns in order to maintain your recovery after treatment subsides.
Trying to maintain a pattern of positive thinking, less centered on self and perhaps more focused on what we can do for others. Allowing our feelings to flow through us, without judgement or attachment to any particular emotion that we may use to define or limit ourselves. Feelings are not facts, neither are thoughts, they come and they go. Behaviors may begin to reflect a more sober style of navigating our surroundings. Being honest and truthful in all our affairs may become the new norm, as once perhaps dishonesty or even thievery may have been the way around situations we found ourselves in.
Restlessness, irritability, and dis contentedness are the enemies of recovery. When lonely, an addict may fondly or even euphorically begin to reflect upon the past. Romanticizing past drinking or using with willful disregard of thought paid to consequences suffered may eventually lead to acting upon those thoughts. Without making fundamental changes to reinforce a new sober way of life, relapse could be inevitable.
Necessary and useful changes to make in early recovery from addiction include changing the people we used to spend time with including friends who are still in active addiction and/or toxic relationships that may trigger the desire to drink or use. One may also wish to change previously frequented places or establishments where alcohol or drugs are common in order to avoid convenient opportunities to relapse. Sometimes the things one used to surround themselves with including TV programs, movies, music, or other mementos which were closely identified with previously held attitudes or belief systems should be abandoned during early recovery as well, as they may be relapse triggers.
The desire to make all these changes quickly and with the least amount of pain involved may weigh heavy on someone in early recovery. It must be acknowledged however, that all these changes may bring on feelings of loss and there may be some grieving involved. This takes time and it’s important not to become too overwhelmed or begin to feel stagnant with the lack of forward momentum one may feel.
It’s important to pace oneself, letting go of old friends, even loved ones, can be quite difficult and it will take time. It may be sad and frustrating as well, but this is a commitment to change, to moving on, to life itself. Many people relapse during this early period of change, be mindful of old behaviors and thoughts. Begin building new, healthy relationships and surround yourself with others in recovery who are committed to and have make the same positive changes in their lives as well. Be patient. Remember that a person likely seeks treatment for their addictions because they sought change, so it’s important to lovingly embrace that change.