When people face significant and life-threatening challenges in life, one of two scenarios is likely to occur. First, they may confront their problems and look for solutions for them. Or they may run away from it and look for distractions, which may lead to poor life choices, unhealthy coping mechanisms, and even addiction or substance use disorder (SUD).
SUD or addiction may affect anyone. So, if you or someone you care for is experiencing symptoms of addiction, don’t hesitate and consult a professional right away. You may head over at this website for more information or visit your local rehabilitation centre to start the recovery process as soon as possible.
Recovering from addiction can be a long and arduous process requiring time and commitment. No two people are alike when it comes to addiction and overcoming their condition. Every patient has their own journey to take, but the path to complete recovery follows the same trajectory.
1. Accept Your Circumstances
In most cases, the stage of acceptance often results from an unwanted experience. For example, your work may be negatively affected due to your addiction. Maybe you’re constantly late, tardy, unproductive, distracted, or preoccupied.
You can’t begin to overcome your addiction unless you admit you have a problem and resolve to face up to it. It’s a humbling experience and will empower you to move on. If you’re reading this right now, you may have a problem only you can recognise.
2. Look For Support
For most people, this step can make the recovery process much easier. Support doesn’t have to be a local group meeting where people with the same problems talk to one another. It could be help from your psychologist , friends, family, or an online counselling group.
In addition, your doctor would probably recommend attending self-help support groups to improve your recovery further.
- Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) - Are groups that help people struggling with drugs and alcohol addiction. They believe that with a sponsor, people may completely recover from addiction.
- SMART Recovery – This self-help group helps people struggling to change their unwanted behaviours. They don’t identify anyone as an addict or address religious differences.
- Celebrate Recovery – This self-help group also uses a 12-step model, but with Christian values. Usually, sessions are led by church leaders and volunteers, and every session starts with a fellowship dinner, which includes the family or friends of attendees.
Many people suffering from addiction find it helpful to have someone they can talk to and with whom they can share their journey. Not only does having someone to talk to give the support that may be required to follow through with overcoming addiction, it also lends a sense of accountability, making it easier to follow through with all necessary steps.
3. Detoxify Yourself
The journey to sobriety can be extremely challenging, both mentally and physically, especially for those suffering from severe addiction. Withdrawal is never pleasant and can be the most difficult process to cope with for some people, due to several factors, including:
- Symptoms of withdrawal syndrome such as tremors, irritability, sleeping problems, dysphoria, restlessness, and more;
- Continuous craving for substances;
- A stimulus that may trigger a relapse like stress, people linked to addiction, negative emotions, and seeing the substances of your addiction.
To help address these challenges, the doctor or therapist will likely teach you essential skills to maintain your sobriety. Some of these techniques include:
- Participating in healthy activities, such as jogging, swimming, brisk walking, dancing, and more;
- Participating in support groups;
- Identifying potential triggers to relapse and learning what to do when confronted by triggers.
4. Experience ‘Pink Cloud Syndrome’
After overcoming withdrawal and becoming sober, people may experience feelings of euphoria or bliss. This phenomenon has been dubbed “ pink cloud syndrome. ”
Pink cloud syndrome is the phase of addiction recovery in which the person exhibits feelings of euphoria. They are often overjoyed about their progress and are extremely confident that they’ll remain completely sober in the future.
Symptoms of pink cloud syndrome vary, but include:
- Being extremely optimistic about the recovery process
- Being calm
- Being overly confident that you’ll be able to maintain sobriety once fully recovered
- Lack of concentration
- Overlooking what needs to be done to maintain long-term sobriety
There is no hard and fast rule as to when pink cloud syndrome will start and end. Some people may experience it a few days after detoxification; others may experience it a few weeks after completing withdrawal. Te symptoms may last for a few days, weeks, or even months, depending on personal experiences during the recovery process.
Pink cloud syndrome is not a one-time experience. It may come and go at varying stages of recovery. People trying to overcome addiction must remain mindful of potential relapse and setbacks once pink clouding has started to subside.
5. Manage Relapses
Overcoming addiction is a lifelong pursuit, as there is no cure from addiction. People who have overcome their addiction have to be on guard and know their addiction triggers to avoid experiencing relapses.
Relapse is difficult to prevent, so it’s important for someone who is battling addiction to identify possible triggers and know how relapses may be managed. It’s also important to note that a relapse doesn’t mean failure - they are just another step on the road to overcoming addiction.
- Ask For Help – Asking your family, friends, or other sober people for support may help address relapse. They may offer guidance about recovering from a relapse, or simply offer support and let the person who has relapsed know they are not alone.
- Reduce Your Exposure To Triggers – Triggers are social and/or environmental factors that may trigger addictive behaviour. Avoiding people connected to drugs and alcohol, whether they’re selling or using them, and avoiding going to places related to the addiction may help prevent cravings or relapse.
- Avoid Interpersonal Problems – Avoiding conflicts with other people, especially with family and friends, may help prevent negative feelings, such as anger and frustration. If these emotions are not managed well, they may result in a relapse.
- Attend Support Groups – Support groups are safe places addicts can discuss a relapse without anyone judging. Support groups also provide an opportunity to learn new practices that may help accelerate the recovery process.
- Promote Self-Care – Simply taking care of themselves may help someone recover from a relapse. Self-care activities include activities such as meditation, yoga, exercise, and eating healthy foods.
Addiction can make a person’s life extremely difficult and may also cause the people around them great pain and suffering. Addicts need to keep in mind that addiction is not their fault. Addicts are victims of a terrible disease and need help and support.
The recovery process from addiction is unique for every person, especially with regard to the duration and severity of the condition.
If you are suffering from addiction, or know someone who needs help with addiction, you should either schedule an appointment to see a doctor for referral to a service who can offer help and guidance, or contact one of the many Australian drug and alcohol addiction helplines:
- National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline - 1800 250 015
- Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Counselling Online - https://www.counsellingonline.org.au/
- Family Drug Support - 1300 368 186
- Kids Help Line - 1800 55 1800
- Lifeline - 13 11 14
If you need to search for and book healthcare appointments online, the fastest and easiest way is at myhealth1st.com.au