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Recovery from Addiction


Complete recovery from addiction entails not just stopping the addiction but rather creating a whole new life where there is no need to abuse any substance or be part of any addictive behavior. If this is not done, the trigger factors that caused the addiction will occur once again and a relapse can take place. In order to achieve a successful recovery, an addict should:

  • Avoid high-risk situations that cause you to feel hungry, angry, tired, or lonely. These feelings should especially be avoided at the end of the day when cravings are the strongest and will power generally at its weakest.
  • Avoid people who cause conflicts, who encourage the addictive behavior, who are addicts themselves or who are related in any way to your past addictions.
  • Avoid places and things that bring back memories of the past or are in any way connected to the addiction.
  • Lead a healthier life. Eat nutritious balanced meals, try yoga or meditation to relax and reduce stress, take part in some form of regular exercise, and develop better sleep habits to prevent fatigue.
  • Join a 12-step program that provides you with the support, understanding and encouragement you need to stay clean.
Recovery does not insist upon changing your life completely. Instead it involves several small changes that need to be made and an awareness about your fallibility and the strength of the addiction. Another important change that needs to be made when it comes to long-term recovery is to be honest with yourself. Any addiction requires lying and as the disease progresses, the addict becomes a veteran at lying. This is what causes the addict to lose sight of reality. Lying after recovery achieves nothing. One hundred percent complete honesty with oneself is required for any treatment program to work. Remember, dishonesty opens the door to relapse. 
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References
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