10 Tips for a New Start After Addiction Recovery

rebuilding life after addiction

Drug addiction can affect the physical health of a person very badly. When you exercise and eat healthily and don’t waste your time on drugs, it increases the overall energy of the body. Another aspect of social anxiety triggered by online media use is the fear of missing out (FOMO), the extreme fear of not being included or missing a social event. A digital detox, a period of time during which someone significantly reduces the time spent using electronic devices such a smartphones or computers, could be a wise precaution.

A Framework for Sustainable Success in Recovery

When these basic needs are not met, it’s much more likely to turn to self-destructive behaviors rather than healthy coping mechanisms. Americans with Disabilities Act is a law that discourages employers from declining to hire people when they’re dealing with or recovering from a substance addiction disorder. Employers are not permitted to question job seekers who abused substances. The employer cannot change a contract at any one time in the event that the blood testing results are positive. You also have the right to take a medical leave for substance-abuse treatment if you need it under the Family Medical Leave Act but you have to have worked for an employer for at least 12 months. As part of your job, your employer will have to offer you reasonable accommodation and support while you’re recovering.

What are the best ways to manage stress after recovery?

When you wake up in the morning, remind yourself that you are on a positive new journey. You’ll be much stronger, calmer, and focused by setting a foundation for feeling good. When you approach those people, acknowledge how you hurt them, and ask for forgiveness. This is painful, but accepting the pain and understanding why is part of the healing process. Even if a person doesn’t know, doing this will gain their respect and trust. “I have all the good things in life that everybody talks about,” he said.

Gambling and other behavioral addictions

But you may wonder what comes next—and what your chances are of living a fulfilling life once your treatment program ends.
Keep persevering, accept the situation and in time they may choose to forgive you.
Rather than getting frustrated that your life is not improving faster, you can simply remind yourself that staying drug-free is a major accomplishment by itself.
Drugs and alcohol rewire the brain in ways that make quitting difficult.

Once you’re out of substance abuse treatment, you might feel unproductive and lazy. But it’s time to fill your life with productive, uplifting, and enjoyable activities. Try volunteering, continuing education, or pursuing other rewarding hobbies for a new life that is good for you. Your past substance abuse may have led you to forget about the things you once loved to do. It could be anything from singing, painting, going on adventures, cooking, etc.

Step 4- Follow Through

rebuilding life after addiction

Reducing screen time is a great way to combat problematic social media use; however, if the addiction is too severe you may require professional help. Social media provides an endless amount of immediate rewards in the form of attention from others for relatively minimal effort. The brain rewires itself through this positive reinforcement, making people desire likes, retweets, and emoticon reactions. Checking and scrolling rebuilding your life after addiction through social media has become an increasingly popular activity over the last decade. Although the majority of peoples’ use of social media is non-problematic, there is a small percentage of users that become addicted to social networking sites and engage in excessive or compulsive use. In fact, psychologists estimate that as many as 5 to 10% of Americans meet the criteria for social media addiction today.