It is extremely important to have a solid support network if you are trying to recover from an addiction to drugs, alcohol or gambling. Some of your support network might include your health professionals, family members, spiritual adviser, sponsors and more. All of these people are a big part of your recovery from addiction. Below are five steps that will also help you recover from addiction.
1. Health Professionals and Your Addiction
Is your primary care physician treating others for addiction problems and trained in addiction medicine? Unfortunately, many doctors with good intentions prescribe narcotics and mood changing medications to addicted persons. It is important to know that there are other ways to treat addictions that are safer and more effective. Make sure you ask the doctor how he plans to treat you if you experience any pain, anxiety or other conditions.
2. Supportive Family Members
Make sure the members of your family are not enabling you but instead supporting you. It is very important that the family understand your aftercare plan. Part of the aftercare plan is tasks that are performed daily to help in the recovery process. Your family should encourage you to go to all your meetings, eat healthy, call your sponsor and exercise. However, it is not their place to cover up for you if you miss meetings or make mistakes. They should call out your inappropriate behavior and point these things out to you.
3. Choosing a Sponsor
A good sponsor is crucial to your recovery. You will have dilemmas and low points in the beginning of your recovery. A good sponsor will help you through these tough times by sharing experiences about their own recovery. Are you compatible with your sponsor? How long have they been addiction free? You and the sponsor should have the same understanding of expectations from each other right from the start.
4. Be Patient
Remember that this is a difficult and long journey. Addiction recovery is not easy and involves tremendous tolerance and patience. Be easy on yourself and those friends of yours who are going through recovery with you. The joy of recovering is the camaraderie and fellowship with others. Be a good friend, be honest and commit yourself to recovery.
5. You Cannot Do This on Your Own
Yes, you are totally responsible for your own recovery, but it is hard to do it by yourself. Respect all the people around you in your recovery circle. Hang around with the ones who have been walking the walk and staying addiction free. Think about the most successful athletes you know. They always have other people to thank because they do not find their success on their own. They always thank their family, doctors, God, trainers, coaches and teammates. The successes they found were due to a team effort. Recovery is the same. Help for recovery is just a phone call away. Take advantage of your resources by using them when you need them. A Utah rehab facility is always available for you if you need them.
Recovering from addictions takes time, patience and determination. Success will not happen overnight, but by taking baby steps forward every day, you too can beat the addiction.
