How to create a new life after drug addiction

Enrolling in an IT masters program can be a transformative step for those in recovery, providing both a renewed sense of purpose and a pathway to a fulfilling career. While getting sober carries the prospect of a fresh start, another chance, it is not easy. And rebuilding a life after addiction – then learning how to navigate that life – can be even more intimidating for those new to recovery.

How to create a new life after drug addiction

Letting Go and Starting Fresh

Remember that it will take time to fully recuperate and rebuild relationships. Understand that full recovery and repair will not happen overnight. Your recovery is a work in progress and it’s best to take it one step at a time. Keep in mind that once you leave rehab, you can’t fix all your problems alone, and it can’t all be done in a single week. In order to head down a steady path of recovery don’t try to take on too much at once.

After quitting drugs or alcohol, are you recovering or are you recovered?

  • Our Treatment Advisors are available 24 hours a day to help you or a loved one access care.
  • A local support group is a great place to start; it’s free and there’s zero commitment.
  • Rebuilding life after addiction is a journey of itself that requires patience, dedication, and determination.
  • It offers you a safe space, free of drugs and alcohol, where you can focus on your recovery.
  • Once you’ve set specific, measurable goals, your support system can help encourage you during milestones and lift you up when you feel your lowest.
  • Matt supervises all the clinical staff at various levels of care, long-term & short-term residential and IOP (Intensive Outpatient), at multiple facilities.

A positive transition requires an understanding of the expected challenges, a healthy and well-balanced daily lifestyle, establishing support and continuing to make a commitment to your sobriety. Above all else, remaining dedicated to your spiritual, mental and physical wellbeing will ensure you have the foundation needed to remain strong and disciplined when life becomes challenging. 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.

Establish a Healthy Routine

When you come out of rehab, it can be hard to find something to fill all the time that you never used to have before. The process of grief doesn’t have to be compounded by loneliness and you don’t have to go through it alone. Sherry Gaba, LCSW, is a licensed psychotherapist/author specializing in addictions, codependency, and underlying issues such as depression, trauma, and anxiety. In fact, stopping an addictive behavior often creates a void or a vacuum that was managed by the addiction in the past. You can ask questions about our program, the admissions process, and more.

How to create a new life after drug addiction

Patterns and routines will help those in treatment prioritize success by encouraging healthy coping mechanisms. Goal setting in recovery can help people figure out the steps they need to take to accomplish long-term recovery. Peer support systems such as 12-step programs, including Narcotics Anonymous (NA) and Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), have also been shown to have a positive impact on sustaining recovery.

How to create a new life after drug addiction

  • Regular communication is essential for maintaining accountability and motivation.
  • This won’t just go a long way in mending relationships but will also have the added advantage of helping you feel better about yourself too.
  • Sometimes, it can feel even more challenging than the rehab journey itself.
  • At this point, she was married to a husband who loved her unconditionally.
  • JourneyPure Emerald Coast is committed to helping clients and their families restore broken bonds and find a common ground for healing.

Look at the specific skill sets you have to offer and determine the best ways you can put them to use. Write in a journal about how far you’ve come, the ways in which you are growing, how you’re occupying your time and the types of feelings you’re experiencing. Instead, proper nutrition will help rebuilding your life after addiction you to feel energized, happy, and healthy, which are positive states for ensuring long-term recovery. Whether you’re returning to school or work, it’s important not to jump back into a full workload right away. Taking on too much responsibility right after leaving rehab can cause stress.

  • Studies have shown that positive thinking skills influence levels of hope and quality of life among those living with addiction.
  • In evaluating your progress, you realize that you have started a business and it is not losing money.
  • It’s enough work to take the time to discuss in detail what exactly is going to be expected of you by your family and friends, but now you have to actually follow through on it.
  • Take a job, volunteer, or participate in group activities to make the most of your time.
  • Recovery can be challenging, and it is critical to be honest with yourself when you are struggling to prevent relapse.
  • When you exercise and follow a healthy diet, you can reduce stress without the use of drugs.

Before Leaving Rehab

  • Although life through addiction can be scary, living in a sober environment will encourage you to do better and live better.
  • Also, using coffee as a vehicle to intake excess fat, sugar, and calories by filling your coffee with cream and sugar is not a healthy practice.
  • It was necessary to keep her weekend activities carefully separated from her work and home life since she often made decisions she wasn’t proud of while drinking and partying.
  • Find a purpose in recovery – Enrolling in a drug rehab facility is just the first step.

This can lead them to think very negatively and develop harmful behaviors. In some cases, people may even suffer from physical relapse, reverting to alcohol or drug abuse. And it brings real challenges to the lives of those who suffer from it. Thankfully, though, with the right kind of help and support, individuals who struggle with substance use disorder can overcome this issue. Still, it’s important to have real, valuable guidance in order to live a healthy and fulfilling life after treatment. And part of that guidance is informing people of the truth about life in recovery.

How to create a new life after drug addiction