Once you finish your rehab program, you’re firmly rooted in the road to recovery. In an ideal world, this would mean that you were Scott-free – but unfortunately, this isn’t the case. There are many obstacles that we face on the road to recovery, and it’s pretty important to be aware of these issues so you know how to overcome them.
Emotional problems, old friends, and stressful situations can also act as obstacles that challenge your recovery. This article will discuss some of these obstacles so that you know what to prepare for.
Stress
One of the most common problems that function as an obstacle to recovery is stress. Many people originally turn to drugs or alcohol as a form of stress relief. Even after sobering up, it’s easy to delude yourself into thinking that drugs or alcohol would be a sustainable solution for your stress.
It’s important to remember that this isn’t the case. Drugs or alcohol will inevitably compound your stress and make it even worse. It’s important to make sure that you employ some of the tactics that you learned in rehab to overcome stressful situations.
Friends or Family Members who Use
Another significant trigger is close contact with friends or family members who are still using the drugs that you were addicted to.
One of the most important things for any recovering drug user to do is sever ties with their drug-using friends, at least temporarily. Unfortunately, it can often come as a bit of a shock for someone in recovery to bump into an old friend that they used to use drugs with. This can bring up old memories and can trigger cravings.
This is especially true for alcoholics since alcohol is a ubiquitous and socially acceptable substance. It’s much harder to completely eliminate drinkers from your life than it is to eliminate drug addicts.
In this case, it’s important to prepare an action plan regarding what you’ll do if you find yourself in a situation where there are people drinking alcohol.
Emotional Problems
Many people turn to drugs or alcohol to help them cope with emotional problems. Whether or not they’re aware of it, people often subconsciously use drugs to help them bandage feelings of trauma, resentment, sadness, depression, or anxiety.
Even after completing your rehab program, these problems will still arise. For many people, the initial response is to consider relapsing. This is a very difficult challenge and the most important time for you to put the tools and techniques that you learned in rehab into practice.
It’s also important to prepare for the possibility of cravings, especially if you’re approaching a highly emotional time – such as a breakup, moving away from your family or community, changing jobs, or struggling through the death of a loved one.
Conclusion
Everyone will experience obstacles during their lives. This is a fact. The important thing is not the obstacles themselves, but how you cope with them. Drug rehab San Diego will teach you the tools and skills that you need to overcome these obstacles without relapsing.
