Addiction recovery is a lifelong process. Successfully completing drug rehab in San Diego is a fantastic accomplishment, but the real challenge begins when you’re out of rehab and trying to remain sober on your own. All recovering users will face a number of challenges and obstacles as they progress through life sober.
This article will explore some of the most common obstacles that you can expect to face once you’ve sobered up.
Obstacles on the Road to Recovery
These are some examples of common challenges that people face after finishing drug rehab in San Diego.
Difficult Emotions
One of the biggest challenges faced by drug users are difficult emotions. In fact, difficult emotions like stress, anxiety, and depression are among the most common reasons that people start using drugs in the first place.
When you sober up and begin your recovery journey, this means that you will also have to learn how to cope with these emotions. Therapists and counselors can help you with this, but that does not necessarily mean that his emotions will become easy to manage. There will always be the temptation to use drugs to overcome unwanted feelings.
Being Exposed to Drugs
Another thing that may challenge people in recovery is exposure to drugs.
Obviously, stumbling upon a group of people who are using your drug of choice will be triggering. However, it can also be difficult to enjoy films or music that make reference to drugs. Learning how to cope with this exposure, or to avoid it entirely, is important for your recovery.
Engaging With Old Friends
When you start your recovery journey, you are probably going to have to cut ties with a lot of people that you use drugs with.
If these people are actual friends of yours, then it can be much harder
to dissociate from them. However you must remember that your priority should be staying sober, and to do that, you must avoid other drug users.
It may be possible to re-engage with them in the future. However, if these are people that you must interact with – such as coworkers – it may present additional challenges in your recovery.
Boredom
Boredom is one of the biggest causes of a relapse. If you manage to get sober but don’t find anything to fill your time with, it is natural for your mind to wander back towards drugs and alcohol.
Learn how to fill your time with hobbies and activities. Spend your social time with sober individuals who understand your situation.
Conclusion
Recovery is a lifelong process. There are different challenges presented to everybody who is on the road to recovery. Understanding these challenges and learning how to prepare for them after drug rehab in San Diego is one of the best ways to ensure that your recovery is a success.
If you are concerned about the difficulty of facing these challenges, don’t hesitate to reach out to a rehab center or a drug counselor. Even if you have completed a rehab program, these professionals will be happy to help you ensure that your recovery can move forward.
