How to Get Back on Track After Tough Times 

Life during addiction can feel a bit like a train wreck. You’re moving along just fine, enjoying life’s splendid views, when suddenly everything goes off the rails. Addiction can wreck relationships, leave your finances in ruin, and deteriorate your health. Luckily, it’s always possible to turn things around. Addiction recovery is all about putting those cars back on the right track. Here are some tips to help. 

Commit to a Personalized Treatment Plan 

No two cases of addiction are the same, and for this reason, it’s important to seek treatment that is specifically designed for your unique needs. Your addiction is a consequence of emotional pain, and your attempt to soothe that pain will only occur when you understand the root cause.  

Personalized treatment plans are said to give patients suffering from addiction the best chance of recovery. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Services Administration site for a complete list of treatment facilities available in your area. Be sure to prepare yourself with a list of questions to ask.  

1. What accreditation/licensing does your facility have? 

2. What are the qualifications of staff members? 

3. Are there any measurable success statistics to be shared? 

4. Can I get individualized treatment? 

5. What is the ratio of patients to counselors? 

6. Is medically supervised detoxification part of the program? 

7. Is the treatment plan holistic, treating spiritual, social, psychological, and physical components of the disease? 

Mend the Fences (But Only Some of Them) 

Chances are your addiction has done a fair amount of damage to your social circle, and that can leave you with some emotional pain as you suffer from the guilt and shame of losing the love and trust of family members and friends. The first part of healing will be to recognize the damage you’ve done and accept it as part of the outcome.  

The next step will be understanding which relationships you need to fix. According to Psychology Today, it’s important to take an inventory of your relationships to see who will help and who will hinder your recovery progress. While relationships during recovery are proven to have many benefits, you’ll need to select carefully who you surround yourself with. 

Rebuild Your Finances 

To get your finances back on track, consider some of the following ideas: 

1. Establish a budget.  

2. Work to rebuild your credit.  

3. Pick up extra work to pay off debt.  

Heal Your Body (and Mind) 

The chemical ingredients found in drugs can do extraordinary damage to the body, and sometimes you don’t even know it. For example, alcohol can cause silent damage to the liver, heart, and immune system over time. Opiates can lead to bowel obstruction, irregular heart rhythms, and decreased respiration all of which can prove fatal.  

As you work on your addiction recovery plan, you’re going to have to find ways to restore your body’s health, both physically and mentally. Here are some things to work on that can contribute to your recovery:  

1. According to research, exercise can improve the effects of treatment. So take a deep breath, pick up some footwear, leggings, and an easy-wearing sports bra, and hit the mats! 

2. Yoga can help prevent relapse, reduce drug cravings, soothe withdrawal symptoms, and eliminate the stress that leads to addiction triggers. 

3. Gratitude journaling is proven to improve your mood and change your perspective.  

4. Research suggests that a healthy diet can help you maintain sobriety.  

5. Good sleep is critical for addiction recovery success. 

Don’t Neglect Aftercare 

Your successful completion of a treatment program won’t mean you’re miraculously healed. Being an addiction warrior will count on getting proper aftercare. This can include things such as ongoing counseling, managing treatment medications, attending 12-step meetings, and the ongoing development of coping strategies. Interventions with long-planned duration are proven to increase your odds of success.  

Not everyone is given a second chance. You’re now in the driver’s seat but getting back on the track will require your full commitment to change. You’ve already demonstrated that you have the guts to turn things around. Now, you owe it to yourself to get back to enjoying life.  

Recovery Program Solutions of Virginia is committed to helping adults with mental health, substance use, and homelessness issues find the help they need so they can reach their full potential. Call 800-374-4198 or visit rpsva.org for more information. 

By Julie M, Guest blogger