Drug Rehab for and Recovering Addicts

Successful recovery from drug addiction is possible, but it will be the challenge of a lifetime. Successful recovery can be the most empowering and self-affirming thing you ever do!

My journey to recovery from addiction started thirty- four years ago and I remain drug free until today without relapse.

The word recovery as described in Dictionary.com means:

• the regaining of something lost or taken away
• restoration or return to health from sickness
• restoration or return to any former and better state or condition
  

So recovery, though difficult, is a positive journey, that will bring you back to a previous state of wholeness. You may have lost yourself for years in addiction, but if you get help, you will have the opportunity, to have a second chance at a new life.

You will first of all need to have a desire to become sober. No one can make you get sober if you do not want to. It is your life to do with as you choose.

You also don't need to get to the point of loosing everything and becoming homeless and or going to jail, but you do need to be sick and tired of living the vicious cycle of addiction.

When you feel you are ready, go get help. Don’t get help as a favor to anyone other than yourself. Do it for you!

When you have made a decision to get help, you will need to find someone to help you become sober. This might be an addiction or treatment facility or seeking help from your local Rabbi, Priest, or spiritual leader.

The point is you must collaborate with some who is committed in standing by you until you can be sober. If you choose a treatment facility, do your homework and find one whose success rate is good and not merely a place that houses you for thirty days and then turns you loose.

If you choose a treatment facility, do your homework and find one whose success rate is good and not merely a place that houses you for thirty days and then turns you loose.

There are also Religious treatment centers that are helpful, like New Life for Girls, New Life for Boys, Rapph House, Celebrate Recovery, etc, (not endorsements). You can go on line for an extensive list of Religious treatment centers.

They tend to be strict and do not allow even smoking, so find a treatment center you think you give you a greater opportunity for success.

Therapy can be painful, but it will help you to discover who you are and what lead you to this self-destructive behavior. It will uncover the who, what, why, when, where or of your addiction.

Eventually you will learn what triggers to avoid and coping mechanism that can help you stay strong in times of temptation. When seeking professional help, ask friends of family if they know of a good counselor. If finances are a problem, Catholic Charities, the Salvation Army or your local teaching hospital may offer, discounted or free help.

If you choose a spiritual leader as counselor, choose someone you feel safe with and has a repetition for confidentiality.

Though many clergy are not licensed to counsel in matters of addiction, they can address matters of spiritual healing and forgiveness.

In addition, you might ask if they may know of someone in the congregation who has been successfully sober and they can be a non-judgmental support for you.

Create a sober environment for yourself. Everyone at home must agree to partner with you in getting sober, this means not drugs or alcohol in the home at any time.

Let you old friends know that you are getting sober and that you will not be having any contact with them at this time. Stay away from your old favorite haunts. If necessary do not even drive or walk past them. Do not watch movies or TV where people are drinking or getting high as this may be a trigger.

Once you have stopped using, you body needs to be restored to health. You may consider the holistic route, and seek the help of a Naturopathic Dr. 

Naturopathic medicine can help you back on the road to physical and emotional recovery without the use of drugs.

Ask your naturo-pathic physician about the benefits of doing a body cleanse. You can find several detox programs at you local health food store.

Drink lots of water and eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables as this helps to cleanse your body from toxins.

Prayer will address the spiritual part of you that has been lost for a very long time. Prayer will help you reconnect with God, who loves you.

Praying will help you to reconnect with your own spirit. As you begin to establish a new connection with God.

Prayer will give you strength, positive guidance and give you needed peace.

Eventually when you are over the hump and feeling stronger, you will need to go to those you have hurt and ask their forgiveness. Ask your counselor when he/she thinks it is time to do this.

Remember, because you are now sober, everyone will not necessarily be ready to forgive you. If they do not forgive you do not worry about it.

You have made the step to begin to make amends. Most of all, you must learn to love and forgive yourself. Your addiction was a part of your past and it do not define who you are now.  Move forward to sobriety!

Keep you life filled with positive people and activities. Perhaps there were some things you always wanted to persue in the past.

Begin to write a novel, begin to draw, go back to school and take a course or get your degree, begin to exercise. This is your time of rebuilding a new life and establishing new positive behaviors. This is you time to live life again.

If you should relapse, do not beat yourself up. Forgive yourself immediately, get up, dust yourself off and continue on you path to sobriety.

Stay close to your support system, remember to avoid, people places and things that may trigger your desire to use. As you stay on your path to healing, you are getting stronger and stronger each day!