5 Tips for Someone Recovering From Addiction

If you are recovering from addiction, it can be difficult to build a new life and start all over again. While this might seem next to impossible, it is important to preserve and move onward. Keep moving forward, and you can work toward your goals and live a fulfilling life free of addiction. Here 5 tips for someone recovering from addiction to help you get started and make positive changes.

1. Consider Moving Somewhere New

If you already have a good support system in place and aren’t in danger of relapsing because of the people you are around, this does not apply to you. However, if you get out of rehab and return to the same situations, such as being around former drug dealers, fellow addicts, or situations that make it easy for you to start using again, it is time to move on. Moving somewhere new, although scary, can help you start over with a clean slate and give you a chance to become a new person, no longer dealing with a past of addiction. 

2. Think About Enrolling in School or a Program

Now might be time to consider a career that you want to invest in. Perhaps you would like to help others overcome addiction. Or maybe you want to do something more physical for employment, as a way to keep both your mind and body occupied. If you have been looking to start over, finding a job or career that can give you meaning might be just the ticket. You can pick any type of work you think would be interesting, from working as a personal trainer to training as court reporters in Jacksonville FL. If you can no longer work in your current field, or if you think something new would be better for your lifestyle, choosing a subject to study at a university or technical school can teach you new skills and be part of your new story of starting over. 

3. Make Physical Fitness Part of Your Life

Staying physically fit can keep your mind off of addictive behaviors, allowing your body to stay occupied by working out. By making physical fitness part of your daily routine you can lose weight and tone up, have something to look forward to, and even meet new people in a safer environment where you won’t be subjected to chemical addictions. Finding new ways to burn off energy, stay motivated and meet new people can make an incredible difference in your life for the better. 

4. Continue to Work With a Therapist or Counselor

It’s not uncommon for people to leave rehab and think they no longer need to work with a therapist or counselor. However, it can be difficult to break the cycle of addiction, so it’s important to understand when you have behaviors that are triggering you, and to know what you can do about them.  Your therapist can help you work through these feelings, allowing you to gain a better understanding of yourself, when you might be in danger of relapsing, and what you need to do in order to avoid certain situations. If you were using drugs or alcohol to cope with a past trauma, therapists can be instrumental in helping you to work through these issues as well, so you no longer need chemical dependency. 

5. Give Yourself Goals to Work Toward 

One reason people find themselves in a cycle of addiction is because they may feel life is hopeless, or has nothing else to offer them. It’s important to constantly create goals and motivate yourself so you can move away from old behaviors, patterns, and people, and develop a life that allows you to be safe, be yourself, and work toward your authentic self. 

If you find yourself working through the aftermath of addiction, it’s important to develop a plan for your life. This can include moving away, going back to school, and starting anew. You might choose to be more physically involved in your life, such as doing sports like jogging or a team sport. Working with a therapist can prevent these behaviors from reoccurring again, as can giving yourself new goals. Overall, these 5 tips for someone recovering from addiction, can help you get on a new path and change your life for good.