The early stages of addiction recovery are actually some of the most difficult. Adjusting back into a lifestyle without something that you once depended on can be one of the most difficult things that you ever experience. There are multiple reasons why those enduring the first few steps of recovery will sometimes feel as if their world is crashing down on them, but there are ways you can get through some of these difficult phases.

 

Why Recovery Isn’t Always Easy

Relationships You Have Formed:

You want to surround yourself with positive people when you are going through addiction recovery. Sometimes, this is easier said than done, because the people you have relied on in the past might be those who enabled you to continuously abuse drugs in the first place.

In the early stages of addiction recovery, you will have to stray away from these friendships and toxic relationships that you have built in the past while you were still using. This essential step can leave addicts feeling unmoored and detached from their support group, but your own health depends on it. By getting involved in activities and programs where you can meet new and sober friends, you can enter into the kind of positive environments that you need to stay sober.

 

Intense Emotions:

When you are going through recovery, even the smallest irritation can bring intense emotions such as anger and sadness. During this is truly emotional time, you may find it difficult to address these emotions calmly. However, Feelings of anger should be dealt with in a meaningful and positive way through methods like exercising, choosing a healthy diet, or sticking to routines.

Breaking Away from Traditions:

During previous holidays when you were surrounded by family and friends, you might have enjoyed the tradition of drinking or using recreational, illicit drugs. Now, you might feel uncomfortable as you come to these get-togethers and realize that you won’t be joining in. However, you have to remember that your relationships with people cannot be built on these harmful substances. It makes sense to create your own drug and alcohol-free traditions, and your loved ones will understand.

Not Accepting Mistakes:

You might find it difficult to accept that you made mistakes in the past, but this is one of the best ways to move on. You have to be able to set reasonable expectations for yourself and accept that the past is the past and that you will not always be perfect. The road to recovery is not straight and it’s often bumpy. The key to success is staying on it anyway.

Pressures of Careers and Finances:

Finding and keeping a stable job is essential to you being able to focus on the positive aspects of your life. But finding a job can also be one of the most difficult steps after getting sober. Your career and finances can often be sources of intense stress, and your first instinct will be to reach for your addiction. You have to learn to build new coping measures and focus on how staying sober helps your career and future.