Sometimes life takes us on some wrong turns. Struggling with addiction is something that everyone can become susceptible to. Deciding to recover from that addiction is a big one. If you've decided that it's time to start your recovery journey, here are five activities that can ensure your long-term success.
Every addiction is triggered by something. It could be the people you're with, the places you visit, or the objects around you. Each addict knows what their individual triggers are for using. To create a life where you're free of addiction, it's best to remove these known triggers. Avoid spending time with the people you used with. Avoid visiting places where you used to go to practice your addiction.
There are many local groups out there which meet up to help those recovering from an addiction have success. Human nature allows us to feel better about ourselves when we surround ourselves with people who struggle with the same problems we do. This practice allows everyone to go through the process together. Sign up for at least one group and attend meetings regularly, even if you don't have much to say during the meeting.
One surefire way to relapse into your addiction is not having a viable support network to contact. You'll have your ups and downs throughout the entire recovery process. When you have your lows, you need to have a person to call or a place to go who can assist in managing your addictive habits until you reach a stable mental place. An addiction treatment center is a great resource to have as they're full of trained professionals who know how to help you when you're stuck in a rut.
Many addicts have utilized their drug of choice as a form of reward. This reward provided an escape and a way to relax. As you know, using that drug was not a great reward as it caused more issues. Take a moment to think of things that you enjoy. It could be watching television an extra hour or a piece of dark chocolate. Just find some practices other than your addiction that you can reward yourself with when you do something you're proud of.
A tense body is one that harbors old habits and is not open to new practices. No doubt, it's much harder to stick to new habits when you're not feeling relaxed. You can alleviate tension in your body and set yourself up for better habits when you move more. This could be going for a walk each morning or working out for 30 minutes a day.
When you make the decision that your addiction needs to end, it's just the first step. Your uphill battle is going to include times of happiness and struggle. By including the five activities above into your daily routine, you'll set yourself up for a successful recovery process.
Anica is a professional content and copywriter who graduated from the University of San Francisco. She loves dogs, the ocean, and anything outdoor-related. You can connect with Anica on Twitter @AnicaOaks.