Drug and alcohol addiction stories in the news often paint a bleak picture.
But is there some hope on the horizon? It seems there is some good news. Take teen addiction, for example. Recent figures show a drop in addiction rates among grades 8 to 12.
That shows that we are getting better at tackling the roots of addiction and stopping the problem from happening in the first place.
But what about those who already have an addiction problem? The answer is that help is at hand, and there are tried-and-tested addiction recovery steps. Read on to find out more.
Identify the Problem
You’ll need to identify the problem before you can seek help.
Any addiction support program will always make this phase mandatory, but it is more complex than it sounds. Even if you have friends and family pointing out a potential addiction issue, you might feel defensive and in denial.
You might claim that you have a regular habit instead of a more problematic addiction. Read up on the symptoms of when behavior meets the threshold for addiction. Ask yourself whether you tick some or all of those boxes.
Get Professional Support
Few people are successful in overcoming addiction without outside help. There are plenty of support and counseling services available.
Reach out to local services, learn more about their approach, and decide what option might best fit you and your needs. You can also refer to this site for more information about types of treatment.
Detox
Most treatment plans start with a detoxification stage. That requires you to abstain from the drug or alcohol entirely in almost all situations.
This phase allows the body to begin the withdrawal process. That often starts with an intense craving. Your brain craves the dopamine it typically receives in a high dose when you suffer from an addiction.
That will eventually start to wear off, and you’ll find the withdrawal process easier to manage.
Rehabilitation
The next step is rehabilitation. That is the phase when you can start to dissect some of the behavioral patterns of psychological issues underpinning your addiction.
It’s your chance to find out what caused your addiction and what steps you can take in the future to avoid a repeat. It will help you address problems in your life that might currently encourage you with your addiction.
Ongoing Management
Your treatment center will put together a maintenance plan to help you manage your addiction in the long term and avoid a relapse.
This phase of your treatment will help guide you on how to return to daily life and manage your addiction within the complexities of everyday reality.
Certain maintenance practices on offer include regular support group meetings and a personal sponsor to act as someone to reach out to when you feel challenged.
Addiction Recovery Steps
Take action from the moment you feel you might have an addiction problem. The earlier you tackle this problem, the easier it will be to manage. Use these addiction recovery steps as your starting point.
And head over to our health section for more articles on managing your well-being during your recovery phase.
