You are ready to take control of your substance use disorder (SUD), but you wonder if treatment actually works. Is it realistic to think you can start over and rebuild your life?
The answer is yes. However, it’s important to realize that recovery does not mean going back to the way things were before addiction began. Recovery requires big change, sometimes in almost all areas of life. It’s challenging and at times very hard work, but you’ll learn what you need to be healthy. You’ll build new relationships, choose work that supports your mental health, and create a new path forward.
Recognize How Addiction Impacts Self-Image
Recovery will change the way you see yourself. Many people have poor mental health with addiction, and some use substances to self-medicate. When you take those substances away, it’s far easier to see all of the “bad” aspects of yourself than it is to see the good.
In addiction therapy, you’ll learn how to have a better vision of who you really are. That may mean dealing with underlying mental health disorders, such as depression or anxiety. It may mean addressing past or current trauma. It may mean learning how to talk to yourself in ways that affirm your worth and support your goals.
How to Love Life After Addiction
Addiction recovery can teach you powerful truths about who you are and who you want to be. Consider a few strategies that can help you to rebuild as you work toward this new vision of yourself.
- Slow is critical.
Most people feel invigorated after leaving drug and alcohol addiction treatment, but life can hit hard and fast once you are faced with responsibilities and the challenges you had before addiction. The solution is to move slowly. Take every day for what it is, and don’t put so much pressure on yourself that you are setting yourself up for failure.
- Work to make things right.
One of the most challenging obstacles for those in recovery is fixing relationships or making amends with those you hurt due to your addiction. Let’s be clear. Not every relationship will improve, and not all relationships are worth your time and investment.
However, when there are people important to you who you want to keep in your life, work to make it right. Connect with them, go to family therapy, and practice communicating with clarity and honesty. Work to overcome old wounds and build a better relationship.
- Move beyond the past.
Don’t make the mistake of comparing today with the past. Sometimes it may be tempting to remember substance use fondly. If this happens, call upon your memories and your support network to remind you of the illness and mental anguish of addiction.
At the same time, don’t wallow in how terrible the past was. Guilt over what happened or how you treated others can paralyze you and limit your long-term recovery. Forgive yourself, forgive others, and work to rebuild trust with yourself and others.
- Improve self-love.
With addiction treatment, you gain the ability to improve your mental health and overall well-being. Self-love requires that you put the time and effort into setting aside negative thinking and focusing on your worth.
There’s no benefit in trying to hide what the past created. There is no way to eliminate your past experiences. Yet, you can still learn to love yourself and, through that, build better future relationships.
Set the Wheels in Motion with Addiction Treatment and Support
When you’ve been through addiction treatment, you are much better at knowing when to get help if you start to falter. At Iron Bridge Recovery Center, we meet you where you’re at, whether it’s your first or fifth time in treatment. Our team will help empower you to start over and build the future you want. Reach out to us today.
