GLEN ALLEN, Virginia - Many people struggle with addiction, and it's not easy to get clean.
However, several practical strategies might assist you on your path to recovery.
These strategies include:
Finding a support system.
Setting goals and sticking to them.
Letting go of negative thoughts and emotions.
Be mindful of the present moment without judging or dwelling on the past or future.
These will clearly explain each of the subsequent subtopics, but first, let us look back to the concept of sober living.
Sober living is temporary accommodation for those in recovery from addiction.
It offers a friendly atmosphere that encourages individuals to remain sober and maintain healthy lifestyles.
People in recovery from addiction often struggle to adapt to life without drugs or alcohol.
They may believe that they don't know how to live soberly or that life isn't worth living without drugs or alcohol.
Sober living offers an alternative to this lifestyle by allowing individuals to live drug-free in a supportive atmosphere with others recovering from addiction.
Because of its supportive and drug-free atmosphere, this allows you to heal from something you thought was impossible to let go of.
Furthermore, the benefits of participating in this program are clear.
What are the Benefits of Sober Living?
Sober living is not just a place to live, and it is a lifestyle.
Living in a sober environment will help you maintain sobriety and avoid relapse.
Sober living provides people with tools and resources to help them stay sober and be successful in their recovery.
It's no doubt that being clean has several advantages compared to living in active addiction.
They comprise enhanced neurology, higher energy, easier to fall and stay asleep, healthier skin, and significant time and money savings.
Several lesser-known, unexpected benefits of staying sober are sometimes disregarded or overlooked.
Here are a few examples:
Discover your individuality Alcohol may inhibit and obscure personality qualities that help shape who we are. Individuals who achieve long-term abstinence following addiction often uncover or rediscover who they are and their personality qualities. The capacity to reset, re-calibrate, and find who you are is a beautiful gift. Many people report that they are shyer in recovery than while drinking. Most people who get addicted to alcohol do so as teens before they are ready to participate in self-discovery as adults. This might imply that there is a significant amount of early personal discovery.
Alcohol anxiety is a thing of the past Reliability is a typical side effect of the transition from alcohol addiction to recovery. No alcohol means no hangovers, which is an apparent advantage, but it also means less mental pain from regret and less concern over blackouts or forgotten portions of time. When alcohol plays a part in decision-making, the person becomes erratic and untrustworthy.
Improve important connections It is tough to attain sober when your closest friends are alcoholics. It is critical to separate oneself from harmful influences to achieve sobriety. If you only see your pals when there's alcohol available, it's time to start a new social life. Rebuilding lost trust may take time, but you now have the opportunity to do so! By substituting quality time with friends or family for time spent with them, you will improve your ties with positive individuals. This will make remaining in long-term recovery simpler, and you will feel a lot better emotionally, cognitively, and physically as a result.
Recognize the power of time While the verdict is still out on whether or not remaining clean becomes easier with time, acclimating to a life of sobriety does not happen overnight. As time passes, many triggers become less sensitive, alcohol ceases dominating your thoughts, and mental discipline becomes stronger. Although it may seem impossible at first, time may build a certain amount of distance.
Hobbies that are good for you Many folks in active addiction don't know how to find pleasure outside of the drug. Everyone has various hobbies, pastimes, and interests. Instead of getting wasted with drinking pals, maybe the preferred after-work pastime becomes working out, jogging, rock climbing, or even playing board games. Whatever fires your enthusiasm or stimulates your creativity will work! Look for activities that you like, even if it means adding a little excitement via bicycle racing, rock climbing, or anything else. Breaking the destructive cycle of addiction should help you go beyond the groundhog day sense of continual repetition. As a result, achieving a sober lifestyle is the most significant success you'll get from the program, as you'll be able to live comfortably without the need for alcohol or drugs in your life.
What is the meaning of living a sober life?
What does it mean to live sober?
It means living without alcohol or drugs. It means living in a way that is healthy and free of addiction.
This may seem like an easy goal to achieve, but the truth is that it can be challenging for some people to do so.
How Can a Growth Mindset Assist You in Overcoming Addiction?
Recovery from addiction is really about changing your relationship with yourself and the world.
Our brains may give us issues in a variety of ways.
We have irrational thoughts, worry excessively, have erroneous worldviews, and have unreasonable expectations of ourselves.
One of the most frequent ways we make ourselves unhappy and impede our advancement is by adopting a fixed mentality rather than a growth attitude.
Fixed Mindset vs Growth Mindset The distinction between these two mindsets is straightforward: if you have a fixed mindset, you believe that you are primarily born with specific talents and capacities, such as intelligence, social skills, athletic abilities, and so on, and that it isn't huge you can do to improve your performance in any given area if you aren't remarkably talented in that area. On the other hand, a growth mindset is a conviction that you can enhance your talents and develop as a person with little effort. Of course, the truth lies somewhere in the middle. Talent is unquestionably genuine. On the other side, many, if not the majority, have too little faith in their capacity to create fundamental life changes. To put it another way, most of us would be much better off if we made an effort to cultivate a development mentality. This is particularly true for those in recovery from addiction.
Change Resistance is Reduced by Having a Growth Mindset Participating fully in treatment is akin to admitting that you got lost and can't find your way back. This is a serious threat to someone with a fixed mindset. You want to dismiss any contrary evidence. It indicates that the self-edifice you've built is built on shaky ground. The concept that you could require aid, on the other hand, is considerably more appealing to someone with a development attitude. You're not broken on some fundamental level; you have some weak places that need to be strengthened, and you know that you can grow stronger with consistent work.
A growth mindset opens up new possibilities. It might be difficult to envisage a better life when you're initially contemplating treatment or just getting started in recovery. You're probably in the wrong place. Your current circumstances influence all of your prospects. This is particularly true if you have a preconceived notion. Otherwise, you wouldn't be contemplating a massive life shift. That's because when you attempt to envisage having a better, more meaningful life, you imagine it as the person you are now. If you have a development mentality, it is simpler to envisage a better life, even if you don't know-how. You may still be aware of all the difficulties in your path, but you may also recall conquering previous barriers that felt insurmountable at the time. You may not be able to envisage a better life for yourself as the person you are today, but you can picture a better life for yourself as the person you can become.
A Growth Mindset Transforms Obstacles into Opportunities Perhaps the most significant benefit of a development mentality is that it transforms obstacles into opportunities. Addiction rehabilitation is fraught with difficulties. In reality, each step of recovery detox, treatment, counselling, moving home, adhering to your recovery plan, and so on presents a unique set of problems. If you have a fixed perspective, every obstacle is another chance to fail. You have your own set of abilities and attributes, and if they aren't enough to prepare you for the challenges you confront, you're out of luck. People will see that you do not measure up as a person. If you have a growth mentality, your approach to obstacles will differ. Instead of viewing them as rocks that will sink your ship, you see them as weights that will strengthen you. A challenge is a chance to discover more about yourself. It's an opportunity to master new talents and broaden your endurance capacity. Every new difficulty presented by rehabilitation is a chance for progress and will prepare you to face even more significant problems in the future. Adopting a growth mindset is one of the most effective ways to become more resilient to the challenges of addiction recovery. It makes you less fearful of change, more capable of seeing a brighter life free of drugs and alcohol and turns every new obstacle into an opportunity to progress.
Five typical addiction misconceptions
Take a look at some of the most widely held ideas about addiction.
Addiction is all the addict's responsibility. Addicts are deplorable individuals.
Addiction only affects a subset of individuals. It can't possibly impact me.
While society's knowledge of addiction has increased, much remains obscure, particularly for people who have never battled with a drug or alcohol addiction.
The media's depiction of addiction is partially to blame; nevertheless, it is our job to remain up to speed on addiction research developments to understand better how to aid individuals who suffer from this condition.
Check out these five typical addiction misconceptions and the associated reality.
Myth #1: Addiction is a Personal Choice
Someone chooses to drink or take drugs, then getting addicted must also be a decision, right? No.
Addiction as a "choice" contradicts addiction's complex reasons and consequences.
Addicts fight with a compulsion that eventually affects the chemistry of their brain.
The American Society of Addiction Medicine defines addiction as "a treatable, chronic medical illness involving complicated interactions among brain circuits, genetics, the environment, and an individual's life experiences.
When someone becomes addicted to drugs, they experience compulsive and uncontrolled drug usage and need outside assistance to quit.
The addict's addiction becomes their most powerful motivation, and they will do anything, absolutely anything, for the substance.
Any option is no longer available at this moment.
Furthermore, some research implies that addiction has a hereditary component.
A family history of drug misuse and uncontrolled environmental variables may be a precursor.
Addiction study demonstrates that addiction has nothing to do with a lack of willpower or strength.
Truth: Addiction is a long-term medical condition that affects the brain.
Myth #2: Addiction Affects Only Certain People
What sort of person comes to mind when you hear the word "addict"?
Perhaps someone who grew up in a problematic area or spent time in and out of prison.
Part of the fault for the "addict" stereotype may be attributed to the media.
On the other hand, addiction does not discriminate, and no one is immune.
Many addicts are employed and have families.32% of alcoholics are "functional," albeit this figure may be low given other sources show a higher figure.
Addiction affects individuals of various ages, genders, races, geographic areas, personalities, financial circumstances, and educational levels.
The truth is that addiction may affect everyone.
Myth #3: Attending Treatment Will Cure Your Addiction
Most addicts do not seek therapy of their own will.
Whether compelled or not, treatment may be a turning point in an addict's life and help them quit using.
The psychological components of rehabilitation hold the key to recovery, and treating the mind is not as simple as treating the body.
Addiction is a chronic condition that does not have a one-time cure.
In other words, the addict's recovery effort begins the moment they leave a treatment facility.
Truth: Addiction is a chronic disease that must be managed daily.
Myth #4: Prescription drugs are not as addictive or dangerous as illicit drugs.
Doctors prescribe prescription medications.
Therefore, they can't be so addicted, can they? Nothing is farther from the truth.
Prescription medicines, such as ADHD medication or narcotic pain relievers, may and are misused if not administered under the supervision of a doctor.
According to a National Institute on Drug Abuse survey, an estimated 18 million persons in the United States abused prescription drugs in the previous year.
Truth: Prescription drugs may be just as dangerous as illegal drugs.
Myth #5: Relapse Is an Indicator of Failure
Those in recovery are trained to be afraid of relapse, which is understandable.
However, shame is often associated with relapse, damaging someone's rehabilitation.
Relapse is an unavoidable part of the recovery process.
According to the NIDA, relapse data reveal that 40-60% of persons relapse after completing addiction treatment.
Relapse is a standard component of the rehabilitation process, not indicating personal failure.
Relapse in no way indicates that someone will not "get it" or will be unable to become clean.
Remember that addicts are fighting sickness, not a weakness or lack of character.
Truth: Relapse is a natural part of the recovery process and does not imply that the addict fails.
A guide to sobriety and how it works?
Some individuals may seek a fast cure without fully comprehending the complexities of addiction recovery.
Others may be hampered because they don't know what to do initially.
In any scenario, it's simple to become lost along the path of the individual who isn't aware of the potential obstacles and the tools and elements that may assist in meeting those challenges.
The trip to addiction recovery may be a lot more accessible, less terrifying, and more likely to end in a happy conclusion with a guide that contains the many stages necessary to support the process altogether.
Understand the Importance of Sobriety Recognizing and acknowledging that a person has a problem with alcohol or drug misuse is the first step toward sobriety. This might be difficult since denial is a normal reaction to realizing that the person has lost control of their drug usage. Nonetheless, several tests may be used to evaluate whether or not a person's drug misuse has become a problem.
Connect Once it has been recognized that the individual needs sobriety, the next step is to seek assistance. There are several sources of assistance that might assist a person in getting started in obtaining the therapy required to overcome addiction and get clean. Stopping drug misuse is a journey that does not have to be performed alone. Having a reliable support system to help keep motivation makes becoming and staying clean more probable. According to Substance Abuse research, having the support of others may increase a person's chances of enrolling in and completing detox and treatment for addiction.
Find the Most Effective Treatment Program According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, no single therapy is beneficial for everyone undergoing drug abuse treatment. As a result, it is critical to choose a treatment program that meets the individual's requirements. There are many elements to consider while making this choice, including the program's credentials and the individual's degree of drug dependence and willingness to change.
Sober living near me
Sober living provides a support system for people recovering from substance abuse.
It is a place where they can live with other people in recovery.
This living arrangement is usually temporary, lasting six months to two years.
It is meant to help the recovering person stay on track with their sobriety by providing the necessary resources and support system.
To discover a sober living home in Virginia Beach, Virginia, for you or someone you care about, contact a member of our team right now.
We’ll be glad to assist you.
The importance of having a support system while living a sober life
Support systems are essential to living a sober life.
It is necessary to have someone you can talk to who will listen and understand what you're going through.
Having a support system can help you stay motivated and on track with your goals.
A support system is not just made up of one person, but it is made up of the people surrounding you.
Your family, friends, and co-workers can all be considered your support system.
Those around you can help you look forward to a healthy lifestyle and keep you focused on recovery as you learn how to avoid triggers if you have a solid support system.
Your system also relies on good peer influence, in which your supporters promote healthy habits and decision-making.
Recovery may contain a range of feelings, many of which might lead to a relapse.
A solid support network may provide you with a haven.
Instead of utilizing drugs, your network can assist you in finding healthy and productive methods to cope with your emotions.
The first step will determine who you need in your support system.
Finding individuals who will assist you in your recovery might be difficult or impossible if your drug misuse has separated you from family and previous friends.
However, the fact is that many individuals will be ready to do so.
It might be tough to know who you need in your support system at this point in your recovery.
Because you're transitioning from drug use to recovery, you may miss the sensation of hanging out with pals who used as well.
Although it may seem to be a good idea to include them in your network, the fact is that you will need to remove yourself from this old set to stay on the great road you're on.
You may focus on defining your requirements now that you know who not to include in your social life.
Do you need someone to be there and listen without passing judgment?
Perhaps you'd want to be reminded when you begin to display old tendencies.
Whatever it is, could you make a note of it?