Living with a drug or alcohol dependency is a struggle which starts with rehab treatments and continues for the rest of your life. Dealing with residual cravings and withdrawal effects pushes the addict ceaselessly toward a relapse. Thankfully, there are practical steps you can take to reduce the burden of addiction and make your sobriety stick.
Find Structure in a Sober Living Community
Some addicts fresh out of rehab discover they don’t have the physical or mental resources to live independently. Sadly, many also find they have burnt all their bridges with friends and family over the course of their substance abuse. A great number of local and national organizations run transitional housing Rockville MD facilities where the newly sober can begin the difficult process of rebuilding their lives without the added stresses of running a household. Staying in a halfway house, you may be sure your fellow residents are all facing the same challenges. They can, along with on-site staff, provide you with a full range of support from daily meetings to job counseling to basic psychological and medical care.
Get with the Program
Many recovering alcoholics and addicts find immense benefit in having an ongoing support system. Countless programs exist to help you maintain your sober state. While sharing a common principle, each has its own regimens and philosophies. It may take some trying for you to find the one that’s best for you. The most famous recovery program is Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), a twelve-step program with chapters just about everywhere. AA holds meetings every day and encourages newer members to find a sponsor to help prevent backsliding. The equivalent support group for drug addicts is Narcotics Anonymous (or NA.)
Recovery is hard enough without trying to go through it alone. It’s important to remember there are resources available to you. Just reach out for the help you need.