For those who have been struggling with addiction issues for some time, the future may not be too bright in their minds. The addict may believe there is no hope and do not know how he or she will ever get clean, even if they want to.
If you have been living with addiction for a long time, you may also be scared about what sobriety actually means. You probably have no idea of what to do next once you decide that you want to quit drinking or taking drugs, for example. What do you do once you decide that you want to be sober? Where do you go and who do you talk to?
Options for Sobriety
The good news is that sobriety is a possibility, no matter how long you have been addicted and how severe you think your addiction is. You have many options when it comes to getting sober; below are just a few examples:
- Quitting yourself
- 12-step fellowship programmes such as AA or NA
- Other group support fellowships not using the 12-steps
- Outpatient treatment programme
- Inpatient treatment programme.
The type of rehabilitation option you choose will depend on a number of things, including the kind of addiction you have, how long you have been addicted, how severe your addiction is, and your personal circumstances.
For help with deciding which option is best for you, call Rehab Helper. Our experts can provide you with a full assessment of your situation and will offer advice and information on the type of treatments available in your area. They can even refer you to a suitable provider should you wish it.
Starting with Detox
The first step towards sober life if you have a severe substance addiction is detox. Before you can begin a programme of rehabilitation and learn how to live without alcohol or drugs, you must get these substances out of your system. After you stop drinking or taking drugs, some of these substances will remain in your system.
As your body tries to get back to normal, it overcompensates as it struggles with suddenly not getting its usual supply of alcohol or drugs, and this can cause a number of side effects or, in other words, withdrawal symptoms. Most of these withdrawal symptoms will be unpleasant, but nothing to worry about. However, there is a possibility of serious side effects when detoxing from alcohol and some drugs, so it is best to detox under the supervision of a medical professional. Many residential programmes include detox and are carried out in a supervised facility.
Quitting Yourself
You may want to quit alcohol or drugs by yourself and, while this is entirely possible, it is very rare for an addict to have success this way. It is not very common for someone who has been struggling with addiction issues for a long time to have the strength to just stop. Nevertheless, it is not impossible.
There is more to recovery than just quitting; detox can be particularly challenging. Nonetheless, as well as that, you need to have support throughout the process to ensure that you learn the skills necessary to cope with a sober life. Many recovering addicts need to change their entire lifestyles to enable them to maintain their sobriety. It is very difficult to try to quit by yourself, and unless you identify the cause of your illness, it is likely to come back again when you least expect it. With inpatient or outpatient treatment, you will have constant help and support, which really can make all the difference when it comes to a successful recovery.
