Tips to Help When Recovering From Substance Abuse

Lizzie Weakley shared with Healthy Lombard that if you or someone you care about is recovering from substance abuse, there are things you can do to make the healing process a little more manageable. While the road to recovery is never easy, there is help available, and you don’t have to walk this path alone. Here are tips you or your loved one can use when recovering from substance abuse.

Find New Hobbies

Whether you want to knit, collect stamps, build with Legos, ride motorcycles, or start a blog, the list of sober hobbies you can do is endless. Many people complain they don’t have enough time or money to start a hobby. When you remove drugs and alcohol from your life, you’ll be able to funnel your resources into feel-good, productive activities.

Go to Therapy

Substance abuse can sometimes be a byproduct of childhood abuse, trauma, and mental health troubles. Many people reach for the bottle when painful emotions begin to surface. Your therapist can help you manage your addiction and work through the root causes of your substance abuse so you can truly move forward. Having a non-judgmental listening ear can drastically improve your recovery journey.

Seek Treatment

Substance abuse treatment may be necessary if you are highly addicted to drugs or alcohol. Treatment plans vary, so it’s important to find one that aligns with your goals. Substance abuse treatment is a very effective tool that should not be overlooked when you are trying to get sober.

Make Sober Friends

Unfortunately, getting sober means saying goodbye to people in your social circle who continue to use or enable you to sink further into your addiction. It’s important to find sober friends to spend time with so you don’t feel lonely and go back to old habits. Getting involved in new hobbies and volunteer work is a good way to meet new people.

Indulge in Substance-Free Self-Care

In the short term, it’s okay to indulge in food, caffeine, television, and other pleasures if that’s what it takes to stay sober. Eventually, you should find healthy forms of self-care like exercise, meditation, healthy eating, spa treatments, and daily routines. Figure out what makes you feel good and do those things when you feel the urge to use.

Recovery from substance abuse is hard, but with the right tools and support, it’s completely possible to start

Lizzie Weakley is a freelance writer from Columbus, Ohio. In her free time, she enjoys the outdoors and walks in the park with her husky, Snowball.

Photo by Adam Wilson on Unsplash