Take Your Life Back: Getting On Track In Recovery

I was recently contacted by the creator of Addiction Hub, Adam Cook about the possibility of guest posting here, and since I've never had a guest author, I was intrigued. After taking a look at his website, I feel the content and his message are very powerful and relevant and so I've agreed to it :-).

In this article, Adam talks about steps to taking your life back after shaking an addiction. I hope it serves you or someone you love well <3.  

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GUEST BLOG POST by: Adam Cook of Addiction Hub

Congratulations! You’ve shaken your addiction, and that’s a really impressive step. It’s been a long process, and you’ve detoxed and learned new methods of dealing with your issues. However, recovery doesn’t stop there -- it’s really only just beginning. You need to rebuild your life and set it on a course for a healthy, sober new way of living. Here are some helpful hints to help you get back on track.

Rebuild Your Health

Addiction is notorious for ruining lives. While you were in its throes, you were neglecting yourself and your health. You have to start over and rebuild body and mind to give yourself the best start on your new life. A healthy diet and exercise regimen is a good start along that journey. As you feed yourself properly, you’ll nourish your body and brain, giving it what it needs to heal itself with healthy fruits and vegetables, healthy fats, and lean proteins. Avoid reliance on caffeine and sugar; these create irregular energy levels and unpleasant mood swings that make cravings worse and relapse more likely. A good exercise regimen will help rebuild your muscles and bones, but it will also help you to deal with stress. Exercise releases endorphins, which act as natural antidepressants and pain relievers, helping to stabilize and uplift your mood and give you optimism. It can even help rewire the brain and return it to its pre-addiction state.

Get Help When You Need It

Part of any successful recovery is social and emotional support and the love of family and friends. Good aftercare programs, such as a 12-step program, Alcoholics Anonymous, and Narcotics Anonymous, can reinforce your commitment to sobriety and help you to make contact with resources in the community. You may be required to enroll in such a program to continue receiving maintenance medications or social services. Good aftercare and support can enable you to withstand those temptations and help you make good choices in your life.

Love Yourself

A good self-care regimen helps you re-learn how to prioritize your own needs. Besides diet and exercise, you need to learn how to rest and relax. Give yourself eight hours a night to sleep so you can greet each day with rejuvenated energy and enthusiasm. Take up a relaxing hobby to help you unwind. Enroll in a yoga class and practice mindfulness meditation. Studies show that getting enough rest and engaging in relaxation techniques and hobbies help you stay sober and help you avoid sinking into a depression.

Give of Yourself

You’ve been through an ordeal, and you’ve learned a lot. Consider giving back to the community by donating your time to talk to others who are going through the same experiences. Be a role model for the successful recovery journey and share your life experiences and your wisdom. Inspiring others can reaffirm your decision to get healthy and help you to stay focused on improving your life and the lives of those around you. The simple act of volunteering your time will improve your chances of staying sober by making you feel useful, productive, and helpful. It will rebuild your self-worth and self-esteem.

Everyone makes mistakes. Everyone has challenges to overcome and problems in their everyday lives. You’ve been through the wringer, but you’ve come out the other side and you’re smarter, stronger, and healthier than you’ve been in a long time. While you can’t undo your past, you can make up for it by committing to living a better life. You can share your knowledge and your experience with others and help them to overcome their own demons. You can be an example that it does get better. All you have to do is keep working each day to live a better life. You’re writing your own story, and you have the power to give yourself a happy ending.