As a drug rehab in Pompano, we know that sobriety is a lifelong journey and life after addiction treatment is filled with ups and downs.

Some days will be more trying than others and unexpected challenges may appear. Especially if you just completed treatment, you may be nervous about what to expect. At Banyan Pompano, we are sharing everything we have learned about life in recovery so that you can face both these challenges and triumphs head on.

The Negative Side Effects of Addiction Recovery

Life after addiction isn’t always sunshine and rainbows, especially in early recovery. Unfortunately, treatment doesn’t make all of your problems go away. There is often still a lot of work that needs to be done in order to get your life back on track.

Health Damage is Done

If you were a long-time drug user or alcoholic, you may be dealing with health problems that came as a result or your addiction. While the healthy habits you learn in treatment can help, a good diet and regular exercise may not be enough.

Lasting Withdrawal

Recovery can be filled with lingering withdrawal symptoms. From trouble sleeping to random drug cravings, these symptoms may even appear years after treatment. Because of these withdrawal symptoms, there is always a risk of relapse, but there are plenty of relapse prevention tips you can follow to avoid falling back into addiction.

Relationships

Life after addiction is about healing and that includes relationships. At Banyan Pompano, we offer therapy for family members of addicts with the addict themselves, but even with these programs your relationships may still have cracks. Your sober living will probably involve continuing to work on these relationships and rebuilding trust. You may also find yourself having to make new sober friends if your friends still do drugs.

Starting From Scratch

If your problems were severe, you may have entered rehab without a job and no place to really call home. You will still need to deal with the consequences of your actions while you were an addict, so you may have your work cut out for you, including getting a job, finding a place to live, and planning for the future once more.

The Benefits of Addiction Recovery

While you may have some challenges, the good outweighs the bad in life and in recovery. Think of life after addiction as a clean slate and be thankful that because you are sober you now have the opportunity to create a future you want.

Improved Mental Health

  Often, poor mental health and substance use problems can be connected. Now that you are done with addiction treatment and no longer abusing drugs, you should see improvements in your overall mental health. While you will still have some rough days, being clean can leave you feeling much happier. Especially if you went to a dual diagnosis treatment center, you should find yourself feeling better than when you were doing drugs.

Better Habits

Many treatment centers focus on helping patients build a healthy routine that they can carry over to their regular lives once their programs are over. If you continue to exercise regularly, eat a healthy diet, and practice good sleeping habits, you should find that both your physical and mental health improves. You may even discover a love for a new hobby.

Better Physical Health

Now that you are no longer flooding your body with the harmful chemicals from drugs and alcohol, you should see improvements in your health. Not only should you feel better on a day to day basis, but you may also have saved yourself from more serious health problems later on by quitting.

New Future

The best part about life after addiction treatment is that you have the opportunity to create a new future. When you were abusing drugs, you were probably preoccupied with getting your next high. Your goals and dreams may have been pushed to the wayside, but now you have the chance to pursue them once more.

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If you or a loved one is ready to take that first step to recovery, we are ready to guide you. Call us today at 888-280-4763 to get started.