Successfully completing addiction treatment is only the first step in addiction recovery.

Many people who do achieve this goal associate sobriety with abstinence. They think that as long as they don’t use drugs or alcohol, they’ll be okay. But sobriety is much more complex than that. As a Delaware drug and alcohol treatment center, we know that there are challenges people face in recovery. Staying clean and maintaining a sober lifestyle is a rollercoaster with plenty of twists and turns. While you may enjoy it sometimes, you may experience moments where you feel as if you’ve been hanging upside down way too long. Believing that this process is simple can leave you unprepared to tackle the various challenges you may face in sobriety. Fortunately, we’re sharing some common problems people face in recovery and some helpful tips on how to manage them.

What Are Some Common Problems People Face in Addiction Recovery?

Addicts in recovery face a variety of challenges that can affect their moods and the way they treat others. This is a disease that consumes the mind and body, making it difficult for the person to sustain their sobriety even years after they’ve left rehab. A recovering addict may experience emotional and physical stress while adjusting to a life that doesn’t involve drugs or alcohol. Below are some of the most common problems people face in recovery.

Addiction Cravings

One of the most common challenges recovering addicts face is addiction cravings. Experiencing addiction cravings when you’ve decided to never use drugs or alcohol again is an intense physical and mental challenge. Learning how to manage cravings requires a variety of approaches, like identifying your triggers and creating behavioral strategies to avoid them. A recovering addict must also learn how to accept the craving and move forward without giving in to it.

Financial Struggles

Depending on the rehab program they were in, the individual may not have been able to work during their addiction treatment. If you’ve been the only provider in the household since then, it can be easy to become upset or overwhelmed with any financial issues. It’s important to develop a plan with your spouse or domestic partner in order to recuperate financially.

Problems In Most Relationships

Addiction can cause a lot of physical and mental damage, which can affect a person’s mood. The way they treat their loved ones may change as they’re trying to heal from the aftereffects of substance abuse. The person may have also done things during their active addiction that hurt their spouse, family, and friends, like stealing or lying. Couples in which one is a recovering addict have to work on their communication to avoid pointing fingers and enabling behaviors, instead working towards rebuilding their relationship.

Loneliness

A person who has just gotten out of rehab may not have any friends who don’t use drugs or alcohol. Their addiction may also have broken any other relationships they had with others. Loneliness is dangerous to an addict’s recovery because it can lead to anxiety and depression, which can push the person back into their old habits. Social interaction with others is vital to the recovery process. At Banyan Treatment Centers Delaware, we offer a 12-Step program that incorporates group meetings where people in recovery can connect and build a community of support.

Poor Mental Health

A large portion of people with substance abuse disorders also suffer from a mental disorder and likely have a co-occurring disorder, otherwise known as dual diagnosis. While they may have received treatment for both conditions, they may struggle to apply what they learned in rehab to their daily lives. Because no one is perfect, some days will be harder mentally, which can make staying sober a challenge. Attending support groups and staying in contact with friends and family can keep you accountable and offer support.

Relapse

At the end of the day, addiction is a chronic disease. A person in recovery will have to make the decision to stay sober every day. But many addicts in recovery hit a wall and return to their old ways. Relapsing can be discouraging and disappointing. A person who’s relapsed may feel as if they’ve disappointed everyone or may think that there’s no point in continuing their recovery. But relapse doesn’t have to be a permanent problem. Get treatment again and keep growing, give yourself a chance to make the right choice.

Setting boundaries in recovery for yourself and striving towards personal goals are important for long-term sobriety. If you or a loved one is battling drug or alcohol abuse, call Banyan Delaware today at 888-280-4763 for more information about our residential treatment.