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7 Things about Drug and Alcohol Recovery Nobody Tells You

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7 Things About Recovery they Don’t Tell you

Thinking back to the early days of recovery I remember a certain sense of bewilderment and shock. Now some of that was certainly due to the fact I was no longer a chronic drinker but some of it was due to how the world would treat me now. Over time I’ve come to realise that nobody really talks about these things out loud. In fact, I’ve talked to many addicts who have been through professional rehab facilities that agree with these 7 things. So, without further adieu, here are the 7 things about recovery nobody tells you.

Your body is coming back to you like a foreign object

When you first stop drinking or smoking or snorting whatever it is you are addicted to, some changes occur in your body. Now you might be thinking – duh! Obviously. But what most people don’t realise is that the body you get back has been wrecked in ways you have no way of knowing. Your body won’t fully recover for years to come and, when it does, it’s going to be a different beast altogether.

People hate/admire what they don’t have

I’ve talked about WTF moments of sobriety before but you’ve got to prepare yourself, in advance, for the avalanche of fucked up shit you’re going to have to deal with. People are going to say the weirdest things to you. I won’t go into all of them but BE PREPARED!

Free time

Yep. You’re going to have lots more free time that you used to. It’s not all going to come back to you at one time though. For every 3 minutes you spend smoking a cigarette each day multiplied by number by day! That’s the trick though – you have to think about the time as adding up in general.

New things to fill that free time

Find some new things to fill that time. If you were a smoker for instance and took smoke breaks at work, try filling it with something else. Take a quick walk around the block. Fidget with some legos at your desk. You need to be an active participant in this stage. Find a hobby. Quick.

Extra brain power

This one is a bit weird and may not apply to everyone BUT lots of people we talk to find a surge in brain power. Now, some of this comes from not being in a fog or daze from the drugs or alcohol. But to get this affect it’s going to take a while. Some people report 6-12 months before this onset occurs. Be patient.

Your balance

Your balance is going to get a bit wibbly wobbly for a while. Alcohol affects the equilibrium and it’s not until 3-9 months before it comes back properly. You’re going to see weird things happen over time including potentially being way off balance.

You find yourself

Ok this one was cheesy. But nobody prepares you for the emotional changes you end up experiencing until it settles in for real. Then you get to see, experience and feel the best possible version of yourself.

So, now we ask you, our Live Rehab community, what things have you noticed that nobody warned you about in recovery?

Why Chemical Dependency Professionals must Understand Research, Data and How it Applies

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Chemical Dependency Professional Talking About Research
Chemical Dependency Professional Talking About Research

Have you been involved in a discussion with someone who claims they know better than science and data?  I think we all have.

I never wore a seat belt as a kid and I’m still alive.

My grandfather smoked and drank his whole life and lived until he was 103.

My sister beat cancer by thinking positive thoughts.  You can do the same!

Whether online or in person, there are hundreds are scenarios where people think they know better than actual scientific data and research.  When working in the field of addiction, it is critical to not fall into that same trap.  Even if a chemical dependency professional works with clients where their own unique experience helped them, it does not mean it will work for the next client.

Science and data is helpful as it gives a professional a place to start.  In order to fully implement methods into practice, the data and research must be understood.  Once understood, a professional must also be aware of the limitations of said research and be open to new information as well.

Again, as I always say, chemical dependency professionals are the ones on the front line and it is crucial to find the right balance between science and the realization that alternative methods may better suit the person who struggles with addiction.

Chemical Dependency Professional Treatment Knowledge

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Two Professionals Interacting
Two Professionals Interacting

Treatment Knowledge

Chemical Dependency Professionals must understand the philosophies and outcomes of various models of treatment to be able to adapt their practice to best suit their client.

What To Consider

There are many treatment concepts to consider such as pharmacology, mental health, social stigmas, and self and mutual health.  Chemical Dependency Professionals should also consider alternative therapeutic models that their clients may benefit from.  

Not Everyone Fits into the Same Box

When working with clients who struggle with substance use it’s important for Chemical Dependency Professionals to acknowledge that not every client fits in the same box and it is the professional’s job to accept a variety of approaches and be willing to try different models until something works.  Forcing a client into a specific model or approach will only backfire.

What Came First? The Chicken or the Egg?

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Co-Occurring Disorders

Co-Occurring Disorder is the medical term for someone who is diagnosed with both a substance use disorder and another mental health disorder such as depression, anxiety, etc.

What can be difficult to tell though is which one came first.  

[clickToTweet tweet=”Substance Use Can Trigger an Already There Mental Health Disorder #AddictionRecovery” quote=”Substance Use Can Trigger an Already There Mental Health Disorder” theme=”style3″]

Some people have underlying mental health disorders that are triggered by substance use.  For example, someone may be schizoaffective but the symptoms were dormant until they started to heavily drink alcohol or smoke marijuana.

Substance Use Can Cause a Mental Health Disorder that Was Never There to Begin With

Sometimes, a mental health disorder is caused by substance use or abuse.  For example, someone who drinks too much alcohol may later be diagnosed with depression due to their excessive alcohol use.  Or someone who does too much meth may be later diagnosed with anxiety which was caused by their excessive meth use.

A Mental Health Disorder Can Cause a Person to Use Substances to Relieve Symptoms

A third scenario is those who are were diagnosed with a mental health disorder prior to taking substances.  For example, someone who was diagnosed with ADHD, depression, or anxiety as a child may later turn to drugs or alcohol to help relieve some of those symptoms.  

It’s important for mental health professional and chemical dependency professionals to understand what came first or at least try to understand so the underlying issues can be treated.

Chemical Dependency Professionals Must Screen for All Scenarios

It’s also important for chemical dependency professionals to understand that some substance use disorders mimic mental health disorders and not to jump to a diagnosis conclusion too soon.  For example, someone who displays schizoaffective symptoms but uses a lot of hallucinogens or other substances may find the symptoms disappear after abstaining from substances for a period of time.

Chemical Dependency Professionals must be willing to reserve judgement until a complete evaluation is done and a period of abstinence is obtained.  Chemical Dependency Professionals must be willing to work with people who have symptoms of a co-occurring disorder but must also know when it’s time to refer out when the condition is outside their expertise.

No Fine or Jail Time for Possession or Dealers?

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Life here in the UK is vastly different from life in US. I know this may seem like a shock to many but having lived in both countries, I can say that the differences are clear. While both countries appear to be quite similar, the approach to health, social services and a desire for better outcomes for all, couldn’t be more apparent (let’s not talk Brexit right now!)

Let’s take for instance drug addiction and the approach that law enforcement takes. In fact, let’s focus on a narrow section of the UK who were recently in the news. For those unaware, Durham Chief Constable Mike Barton just announced that after a 2 year trial, they will stop arresting people who use drugs and ‘low level dealers’ in favour of sending them to a rehab program.

There are many things to unpack within this announcement and the impacts are incredible. While the US clings to its War on Drugs (with some of the more liberal states at least legalizing marijuana), more progressive countries realize that the way to help people who use drugs is not through jail time.

Avoiding prison means that people who struggle with an addiction don’t have to be punished once they get sober.

What do you mean by that?

Well for many people who struggle with an addiction, coming out of jail with a conviction basically eliminates them from many jobs (even though discrimination like that is likely illegal) and severely limits prospects for the future. So, then what happens? They go right back to using again.

It’s a familiar addiction recovery story we hear all the time. But it looks like Durham will be trying something a bit different this time around.

‘What’s the point in an addict going to court and getting a £50 fine? If they pay it at all, they will only steal or sell five bags of heroin to fund it. How does that help us?’ argued Mr Barton.

Well said.

You can read the entire article HERE.

Obviously, my hope for you is that you can obtain a life free from addictive substances so you don’t have to worry about being caught and having to face a fine or jail time.

We have a course, that helps people who struggle with opioids, learn how to kick their habit from home.  Check out our course HERE.

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