There can be a lot of apprehensions a person can feel once they achieve addiction recovery. They now need to begin their new sober lives by utilizing the skills and tools learned in treatment. Some may feel as though they have to take this important step by themselves now that they have completed treatment. This may also cause someone to feel anxious and worried about their possible future. They may gasp tightly to control, worried that any mistakes will undermine their hard work.
Thankfully, people don’t have to achieve addiction recovery alone. Having support from both peers and loved ones is vitally important for a successful recovery. This allows someone to find joy and meaning in their lives while giving them the room to be simple people. People can and do make mistakes. It’s part of being alive, especially in addiction recovery. Care must be taken to not let the desire for control overshadow your life and damage relationships. Understanding the difference between connection and control allows alumni to find a healthy balance in their addiction recovery.
Forging Connections in Addiction Recovery
Connections are incredibly important for those in addiction recovery. It’s well known that having encouraging support is a key aspect of seeking and completing treatment. These connections can be made up of several groups of people. They can be made up of family, both biological relatives and chosen family and friends. Peers are also important, especially for alumni. They know what it’s like to struggle with addiction and go through treatment as well. Having a strong support network of fellow peers can give you insight into the unique challenges of addiction recovery.
Driftwood Recovery encourages all clients to create healthy support networks while undergoing treatment. This allows clients to practice and learn the ins and outs of relationships under the guidance of mental health care professionals. There is always something to do within or around the Driftwood Recovery community, allowing clients to try new experiences. Addiction recovery doesn’t have to be a boring or frightening experience. By allowing yourself to make these connections, you find a steadfast ally you can count on when you need them the most.
Letting Go of Control in Addiction Recovery
It can be hard to accept that there are some things you cannot control in addiction recovery. Cravings, triggers, and more are something that will always be a part of your life. For many people, there is a desire to control these things so they don’t feel as though they somehow failed in their treatment. The fact of the matter is that you are not a failure to experience these things. They are a normal part of addiction recovery. Everyone who has ever been in addiction recovery has felt similar feelings to yourself. What matters is how you choose to cope with your feelings.
An unhealthy way to cope is to lock yourself away because you are afraid of encountering addiction triggers and other things that may upset you. Some people go as far as to try to control the lives of people around them to remove these upsetting parts of life. Though it’s good to establish healthy boundaries in your own home and space, it’s an entirely different matter to try to control the world around you. The world cannot be controlled, no matter how much you wish it to. Instead, it’s healthier to embrace the uncontrollable.
This can be done by going out and living. There are so many spontaneous wonders one can experience once one chooses to let go of control. Many people choose to rely on their friends and support network. Once you put yourself out there, it becomes easier to overcome the fear of losing control.
Finding a Healthy Balance
It’s possible to find a balance between control and connection in addiction recovery. Most addiction treatment programs will go over important coping skills needed for long-lasting addiction recovery. Part of this is learning to let go of what cannot be controlled by learning to trust in those you care about. Yes, you cannot control that there will be addiction triggers in public. But what you can trust is that you can contact a member of your support group to help you.
Clients at Driftwood Recovery spend time learning to place trust in others. It begins by trusting your treatment providers to never harm or judge you. Once your trust has been rewarded, it becomes easier to trust your peers and family. Eventually, it becomes possible to live your life in peace, confident that you can meet any challenge with your support ready to help you. It has been said that the absence of control is connection, which allows clients to let go and not be so hard on themselves. Mistakes will happen in addiction recovery, and that’s okay. With your support by your side, you can overcome anything. So, let go of trying to control life and focus on living it.
For those struggling with addiction, it can be hard to form connections with others. It’s also hard to cope with the absence or overabundance of control, especially when you feel helpless and alone. With the unique challenges faced by those living with addiction, it can be scary to seek help. Here at Driftwood Recovery in Driftwood and Austin, Texas, clients find compassionate and quality addiction treatment. With an emphasis on judgment-free treatment, clients find the community and support needed to overcome addiction and achieve recovery. Anyone can recover from addiction with the right help, including yourself. If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, don’t wait to get help. Call Driftwood Recovery today at (512) 759-8330.