Creating a Happy Life Outside of Addiction

What Does it Take to Break Free From Addiction and Live a Happier Life?

An estimated 17 million Americans over the age of 12 currently suffer from an addiction to drugs and/or alcohol.

Many of these individuals do not seek help for their addiction and, sadly, end up with either life-long health problems or even worse — suffering from an overdose.

Admitting you have a problem and need help is often the most challenging thing for someone struggling to break free from addiction to do, but it also ensures you are able to enjoy a long, healthy life.

For every one that seeks help, recovery rarely comes easy.

In addition, figuring out how to lead a happy life once you’ve completed treatment and enter recovery to reach long-term sobriety typically seems like a completely new obstacle to overcome.

Rebuilding your life after addiction requires the same aspects that sobriety does – persistence, positivity, and a plan.

Here are eight ways to learn how to lead a happy and healthy life once you break free from addiction.

Practice Stress Management Techniques

Teaching you how to stay sober after you have completed your treatment is a major part of an effective recovery program.

Many programs teach stress management techniques as a way for their clients to avoid triggers and relapses.

However, stress isn’t the only addiction trigger – it also has a big impact on your mood and emotions.

Find a stress management technique that works for you, whether that be meditation or taking a hot bath, and utilize this whenever you feel stressed. Not only will it help you from relapsing, but it will also help calm negative emotions and bring you back to a happier mood.

Keep a Healthy Diet

If your addiction has lasted for more than a few months, chances are it took some kind of a toll on your overall physical health.

Eating healthy, balanced meals every day boosts your physical health by repairing some types of tissue damage, regulating your blood sugar, improving your complexion, and much more.

All of these changes create a feeling of health and wellness, which can improve your mood and physical health greatly.

Try to avoid caffeine, sugar, and refined carbs. Instead, stick to water, plenty of fruit and vegetables, whole grains, and lean meat where possible.

Exercise on a Regular Basis

Exercise doesn’t just help improve your physical health – it also has a big impact on your mental health as well.

Exercising releases endorphins, the chemicals responsible for making you feel happy and relaxed. Addiction hijacks these chemicals, making it difficult for your brain to release them naturally.

Having a regular exercise routine after treatment helps your brain relearn how to release dopamine, boosting your mood by making you feel happier and more relaxed. Exercise is also a great way to reduce stress, improve energy levels, and improve the quality of your sleep.

Stay on a Sleep Schedule

Even after going through recovery, it may surprise you to know that there have been many studies linking addiction to poor sleep. This is because addiction interrupts your body’s natural cycles, including your sleep cycle.

People struggling with addiction are five to 10 times more likely to have sleep disorders.

Even after you’ve become sober, it can be difficult to get back into a normal sleep routine. Set a time to go to bed each night and a time to wake up in the morning. Having a set sleep schedule teaches your body when it is time to relax, improving your mental health, and improving your overall mood.

Surround Yourself With Supportive People

Often, one of the most challenging things about getting back to your life after treatment is trying to rebuild a social life.

In many cases, people with addictions surround themselves with other people who also abuse drugs or alcohol.

After you’ve made the decision to get sober, these people will only serve as a temptation to relapse back into your old life.

Instead, you need to surround yourself with people who are positive and support your recovery. These people will celebrate your achievements and hold you accountable for any missteps.

Learn New Hobbies

Many individuals trying to break free from addiction will fill their free time by using drugs or alcohol, which means that having too much free time on their hands is dangerous when in recovery.

Now is the perfect time to pick up a new hobby.

It can be something you used to enjoy or always wanted to try, or it can be something completely new to you.

Hobbies don’t just help fill your free time. They also give you something constructive to do that you can feel proud of.

Spend Time Volunteering

When you are suffering from an addiction, it is easy to lose perspective on what really matters.

Sobriety is a gift because it means finding yourself again — despite all of the obstacles you have faced.

Spend time sharing your new-found lease on life by volunteering. Helping others, whether people or animals, helps remind you of what is important in life, improves your self-confidence, and gives you a feeling of a purpose beyond yourself and drug use.

Make Goals – and Pursue Them

After months or years of having your addiction take over so many aspects of your life, it is time for you to learn to focus on yourself again.

Now is the time to figure out what your goals in life are, and make a plan to help fulfill those goals.

You can start off small – maybe you want to get a pet or move to a better neighborhood. Outline how you can make these goals a reality, and follow the steps as closely as you can.

If something happens to derail your plan, don’t let it overwhelm you. Instead, figure out a way around the obstacle. Or, change your goals completely. There are no rules saying that you have to stick with a goal if it ends up not being right for you. Do whatever makes you happy.

After all the work you have put into recovery, you may feel frustrated there is still more work to do once you’re back home.

However, you don’t have to let negative feelings impact your recovery journey. Instead, utilize these eight tips to help stay positive, happy, and healthy.

Your new lease on life has just begun, and it is up to you how you are going to live it.

Emerald Isle Health and Recovery – Helping You Find Happiness and Healthiness in Recovery

Substance abuse problems are common in the United States.

These problems include alcoholism, drug use, and mental health illnesses.

Our team can assist in providing free insurance verification to ensure you receive all of the benefits your insurance policy offers.

Call Emerald Isle Health and Recovery today to start your way to a happy and healthy life after you break free from addiction.

To recover from AUD, you must get effective help. Successful recovery begins with supervised alcohol detox. This is where you receive help while going through alcohol withdrawal. When you finish detox, you take the next step in active AUD treatment.

AUD Treatment with Behavioral Therapy

AUD treatment combines medication with behavioral therapy. High-quality alcohol treatment near you relies solely on proven treatments. On the medication side, options include acamprosate, disulfiram and naltrexone. On the therapy side, they include CBT, 12-step facilitation and counseling. People affected by dual diagnosis receive a type of therapy called DBT. You may also receive additional forms of alcohol addiction treatment.

Health insurance is commonly used to pay for alcohol treatment. We simplify this process with a helpful insurance verification tool. We also accept other forms of payment including Medicaid.

Alcohol Addiction Treatment at Emerald Isle

Want to learn more about alcohol addiction treatment? The professionals at Emerald Isle are standing by to provide the timely help you need. You can also count on Emerald Isle for the region’s best alcohol treatment facilities. We’re dedicated to helping you recover from the effects of drinking problems.