How To Find Hope During Your Addiction Recovery
The road to addiction recovery is rarely smooth, and if you’re somebody on that journey now, it might be that you’re struggling at the moment. It might be that you are tempted to relapse, or you may have given in to temptation and are now feeling frustrated and guilty.
If so, don’t give up hope. While it might seem like a glib thing to say, there is light at the end of the tunnel. If you hold onto hope, you will have more of a desire to recover. You can beat your addiction problem, no matter how hard it seems, and there will be a day when everything seems more comfortable.
So, consider the following. If you’re struggling, we hope these suggestions help you find hope. And the same applies if you’re somebody supporting a loved one through addiction, as you may be able to offer advice when they need it.
Seek professional help if you haven’t yet done so
Chances are, you may have sought help for your addiction problem already. But if not, and you have been trying to go it alone, look for a treatment center near you. With residential inpatient treatment, alongside aftercare, you will be given the support you need to overcome your addiction as you finish rehab. Commit to a Google search today and reach out to any service local to you.
You can explore more about addiction treatment for spiritual growth and find a program that aligns with your specific needs. Addiction recovery isn’t just about physical healing. It’s also crucial to prioritize your mental and spiritual health.
Addiction Recovery: Listen to stories of hope
You aren’t the only person to struggle with an addiction, and you most certainly won’t be the last. This might be encouraging to hear, and you might also be encouraged to know that many people overcome their addiction problems. You will be able to hear some of these stories if you attend a 12-step meeting, such as Narcotics Anonymous, and there are blogs and podcasts online that will offer you a reason to hope. We also recommend the documentary Life After The Navigator, which details the life of a former child actor who managed to turn his life around after a personal battle with drugs.
Lean on a higher power
In many 12-step programs, participants are encouraged to lean on a power greater than themselves. This is important, as it is an admittance that it is difficult to overcome addiction through pure willpower alone. So, while you should certainly draw on others’ support if you do have faith in God, pray! Pray when you’re feeling weak and when you’re feeling strong. Pray for the strength to continue on your road to recovery, and ask for the courage to start again. And if you’re unsure how to pray, ask others to pray for and with you if they have the faith to do so.
Develop a plan for your future
Where do you want to be in the next six months, year, or ten years? What do you want your life to look like? Think about it, and create an action plan to get to where you need to be. If your project has firm action steps and attainable goals, you will start to build hope when you understand your vision is achievable. You don’t need to work on this plan alone. Turn to your sponsor if you have one or your therapist, and reach out to family and friends who may be willing to help you too.
Don’t lose hope! Many people struggle, and many people relapse, but these same people also conquer the obstacles that are in their way. Be kind to yourself today, find help where you need it, and continue on this road until you start to find freedom from your personal addiction.
