Quitting drugs or alcohol is an uphill journey, no matter how determined you are. It is easy to lose your way and give up on your goals. Statistics show that nearly 284 million people around the world battle with addiction. Sadly, the number translates into a 26% increase from the last decade.
Conversely, there are some encouraging facts for people embarking on the journey. Around 75% of them succeed, though full remission can take some time. The average number of recovery attempts is five, while the median number is only two. You can seek inspiration from these numbers and create a roadmap to recovery.
At this point, you should also identify the challenges that may hinder your progress. Awareness enables you to create an actionable strategy to overcome these hindrances and maximize the outcomes of your rehab journey.
Here are the challenges people often encounter during addiction recovery.
Mental Health Issues
Studies establish a link between addiction and mental health issues. Both should be treated simultaneously because mental health problems can slow down or even stall recovery. After developing a dependency on a substance, giving it up can test your emotional and physical limits.
Some of the co-occurring disorders people with addiction experience are:
- Generalized anxiety disorder
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Eating disorders
- Bipolar disorder
- Schizophrenia
While these conditions are severe, drug addiction counseling can help you deal with them strategically. An expert can diagnose these issues and suggest a treatment regimen to adopt along with your rehab program.
Canadian Centre for Addictions recommends working with a provider offering holistic rehab and recovery support, including mental health counseling. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) are some viable therapies.
Relapse
Overcoming addiction isn’t an overnight miracle. You may struggle to sustain sobriety. Relapse is another challenge that can affect your progress along the road to recovery. Even the most committed people fail to overcome a sudden craving or temptation. The worst part is that your addiction may worsen after a relapse.
According to a study, 40-60% of people relapse after completing rehab and detoxification treatments. Also, the risk of relapse is the highest during the detox stage, when your system fights back to get rid of the substances it is addicted to. Withdrawal symptoms such as mood swings, sleeplessness and digestive issues can push you back.
Professional care during the detox process can be a savior. Trained addiction experts can help patients manage their symptoms with medication or counseling. They also create a safe environment where one doesn’t have to worry about steering clear of the temptation.
Social Stigma
People struggling with addiction often encounter social stigma during recovery. Many individuals feel ashamed or embarrassed because of the attitudes of family, friends, colleagues and the community. Imagine the pain of being isolated or feeling like an outcast within your family, social circles or workplace. It fosters a feeling of failure and hopelessness, hampering your progress.
Support is a cornerstone of addiction treatment. Be open about communicating with loved ones and seeking support because you can rely on them. You may not expect the same from colleagues and neighbors, but try explaining your intention to recover to bring them on your side. Professional support is equally vital.
Knowing that you have cheerleaders supporting you enables you to overcome the obstacle of social stigma. Moreover, it makes you accountable to someone and discourages you from going in the wrong direction.
Self-Doubt
Self-doubt is another psychological battle that people deal with during addiction recovery. You want to beat the habit but doubt your ability to achieve the goal. The worst part about self-doubt is that it can create negative thoughts even when you make progress during treatment. For example, you may encounter unpleasant memories about a relapse.
Such thoughts can make you feel like a failure regardless of the small victories you achieve along the way. A mental health counselor can motivate you and cultivate a belief that you can beat addiction and sustain sobriety for a lifetime. Also, look for someone fighting the same battle to share your feelings without the fear of being judged.
Financial Struggles
The hindrances of addiction recovery go beyond the emotional ones. You may also face significant financial troubles along the way. In the early stages of substance use, you spend only on buying them. But as you move toward abuse or addiction, your spending might increase and even exhaust your savings.
The cost of addiction eventually includes:
- Increased health, car and life insurance premium cost
- Medical costs due to addiction-related health issues
- Legal bills, such as drug-related legal problems and DUI tickets
- Missing days at work, losing employment and failing to find a new job
As costs pile up, they affect your finances, career and relationships because you cannot manage things. You may fall into the vicious cycle of stress-related intake in the long run. The cost of rehab may deter you from seeking help, reducing your chances of achieving sobriety.
Lifestyle Transitions
The transition from your home to a rehab facility and back home again is not easy. Once you are home, you may struggle to gain control and settle into an independent life of sobriety. It is like leaving the safety net and being on your own, with the freedom to make choices. At the same time, you need to manage responsibilities at home, restart your career and rework your relationships.
The load may be overwhelming enough to lead you back on the road to relapse. You should develop new coping strategies to avoid addiction and focus on recovery. You may even consider enrolling in a transitional living program to maintain accountability, get professional help and seek peer support.
Wrapping Up
Addiction recovery is not easy, so you should not expect it to be a breeze. You may face challenges one after the other, from emotional turmoil to financial struggles, social stigma and self-doubt. But staying a step ahead of these hindrances is the best way to cope with them. You can win small battles with a strategic approach and eventually beat addiction for good.
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