The 4 Steps of Starting Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery
If you are seeking alcohol or drug addiction recovery, you may be worried about what the process entails. Although addiction treatment is different at every rehab center and for every person, the basic steps are the same for everyone everywhere. They include evaluating the problem, detoxifying your body, establishing and implementing a long-term plan, and going to therapy.
1. Evaluating the Problem
The first step is having a doctor and therapist evaluate your addiction in order to create the best treatment plan for you. They will also assess if you suffer from other health issues, including mental health problems such as anxiety or depression.
2. Detoxifying Your Body
The second step in alcohol and drug addiction recovery is detoxing, or removing the substances from your body. The hardest part of this process is experiencing withdrawals. The good news is that there are many ways to help alleviate the symptoms, including:
- Healthy food
- Hydration
- Mindfulness and meditation
- Exercise
3. Establishing a Long-Term Plan
The third step is establishing and implementing a plan you can use for the rest of your life. Recovery continues well past rehab, so it’s important you have a plan to keep you not only sober, but also happy and healthy. Your doctor and therapist will create a plan that works for you and make changes to it as necessary.
4. Going to Therapy
Addictions serve as coping mechanisms for emotional and physical pain. Going to therapy—individually, in a group, as a family, or all three—can help you discover and address the underlying emotional or physical trauma. You will learn how to identify and express your emotions, manage emotional and physical pain, handle triggers to avoid relapse, and recover from slips and relapses.
These four steps of addiction treatment are only the foundation of your recovery journey. Learn about the additional resources and tools Brighton Recovery Center offers to help you stay clean and enjoy life.
