Dealing with triggers and cravings in early recovery is often difficult, but extremely necessary for maintenance of physical sobriety. Drug Treatment Florida, Drug Rehab Florida, Drug and alcohol treatment Florida, Alcohol rehab center Florida, Alcohol rehabilitation Florida and Drug and alcohol rehab Florida have noticed that the brain needs time to recover and develop new ways of coping with dangerous situations that became normal during active using and drinking. It is critical to avoid old people, places or things that are often the impetus of triggers and relapse in early recovery. Physical abstinence is merely the first step to recovery. Some helpful tips are as follows:
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Avoid people who you used to use drugs with. It is important to surround yourself with others who are in recovery and seeking to develop a life free of drugs and alcohol. David Kolker, Therapist at Sober Living Outpatient and Drug and alcohol treatment Florida, Drug rehabilitation Florida, Drug treatment centers Florida, Outpatient drug rehab Florida, and Outpatient drug treatment Florida states, “There is no good reason to hang out in a crack house unless you are going to smoke crack.”
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Bars and clubs are a bad idea in early recovery. Regardless of whether your drug of choice is alcohol or not, a drug is a drug is a drug. Bars and clubs are conducive to drinking and drinking lowers inhibition; thus, the temptation to use drugs is increased.
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It is important to be honest with medical providers when seeking treatment. Being honest with physicians and dentists, will assist a person to avoid relapse. Physicians, who are aware that you are in recovery, will utilize alternative methods of treating pain that avoid mood-alerting substances. Your responsibility is to protect yourself and your sobriety. It is a life and death disease.
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Use caution with prescription drugs. Stay away from prescription drugs with the potential for abuse or use only when necessary and with extreme caution. Outpatient rehab Florida, Drug and alcohol treatment, Drug and alcohol rehab and Outpatient drug rehab have observed that drugs with a high abuse potential include painkillers, sleeping pills, and anti-anxiety medication.
Coping with drug cravings
Sometimes craving cannot be avoided, and it is necessary to find a way to cope:
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Utilize activities that distract you for the moment. Examples include reading a book, finding a hobby, exercising, going to a movie theatre, calling friends on the phone, going to a 12-step meeting or walking on the beach.
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Have a conversation with a friend and talk through the craving. By trusting others enough to be honest with them about cravings, you will develop trust and confidence from others that you are serious about your recovery. Additionally, by speaking about the craving, you create an intervening event that assists in reducing the craving for the drug or alcohol. Cravings are a natural part of recovery and nothing to be ashamed of. Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome can last anywhere from 6-12 months after a person stops using drugs or drinking and can come in the form of using dreams, irritability and anxiety.
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Urge surf. Many people try to cope with their urges by gritting their teeth and toughing it out. But some are just too strong to ignore. When this happens, it can be useful to stay with the urge until it passes. This technique is called urge surfing. Imagine yourself as a surfer who will ride the wave of your drug craving, staying on top of it until it crests, breaks, and turns into less powerful, foamy surf.
Challenge and change your thoughts. When experiencing a craving, many people have a tendency to remember only the positive effects of the drug and forget the negative consequences. Therefore, you may find it helpful to remind yourself that you really won’t feel better if you use and that you stand to lose a lot. Sometimes it is helpful to have these benefits and consequences listed on a small card that you keep with you.
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