Coping with challenges associated with addiction treatment: Intelligent ways of containing drug addiction professionally

Coping with challenges associated with addiction treatment can be very difficult if you chose to face it on your own however with support from experts and loved ones the burden becomes much easier to bear.

If you have been with us on this very informative journey of delivery health information concerning our health, you must be aware that drug addiction is very dangerous and both socially, physically and psychologically to everyone. It has no boundaries and does not care whom to affect, when and how to attack. From the previous article we have intensively dealt with several mechanisms, pathways, intelligent and mart ways of dealing with complications that come with drug addiction. You can make reference to those articles but for the purpose of this article we want to focus our discussion on the topic “coping with challenges associated with addiction treatment and recovery process.” We therefore want to invite you to stay with us on the link as we engage the services of doctor Dalal Akoury a veteran addiction expert of over two decades to shade more light on the strategies of coping with challenges associated with addiction treatment in our societies.

Coping with challenges associated with addiction treatment: Coping with drug cravings

Experts from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center a facility founded by Doctor Dalal Akoury are in agreement that sometimes craving cannot be avoided in certain circumstances and therefore in such time it is necessary to find coping ways to the problem. The following are some of the ways you can adopt to cope with cravings:

Get involved in some distracting activity – Distracting activities like reading, a hobby, going to a movie, exercising (jogging, biking) are some of the good examples that can be very effective in helping containing the escalation of substance abuse. This is so because ordinarily once you get interested in something else, you’ll find the urges go away. Another effective response to a drug craving is eating however when implementing this careful attention must be taken of ensuring that you eat a lot of junk food which are likely to add you more stress and inches to your waistline.

Sharing the problem with others – There is a lot of benefits is sharing problems and like it is always said that a problem shared is half solved, it therefore means that talking to your friends or family members about craving when it occurs is indeed seeking for solutions. Talking about cravings and urges can be very helpful in pinpointing the source of the craving. Also, talking about craving often helps to discharge and relieve the feeling and will help restore honesty in your relationship. Craving is nothing to feel bad about.

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 for reference purposes.

Coping with challenges associated with addiction treatment: Build a meaningful drug free life

You can support your drug treatment and protect yourself from relapse by having activities and interests that provide meaning to your life. It’s important to be involved in things that you enjoy and make you feel needed. When your life is filled with rewarding activities and a sense of purpose, your addiction will lose its appeal.

Pick up a new hobby – Do things that challenge your creativity and spark your imagination, something you’ve always wanted to try.

Adopt a pet – Yes, pets are a responsibility, but caring for an animal makes you feel loved and needed. Pets can also get you out of the house for exercise.

Get involved in your community – Replace your addiction with drug-free groups and activities. Volunteer, become active in your church or faith community, or join a local club or neighborhood group.

Set meaningful goals – Having goals to work toward and something to look forward to can be powerful antidotes to drug addiction. It doesn’t matter what the goals are whether they involve your career, your personal life, or your health, just ensure that they are important to you.

Look after your health – Regular exercise, adequate sleep, and healthy eating habits help you keep your energy levels up and your stress levels down. When you feel good, drugs are much less of a temptation. The more you can do to stay healthy, the easier it will be to stay sober.

Coping with challenges associated with addiction treatment: Don’t let relapse keep you down

Relapse is a common part of the recovery process from drug addiction. While relapse is understandably frustrating and discouraging, it can also be an opportunity to learn from your mistakes and correct your treatment course.

What causes relapse? – Various “triggers” can put people at risk of relapsing into old patterns of substance use. Causes of relapse can differ for each person. Some common ones include:

• negative emotional states (such as anger, sadness, trauma or stress)
• physical discomfort (such as withdrawal symptoms or physical pain)
• positive emotional states (wanting to feel even better)
• testing personal control (“I can have just one drink”)
• strong temptations or urges (cravings to use)
• conflict with others (such as an argument with a spouse or partner)
• social pressures to use (situations where it seems as though everyone else is drinking or using other drugs)
• good times with others (such as having fun with friends or family)

Finally doctor Akoury says that the most important thing to remember is that relapse doesn’t mean treatment failure. Therefore instead of giving up, it is important that you get back on the wagon as quickly as you can. Call your sponsor, talk to your therapist, go to a meeting, or schedule an appointment with your doctor. When you’re sober again and out of danger, look at what triggered the relapse, what went wrong, and what you could have done differently. You can choose to get back on the path to recovery and use the experience to strengthen your commitment.

Coping with challenges associated with addiction treatment: Intelligent ways of containing drug addiction professionally