Opioid addiction has become a multinational epidemic, and the rates of opioid overdose deaths are skyrocketing. If you or someone you love is struggling with opioid use disorder, it can be difficult to know what to do next. Fortunately, there are many resources available that can help guide you through this process. In this blog post, we will explore 6 tips for navigating opioid addiction that has helped people just like you take back their lives and keep them!
Be diligent about long-term recovery
The best path to recovery is to treat it like a lifelong process. Don’t loosen up on your mindset (or worse, your sobriety) after a few weeks or months of abstinence. Use the time you have been sober to set some long-term goals for yourself and make plans on how to achieve those goals even when life gets tough.
Plan ahead for difficult days
Even if you are committed to lifelong recovery, there will be times where it is challenging to stay sober. Having a plan in place ahead of time for these difficult days will make it easier to cope and resist using. This could be as simple as having people you can call, or attending a support group.
Get comfortable with uncomfortable feelings
Being sober involves feeling uncomfortable emotions like sadness, anger, and anxiety that may have been numbed by drugs in the past. Getting comfortable with uncomfortable feelings is part of what helps to make lasting recovery possible. This can be done through therapy (like cognitive behavioral therapy), support groups (such as Alcoholics Anonymous), journaling, meditation/mindfulness practice, exercise, art-making, etc.
Find hobbies that don’t involve using substances
After using drugs or alcohol for so long, it may be difficult to imagine life without them. It can take some time to figure out how you want to spend your free time now that you are sober. Try finding hobbies that don’t involve getting high—going on hikes, watching movies with friends, playing sports/games, cooking new dishes at home, etc. There are many options to explore!
Seek opportunities for service work or volunteerism
Helping others can be incredibly rewarding and fulfilling—and it doesn’t have to involve actually helping other people struggling with addiction. If you’re passionate about ending the opioid epidemic, there are plenty of ways to contribute your time/energy without having to deal with the intensity of helping someone in active addiction. You can help raise awareness about opioid use disorder, volunteer at an addiction recovery center, or work for policy change to reduce barriers to treatment/recovery services.
Establish healthy relationships outside of your home
The dynamics within families and romantic partnerships can be complicated when one person is struggling with addiction. It can be hard for others to understand what you are going through, and it may feel like there is no way out. If possible, seek support from friends/family who will offer a better understanding of your situation without judgment or criticism—and make sure that the people in your life outside of the home aren’t enabling any sort of unhealthy or dangerous behavior.
There are lots of online groups, message boards, and forums that can also provide networking resources in your city.
These 6 tips for navigating opioid addiction that you learned in this blog post are just the beginning. There is a lot of information out there, and it can be overwhelming to figure out where to start or what resources are best suited to your specific needs. If you are looking to begin treatment or find help with ongoing treatment, Daymark Recovery has your back!
