12th February 2020 • Sticky Post

Making the Most of Addiction Treatment: 8 Things to Remember

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Everyone who enters an addiction treatment program with the goal of ending their addiction and reclaiming their life should be congratulated. But evidence has shown us that certain methods, practices, and behaviors can greatly influence your chance of success in recovery. An inpatient or outpatient addiction treatment program is an excellent first step, but it is only one step on a long journey toward reclaiming your life and finding fulfillment. Today we’ll be taking a look at what you can do to get the most out of your addiction treatment experience and pave the way toward recovery that lasts.

1) Stay Openminded

Never lose sight of the fact that your previous attitudes, thought patterns, decisions, and behaviors have led you to addiction treatment. You’re in treatment because you’ve recognized that the time has come for dramatic changes in your life. One of the greatest gifts you can give yourself at the beginning of treatment is an open mind. There are myriad options that are available for healing yourself. 12 Step Programs, SMART Recovery, traditional psychotherapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, iboga, yoga, exercise, mindfulness, ayahuasca, nutritional therapy, art, music, abstinence, medication, and family support have all helped thousands battle their addictions, and there are even more treatment options out there.

Effective treatment isn’t one size fits all, and everyone entering the process should look at every option before choosing the method they think will meet their individual needs. It’s also important to remind yourself that you are looking to make a drastic change in your life. You’ll need to step outside of your comfort zone and confront painful memories, physical and mental challenges, and learned behaviors. Being uncomfortable and experimenting with new ways of thinking and living is going to be part of the recovery process.

2) Ask For Help

For every addict who has “gone cold turkey”, there are thousands who have relied on peer support, sponsors, family members, friends, and recovery professionals. There is absolutely no shame in needing support and guidance in rehab. The people around you in treatment have been through these wars, and they’ll be happy to share what they’ve learned with you. Remember that 12 Step programs view themselves as “we” programs, meaning that together, their members can do what no individual member could manage alone. We think this is a beautiful message for the entire recovery community. All of us are in the same boat, and we’re all here to help.

3) Honesty Matters

Addiction forces every addict to become a habitual liar. Addicts lie to themselves even more than to their co-workers or loved ones, telling themselves that they’re in control, that they’re about to cut back or stop, that they’re okay. Entering treatment is an act of breathtaking honesty, a necessary admission that you’ve become powerless, and a commitment to change your life. But old habits die hard, and the shame of admitting that you still crave a substance, or that you are feeling emotionally overwhelmed and anxious as you begin to rebuild your life can result in a return to dishonesty. Finding someone you can be completely honest with, and sharing every struggle and craving you experience can be hugely beneficial. Keeping a journal in order to explore all of your thoughts, feelings, and struggles with a clear eye is also massively helpful. Dishonesty will likely isolate you from your peers, cause you to feel ashamed, and push you toward “emotional relapse.” Honesty will allow you to get the help you need, and create the foundation for true healing.   

4) Family Matters, Too

Family support is quickly becoming a cornerstone of treatment at many recovery centers. A sense of isolation is an extremely common side-effect of addiction, and involving loved ones in recovery can be a significant counterweight to that debilitating feeling, motivating addicts to rebuild meaningful bonds of love. In addition to the sentimental argument, medical studies have shown that perceived social and emotional support from loved ones leads to better treatment outcomes. Sharing your struggles and triumphs with the people you love provides powerful motivation and support to those in rehab.

5) Listen Up

This sounds simple. It is simple. But it’s also shocking how often we remain deep in our own thoughts while others try to communicate with us. Truly focusing on what other people try to share with us allows us to build meaningful connections. It also means that we’ll be taking their advice to heart. Remember, you came to rehab to look for answers. When others try to help you find them, the least you can do is give them your undivided attention.

6) Give Addiction Treatment Your All

In treatment, you are trying to change the thought patterns, physiological changes, and behaviors that have developed over years or even decades of addiction. If you think that this can be accomplished easily, you’re wrong. It isn’t a straightforward process, and it will demand a tremendous physical and mental effort. To succeed, you’ll need to enter rehab prepared to work hard, and ready to confront parts of yourself that you’ve been avoiding. If you’re breezing through the process, it means you’re doing it wrong. Treatment requires confronting pain, trauma, and your worst self. The good news is, it’s worth the struggle!

7) Addiction Stays With You After Treatment

Medical evidence shows that “continuing care” beyond the initial phase of treatment yields significant benefits for those in recovery. You should work with your treatment provider to create an aftercare plan that works for you. This doesn’t mean just going to peer support meetings. It could mean therapy, whether traditional or CBT. It could mean continuing daily yoga or mindfulness practice. Aftercare could be as simple as defining your core values and aspirations for life and building a system of rewards for making progress towards your goals. As with choosing a rehab center, creating the right aftercare plan for yourself depends on your personality and individual needs. But continuing the daily practices you adopt in treatment, whether meditation, meetings, prayer yoga, journaling, or simply going for a walk and making your bed, is highly recommended for creating positive patterns of behavior.

8) Reach Out And Help Others

The “we” idea discussed earlier is a beautiful way to view rehab. Virtually no one overcomes addiction by themselves. Taking the lessons you’ve learned from your experience and sharing them with those in need is a wonderful way to find meaning in your own life, and a constant reminder of the devastating toll addiction takes on individuals and society. By helping others battle addiction, you’re helping yourself and creating a better world. We can’t recommend it highly enough.

If you’re interested in putting this advice to work and think ibogaine treatment is something you’d like to explore, don't hesitate to get in touch with Iboga Tree Healing House today!