By Jennifer McDougall
While in treatment for a drug addiction issue, it is critical to developing various life skills to maintain stability and exercise independence. Individuals struggling with codependency and drug addiction frequently struggle to be self-reliant and consistently make healthy judgments. Learning to cope with life, grief, and change is essential for addiction recovery. Many individuals who develop a substance addiction begin by using drugs and alcohol as coping techniques. Unfortunately, it quickly escalates into a full-fledged addiction.
The Top 10 Things You Need to Learn in Rehab
- How to practice accountability for all of your actions, goals, and responsibilities. Start by not blaming others for your actions or using excuses for why you did or didn’t do something. Own up to everything.
- Make daily self-care a ritual you cannot and will not neglect under any circumstances. Taking care of the needs of your mind, body, and spirit is the most important thing of all. If you do not fuel yourself with a healthy diet, exercise, rest, healthy boundaries, and lots of laughter, how do you ever expect to contribute more good to this world? It all starts with YOU.
- Know how to confidently say “NO” without any guilt. The more you practice saying no to things that do not align with your values or are not good for you or your wellbeing, the easier it will become to politely decline without hesitation or explanation.
- Learn how to be financially responsible, disciplined, and stick to a monthly budget. This can help you pay off any debt you owe and save up money to hopefully start investing to earn even more money and gain financial independence. Take an online course or read a book on managing your finances and understanding the importance of paying your bills on time.
- Understand what it takes to build healthy and meaningful relationships. Discuss with your therapist techniques to be mindful while having conversations and establishing deeper interpersonal relationships.
- Know your triggers and how to deal with them. After rehab, there will be times when something happens, and it triggers you to feel a certain way (angry, sad, mad, jealous, etc.). You need to know the cause of those triggers and how to deal with them when they come up.
- Learn how to have fun and destress without drugs and alcohol. Although you may know by now that drugs and alcohol are not substances that make you happy, but rather create an illusion of temporary happiness that turns very sour. You must practice having fun and being playful while avoiding anything that could be considered reckless or dangerous.
- Practice asking for help when you need it. The longer you wait, the bigger the problem grows. So ask for help early on.
- Keep a close watch on who you surround yourself with, whose advice you follow, and what type of content your feed your mind. Everything around you has an influence. Be sure those influences are positive and healthy.
- Never label yourself, degrade yourself, or beat yourself up for doing or being a certain way in the past. Rehab is a place to heal and grow, not a place to sulk and be miserable because you didn’t know better before.
How to Contact Passages Malibu
Call Passages Addiction Treatment Centers today if you or a loved one is battling an addiction to drugs and alcohol. Our admissions department is available 24/7 and can be reached directly by calling our toll-free number (888) 397–0112. We look forward to speaking with you soon.
