Top Five Mistakes in Early Recovery

Early recovery from drug and alcohol addiction holds a major paradox: The path to recovery becomes easier when you learn to accept the more difficult path.When you think about it, recovering from addiction involves immense strength and courage, addressing the trials and traumas of your past, and accepting that there may be many challenges along the way.

It can take a significant amount of pain and negative consequences to bring someone to the point of choosing to get help and begin a new life. Recovery is not an easy road; but it sure beats the “easier” path of using drugs and alcohol.

Because this new path does hold it’s share of challenges – early recovery can be a true test of your inner resources. Below, we have 5 common mistakes – and how to avoid them – in order to fuel your early recovery.

1. Expect Immediate Results

You didn't get into trouble overnight. Coming out of demands the same amount of respect. The that you were using drugs and alcohol in excess may have been a contributor to many of you problems, but the truth is – there’s a lot more to clean up. Addiction is a disease that tells us to want what we want when we want it. We wish everyone a long, slow recovery!

2. Comparing Yourself to Others

it’s easy for us to compare our worst attributes to the best attributes of other people. You may see someone who seems to have it all together; someone who is more physically fit, has more money, or is more attractive. However, there’s more than meets the eye. All you see is the surface of what those people are presenting to the world. You know what’s going on within your own skin, but you don’t know what goes on with other people. When you compare yourself to others, it’s easy to do so by looking at the external variables. 3.Obsessing About the Future

Prepare for the future but remain in the present. It’s a simple concept that is not so simple to follow – especially in early recovery. Working towards your goals in early recovery involves remaining focused on the here and now. Think about what you can do right now to continue on your journey in recovery; what can you do right now to make tomorrow just a little bit easier to stay on course? Doing something today to improve yourself will make tomorrow a little better. Plus, you will go to bed at the end of the day feeling a sense of accomplishment. 4.Overcommitting

You’ve finally taken your health into your own hands, and are finally free from the addiction to drugs and alcohol. Not only is your physical health improving, but your mental health is too. But just because you are healing doesn’t mean you can take on anything and everything immediately. Early recovery is your time to truly adjust, and focus on yourself. It’s a time to discover what is truly essential and important in your life, and take on only those commitments. By doing so, you’ll alleviate pressure and feelings of overload that can leave you with an overwhelming feeling of wanting to escape.

5. Think You Can Go it Alone Addiction takes a significant amount of self-reliance: it’s a disease that often demands lying, cheating, even stealing – to fund it. The disease of addiction also involves the dangerous world of isolation. It is no wonder that when people first enter recovery, it takes strength to try to turn this mindset around. Returing to this old thinking can lead you to believe that you don’t need to ask for help, and that asking for assistance or even just an ear to listen – is a sign of weakness. Instead, it takes great courage and a sense of self-reliance to ask for help. It takes humility to admit when you are struggling, and leap of faith to turn to others.

Looking to others who have also learned from others, means growing in your recovery. Big results come from big efforts. Making a big, conscious effort each day to stride towards a life of recovery will help you to achieve results. Avoiding these mistakes and constantly making recovery and self-improvement your top priority will help you to get there.

Safe Haven Recovery is a boutique Florida Treatment Center located in Miami, FL. We specialize in Suboxone Maintenance & Detox, along with, Couples Treatment. Call us today at 866-447-4650.

About the Author

Matthew Koenig is a freelance writer and principal of Last Call Marketing which devotes their efforts to Digital Marketing, SEO and Social Engagement. Concentrated in addiction recovery, Mr. Koenig is based out of South Florida. His sober date is June 10, 2013.

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