Common Struggles in Recovery

Frequent Hurdles for those Recovering from Alcohol Addiction

Addiction and recovery can be different for everyone.  People face unique struggles in their treatment.  Different things trigger different people and relapse prevention can be as distinctive as a person’s fingerprint.  There are, however, some universal struggles for many people in addiction treatment.  This article will discuss just a few of the most common hurdles that arise as a person navigates their recovery.

  1. Entering into Recovery for the Wrong Reasons

Alcohol addiction is generally an all-encompassing disease that affects every aspect of a person’s life.  The decision to enter into recovery can be a difficult one.  It takes a commitment to changing not only your drinking habits but also your lifestyle.  You may have to alter your routines, the people you are around and the places you frequent.  The decision to abstain from alcohol is one that should be made for the health and happiness of those around you, but most importantly for yourself.

  • Isolating your recovery efforts

Loneliness and isolation can be a trigger for many people.  Building a support system is important to being successful in treatment.  Finding a community to help you in your recovery can be all the difference in your recovery efforts.

  • Not dealing with your emotions

If you are unwilling or unable to accept the myriad of emotions that come with addiction, then you may be setting yourself up for failure.  Feelings of anger and sadness are common triggers for relapse.  Understanding that it may take professional help to assist you in overcoming these emotions and learning how to cope with them is an important step.

  • Failing to realize that relapse can happen

Relapse is a very real part of recovery for many addicts.  Feelings of failure for a momentary lapse of judgment can send some people spiraling.  Relapse happens.  It can be frustrating and emotional but reaffirming your purpose for entering recovery can help you get back on track and understand what caused the relapse in the first place.

These are just a few of the common struggles for those recovering from alcohol addiction.  It is important that you speak with a medical professional about your fears, triggers and emotions during your treatment.