According to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, addiction is a powerful disease that affects over 20 million people each year in the U.S. alone.¹ With over 93,000 overdose deaths reported in 2020, understanding recovery options and treatment services are more critical than ever before to people in all stages of recovery and non-addicts helping loved ones.²

While many treatment programs are available to those suffering from addiction, people don’t always consider some of the struggles that await. Too often, addicts equate recovery with immediate abstinence and “wellness.” This type of thinking can lead to relapse.

Instead, it’s essential to reflect on the many stages of recovery. Knowing what to expect in the early stages of recovery through the last can make the process more manageable. It also increases the chances of success after treatment.

Some of the Challenges Faced in the First Stages of Recovery

Addiction doesn’t just affect the physical body. It’s a disease that can alter the way the brain perceives what it needs to feel satisfied. This can make it challenging to deal with cravings in the early stages of recovery.

Handling Unexpected and Powerful Cravings

Cravings that feel overwhelming are usual within the early stages of recovery. During a person’s active addiction, they feed these cravings quickly. In early recovery, a recovering addict must take a multi-faceted approach to keep cravings at bay.

No, you may not be able to eliminate these cravings, but you will be learning various techniques and strategies to cope. For some, it’s about learning to avoid craving triggers. For others, it’s faithfully practicing behavioral strategies to regulate emotions linked to cravings. Either way, it typically takes more than just willpower to manage.

Managing Strong Emotions

The early stages of addiction recovery are bound to come with some strong and potentially difficult emotions. Sometimes, these emotions are linked to physical distress specific to withdrawal symptoms. Other times, such feelings reveal mental health issues that the individual once covered up with drugs or alcohol.

Common emotions experienced during this phase of recovery include:

Stress
Anger
Sadness
Anxiety
Depression

Whether a person is dealing with one or more of these emotions at a time, it will be essential to have a clear and present support team in place to help. Everyone from therapists to family and friends can make a huge impact when life feels overwhelmed with emotions.

Recognizing the Potential for Relationship Issues

Make no mistake that recovery from addiction is a good and positive step forward. However, many who enter recovery don’t always take time to consider that some relationships they’ve established may suffer as a result.

For some in recovery, the early phases of the process reveal a collection of broken relationships they didn’t even realize addiction had caused along the way. Addiction quickly diminishes trust among friends and family as an addict makes finding a fix a priority and often uses deception to avoid being caught.

During active addiction, it’s likely that the addict formed relationships based solely on substance use. When a person decides to enter treatment, those who have supported that person’s dependency or addiction for so long may see it as an act of betrayal.

It’s essential to recognize that throughout the recovery process, some relationships will need to be rebuilt. Others are going to be lost. It’s a time of transition on many levels.

Seeing Beyond the Symptoms of the Initial Stages of Recovery

There’s nothing easy about early-stage recovery, but the effort is worthwhile. Combating addiction begins with facing hard facts about the disease head-on. From here, those in recovery will only grow stronger, especially with suitable support systems in place.

Above all, it’s a process. Those in recovery are making a long-term commitment to themselves and their health. In the end, getting back a life you love is worth every effort.

Reach Out to Ocean Hills Recovery Today

When you’re ready to start your recovery from addiction, our team at Ocean Hills Recovery is here for you. Our compassionate and professional staff will work with you to create a unique plan for your success and long-term sobriety. We’ll help you build the skills and support systems to improve your chances of beating substance problems for good.

Reach out today to learn more about our many treatment programs and services.

Sources:
[1] https://drugabusestatistics.org/
[2] https://www.statnews.com/2021/07/14/us-overdose-deaths-record-2020-pandemic/

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long does drug and alcohol rehab last?

The length of your stay at drug and alcohol rehab will vary for each person attending rehab and from treatment center to treatment center. Most inpatient programs are at least 30 days long; however, some programs may incorporate a shorter inpatient stay with a more extended outpatient stay. The best rehab centers will provide a more custom treatment plan for each person that takes into account the individual’s needs before determining the length of treatment. Ocean Hills Recovery offers a variety of options for addiction treatment. A typical stay at our inpatient drug and alcohol rehab programs last between 30 to 45 days.

Do I need inpatient or outpatient treatment?

Outpatient is an excellent option for people who are unable to take time away from work or their families while receiving addiction treatment. Inpatient treatment is an excellent option for people who can be away from their work or families for at least several weeks for treatment. We recommend that you contact a reliable treatment center, like Ocean Hills Recovery, for a complete assessment before you decide whether inpatient or outpatient treatment for addiction is best for you.

Should I get addiction treatment locally or away?

The answer to whether you should go away or stay local for addiction treatment is very individual. Many people need to get away from their everyday life for them to fully submerge themselves in their addiction recovery process. For these individuals, going to an out of state treatment center is the best option to be able to commit fully and concentrate on their recovery. For others, this is not an option because of work or family obligations.

What do I do if I don’t have insurance for drug rehab?

There are options for drug rehab, even if you don’t have insurance. When you decide to get help, the best thing to do is to find a treatment philosophy that you believe may help and contact them for assistance. Rehab professionals can help you determine if you have insurance coverage for addiction treatment, and what options are best for you. Many drug rehabs accept insurance but also have private pay, or financing options available. Contact our rehab admissions specialist today, and we can help you navigate insurance questions, payment options, and treatment plans.

How to find a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center?

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website is a great place to start when you are looking for a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center. We recommend that you make a list of a few different centers to contact and speak with them to get a feel for their programs, therapies, and staff and find the center that you feel most comfortable with. Have a list of questions that you can ask each center to help you through the process. One of the most important questions to ask is if the rehab holds accreditation by CARF. Having a state license is no longer enough to ensure that a rehab center is reputable. If the rehab holds CARF accreditation, they have had to meet a more strict set of guidelines and procedures.

Do I need detox before addiction treatment?

Many people require detox to help manage withdrawal from alcohol and other drugs. There are several factors that we take into consideration to determine if you will need detox before addiction treatment. Our admissions professionals work with each person to obtain a thorough history of substance use and other medical conditions to help make the appropriate recommendations for care. You must give accurate information so that we can keep you as comfortable as possible if you are experiencing withdrawal symptoms. However, detox is only the first step in addiction recovery. For long-lasting addiction recovery, a person must deal with the underlying issues that lead to substance use in the first place. Contact us today for a confidential assessment.

What to Expect in the Early Stages of Recovery