Addiction Treatment - Drug Rehab | 1800NoDrugs

« A Personal look at Alcoholism | Main | How Can You Treat Dual Diagnosis? »

Surviving Addiction Treatment and Recovery

The stages, although designed to be as comfortable as possible, are rigorous, demanding,, and can feel completely intolerable.

The ordeal of detox is an obvious example that can feel quite like torture itself, but the invasion of privacy alone can be equally as uncomfortable. The fact is, that nothing about addiction is comfortable. It is not amiable. It is not something that anyone would ever want. It latches on to a person like a vicious dog that refuses to let go, and hangs from whatever thread left dangling by it’s slavering teeth. Removing these threads and any other mentality and learned behavior that the addiction can hold onto is not a fun and enjoyable experience. Addiction treatment and recovery are hard work, but gaining the tools to create a better life is well worth the time and the effort.

Anger is not an uncommon feeling to an addict, and when I was younger I tried to perfect the emotion by exhibiting it at all times. I was not sure quite where the anger had come from; it seemed like it had always been there. I was so unhappy that I wanted everyone to feel the same. The strange thing, is that while on the outside I showed the world a tough untouchable exterior, on the inside I was a wreck…I was scared, confused, and alone.

I was not thrilled to be in drug rehab. I made it clear to everyone that I was there to do my time, be released, and get on with my life. I did not want any help and shunned every gesture of friendliness. In fact I pretty much did the opposite of whatever I felt, so know one could ever possible pin me down and get to know the real me.

Fortunately the addiction counselors saw right through this act and I found myself exposed, and very uncomfortable. It was at this point that the real work began. Unable to go on with my act, I had to begin to be honest and to open up. This was a lot more work then pretending could ever be. I found mental and emotional damage I had been unaware of, and memories that were so buried they were literally painful to dig up.

There were moments of embarrassment; times when I wanted to escape; give up; and run away. There were times, when I took a step back and reverted to old behavior patterns.

There were moments of triumph; when I first began to feel like I was part of something; when the anger drained away and I began to look forward instead of back.

There were moments of surprise, when I found myself having a civilized conversation with my parents, instead of the typical abuse and misunderstanding. I began to feel good about myself for the first time in years. I began to feel that I could go through drug rehab and be all right. I could make it.

The key to surviving addiction treatment and recovery is to be honest, open, willing, and true to yourself. Like anything in life, there will be tough times and good times; moments of despair and moments of defining truth. Addiction treatment and alcohol recovery takes an enormous inner strength that once acquired will never go away. Be strong and take back your life.