I Want to Recover: The First Steps

Many people struggling with addiction want to recover. However, they simply don’t know where to begin. If you are struggling with addiction, you may ask yourself, “Who can I trust? Who can I reach out to? What can I afford? Where can I go?” These are all reasonable questions, but the most important question that you should ask is, “What will happen if I don’t get help?” The answer could be devastating.

I Want to Recover: The First Steps

The first steps of recovery can be broken down into four categories. First, one has to recognize that there is a problem. Of course, you have to know the signs and symptoms to look out for first (more on that shortly).

Second, you have to reach out for help. This can be difficult for people. The good news is that there are many helpful recovery centers and addiction recovery organizations that are ready and waiting to help. Third, you must accept the help that is offered. This takes an essential state of surrender that you are willing to try something new to save your life.

Finally, fourth, you have to take action. Recovery is a program of action. You have to want to recover, and if you want it, then you have to work for it. It is also important to remember that recovery is not a one-and-done event. It is a new way of life.

Recognizing a Problem

Now, of course, you can’t recognize the problem if you don’t know what the problem is. That is why having a basic knowledge of the signs and symptoms of addiction can be very helpful. The following are just a few of those signs and symptoms:

• Struggles with sleep cycles
• Negative changes in appetite
• Losing interest in one’s physical appearance
• Experiencing mood swings and acting out aggressively
• Isolating oneself from family and close friends
• Losing interest in activities and hobbies once enjoyed
• Not being able to stop drinking or using after starting
• Excessively thinking about drinking and/or using substances
• Feeling overly anxious and depressed
• Experiencing physical symptoms like headaches, body aches, and gastrointestinal problems
• Feelings of self-harm
• Having suicidal ideation

Now, as you can see, these can be very serious symptoms, which is why seeking professional help right away is critical. Doing so could mean the difference between short-term side effects and long-term consequences. But what happens if you recognize a problem? It is time to reach out for help.

Reaching Out for Help

It is important to remember that addiction is a family disease. This means that it affects far more than just the person who is struggling, especially the family. This is often why addiction is referred to as a “tornado that destroys everyone and everything in its path.”

Now, while the family may be the most affected due to proximity, they also may have the greatest opportunity to help because of that same proximity. Family members are often the best people to talk to if you feel you have a problem with addiction. They want you to get well as much as you do.

There are also 12-Step organizations that can help if you are ready to get sober and recover. They have meetings in person and online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They are waiting to help you succeed. 

Accepting Help

There are also many recovery centers that are ready to help. The key is you have to let them.

That is why finding a recovery center that holds your same values is so important. When you trust that they have your best interest at heart, then you can begin to fully “surrender” and let the process of recovery work. However, you have to “work it” for it to work.

Taking Action

Now, taking action in recovery can look many different ways. It may look like changing your diet and exercise routines. It may look like adopting new therapeutic methods, such as utilizing cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT).

For long-term recovery, it should also look like a community. This means working with others. In fact, it has been said that working with others is the best way to stay sober. According to the primary text of 12-Step recovery, “Practical experience shows that nothing will so much ensure immunity from drinking [and using] as intensive work with other [people in recovery]. It works when other activities fail.” Yes, recovery is a “we” program, never a “me” program.

Our Primary Purpose at Lantana Recovery

Here at Lantana Recovery, our primary purpose is to help you recover by any means necessary. We are here for you when you are ready to take those first steps toward a new life.

If you are sick and tired of being sick and tired, then the time to recover is now. You can do this! We can help.

There are many effective treatment options for those who are ready to take the first step in recovery. However, many people don’t know who they can turn to and/or how to stop drinking or using safely and right away. The good news is that there are many long-term recovery options that work. If you feel that you or a loved one is struggling with issues of addiction, mental illness, or both, we can help get you on the right road to recovery right away. You don’t have to go through this process alone. For more information about taking the first pivotal steps toward recovery, please reach out to Lantana Recovery today at (866) 997-2870.