Alcohol recovery is not always a perfectly smooth process. Every alcoholic who succeeds in getting clean comes out better in the end, and sober life is invariably better than the heavy-drinking life. But since alcoholism is a serious addiction, many recovering alcoholics face several challenges that could potentially derail the process. Anticipating these problems is one of the keys to getting through rehab okay. Here are the five biggest ones.
Physical withdrawal: Alcoholism is a severe addiction, and as with any severe addiction, quitting creates noticeable side effects. However, alcohol withdrawal can be relatively painless if you do it in a rehab facility. Plus, it only lasts a few days. Detoxification can be very difficult to achieve without professional assistance in some cases.
Facing sobriety: Many alcoholics have forgotten how to deal with normal stretches of time without resorting to drinking. During alcohol recovery, boredom can initially be disturbing, and everyday activities may seem like a slog. But these symptoms do pass, and most alcoholics quickly change their patterns and learn to embrace sober life. One can spend time focusing on other healthy activities to refocus their energy on their sobriety.
Rebuilding relationships: It is not uncommon for relationships to be damaged over the course of an addiction. Getting back into people's good graces can be a challenge, but it is part of the alcohol recovery process. And most family members and close friends do come around when they see the recovery is real.
Rebuilding a career: Alcoholism commonly sets people back in their careers and prevents them from progressing for stretches of years. And now, the alcohol recovery process may take one's energy away from pursuing work-related goals. However, getting sober is essential for one's long-term productivity, so it is best to get it done so you can move on.
Avoiding temptation: Finally, perhaps the biggest challenge that many recovering alcoholics face is staying away from drinking. During this stage, you will realize acutely just how prevalent drinking is in our society, as temptation will be everywhere. However, with strength and commitment to your alcohol recovery, you can avoid relapse and come out stronger.
Physical withdrawal: Alcoholism is a severe addiction, and as with any severe addiction, quitting creates noticeable side effects. However, alcohol withdrawal can be relatively painless if you do it in a rehab facility. Plus, it only lasts a few days. Detoxification can be very difficult to achieve without professional assistance in some cases.
Facing sobriety: Many alcoholics have forgotten how to deal with normal stretches of time without resorting to drinking. During alcohol recovery, boredom can initially be disturbing, and everyday activities may seem like a slog. But these symptoms do pass, and most alcoholics quickly change their patterns and learn to embrace sober life. One can spend time focusing on other healthy activities to refocus their energy on their sobriety.
Rebuilding relationships: It is not uncommon for relationships to be damaged over the course of an addiction. Getting back into people's good graces can be a challenge, but it is part of the alcohol recovery process. And most family members and close friends do come around when they see the recovery is real.
Rebuilding a career: Alcoholism commonly sets people back in their careers and prevents them from progressing for stretches of years. And now, the alcohol recovery process may take one's energy away from pursuing work-related goals. However, getting sober is essential for one's long-term productivity, so it is best to get it done so you can move on.
Avoiding temptation: Finally, perhaps the biggest challenge that many recovering alcoholics face is staying away from drinking. During this stage, you will realize acutely just how prevalent drinking is in our society, as temptation will be everywhere. However, with strength and commitment to your alcohol recovery, you can avoid relapse and come out stronger.