Tools for Recovery from Addiction

Learning Tools to Help with Addiction Recovery

How Does Organization Alleviate Stress and Triggers? Organization and scheduling isn’t just for the overly anal. It actually helps those suffering from addiction. It’s very beneficial for those who are suffering from a dual diagnosis of substance abuse and a mental problem at the same time. Non twelve step rehab programs can address the problem of the addiction but even with non twelve step recovery, the patient may still relapse. Organization can help, though.

Relieves Chaos with Recovery

Drug and alcohol abuse can lead to chaos in a person’s life. The potential of legal problems and the conflicts with individuals, whether over obtaining drugs or because of how the person acts when under the influence, leads to an addict’s life being filled with chaos. It’s oftentimes too much for the person to handle and just results in the person abusing drugs or alcohol to numb the pain of the problems that stemmed from the substance abuse. It becomes a downward spiral consisting of one problem leading to another that in return makes the first problem even worse and so on. When a person starts to organize his or her home and life, it leads to less chaos. This results in a person have one less reason to start using again.

Reestablishing Priorities

It’s not uncommon for a person who was abusing alcohol and/or drugs to start neglecting household responsibilities. Even the most particular people can change their behaviors because of the substance. For instance, a person may no longer have time to clean as much as before the drugs or alcohol because he or she would rather go out and party with friends, or even stay at home alone and abuse the substance. They get in a different frame of mind that may cause them to forget about chores or just not feel like doing them. The day after the substance abuse the person may feel sick as a result of a hangover or coming down off the drugs, leading them to not want to tidy up. Once a person begins neglecting responsibilities, it may become too much for the person because of how much needs to be done, which can lead a person to abusing the substance even more out of anxiety or depression. Once a person obtains treatment, he or she can get his or her home back in shape and prevent some of the anxiety and depression associated with all of the chaos. By organizing and scheduling life better, the person will be able to reduce the chaos and stress and prevent a relapse.

Regaining Self-Esteem and Control

Another aspect of life that organization affects is self-esteem. By organizing, a person feels more in charge of his or her life. Drugs and alcohol tend to take the feeling of control away from the person since the substance takes over. Beginning to organize after recovery allows the person to regain that control and ultimately makes it so the person feels in charge. This can prevent a relapse since he or she feels in control once again. Not to mention, having everything organized makes a person feel more confident. That feeling of confidence results in a person feeling fulfilled and better about life, which can prevent depression. This works to prevent a relapse since the person won’t try to self-medicate with drugs or alcohol to get through the feeling of depression or frustration associated with a low self-esteem or not having control.

Less Time to Use

When a person is organizing life, both in regards to the cleanliness of their home and in life in general, the person has less time to abuse drugs or alcohol. A huge factor in substance abuse is trying to relieve boredom. By leaving less time for a person to become bored, the individual is less likely to start using again just for something to do. By keeping the person busy, organization also impacts how much time a person has for negative influences. Rather than spending time with friends who were only about drinking and using, the person has a reason to stay in and avoid these people.

Better Relationship With Children

If the person has children, they would much rather live in an organized home. It’s less embarrassing. Oftentimes, the children become embarrassed by a parent who abusing substances and not attending to the house. This is one step in regaining a connection with the person’s children, which may have been lost due to the addiction.

Learn about Tools to Help with Addiction Recovery

The Treatment Specialist connects you with a treatment center for addiction and dual diagnosis conditions. The Treatment Specialist team will provide a free confidential assessment and insurance verification. For more information on treatment programs for yourself or a loved one, contact the Inspiration helpline at (866) 644-7911.