by Melisa Cammack

The depths of addiction are a scary place to be, and those of us who have experienced this in the past or are facing these issues now know that crawling out into the light is not an easy task. Giving up something as seemingly comforting as addiction can be frightening and overwhelming. To say recovery is easy would be a lie, but as they say, the best things in life are worth fighting for. How, though, should you begin cutting through obstacles and blazing the trail to success?

Seeking Help

Chances are if you’re reading this article you realize you have a problem with some substance or another and you realize you need help, and that is step one; this is arguably the most important step. Realizing there is an issue and reaching out for help takes a large amount of honesty and insight on your part, so be proud of yourself! Rehabilitation centers, talk and group therapy, hospitalization, or even self-help literature are all legitimate forms of help, however some of these methods may be more effective than others; if you have little to no willpower like most addicts, you should consider a rehab center.

Making Changes

Having a completely sober period of time under your belt is a huge accomplishment, so the next step is to try not to relapse. It is heavily suggested to cut contact with any friends you may have used with. Don’t worry, because this may not last forever. You could very well serve as an example to your old friends of what sober living can look like. Attracting people to being sober is truly an invaluable skill that all recovering addicts possess.

Starting Anew

It is also important to avoid any past routines that make you think of using your old substance of choice. Music is a very strong trigger for many people, so try finding some new musical groups to attach fresh memories to. Experts encourage addicts to get rid of any old albums, photos, clothes, movies, video games, and other things that have negative memories associated with them. It can be difficult, but a clean slate is without a doubt worth a small loss of material possessions.

You are about to endure the most important, most difficult, most worth-while journey of your life. You might very well slip, and that’s okay. It’s normal, even! As long as you pick yourself up and put one foot in front of the other, you’re on the road to recovery.

About the Author: Melisa Cammack has been freelance writing for several years, and loves writing for parenting and self-help articles. Melisa is currently promoting the Delray Recovery Center, and encourages those who are seeking help with abuse to look into recovery facilities.