The first thirty days of addiction recovery are typically the hardest. Sure, there’s the ‘pink cloud’ a lot of people talk about, but that often comes near the end of that month. That’s because the drugs and alcohol are pretty much gone from their system, so they see the world like a new born babe.
That first week is, in my opinion, the harder of the first four weeks. Setting down drugs and drinking is scary, there are cravings, withdrawal symptoms that are intense. Depending on what substance was being abused there could be a whole array of different types of withdrawal symptoms. This is the best time, however, to be in an alcohol and drug treatment facility like Pat Moore Foundation, as there could be medical situations that need attending. Depending on the drug or alcohol intake and length of time, there could be severe withdrawal pains so a medical detoxification is necessary. A detox is the process in which the body completely withdraws from drugs and/or alcohol. A medical detox is under the care of a physician.
But, why does someone go through withdrawal? Well, there has been a constant flow of alcohol and/or drugs to all the body systems, so to one day just stop, the body will react. There are light to heavy headaches, sweating and shaking, vomiting, seizures, tremens and hallucinations. In the case of heaving abusing alcoholics, the withdrawal symptoms can be so strong they cannot do it alone, and in fact, heavy alcoholics can die from their withdrawal symptoms. An inpatient treatment center is paramount to success regardless though, but if someone cannot go to a detox facility for treatment they should have someone they know and love, preferably someone sober, to look after them. Help might be needed.
By the end of that week there is a difference, and most newly sober people can attest to clarity that only recovery can offer. Some have described it as a cloud of fog lifting, or dissipating. The newly sober person isn’t typically ready to hit the road and stay sober, they need to maintain treatment to learn new tools on how to deal with issues of life and how to stay sober. One could say ‘survival mode kicks in,’ and that means; sleeping regular hours, eating three meals a day, bathing daily, and even working if the person still has work to return to. Remember that resting and relaxing helps restore and invigorate the mind and body. (End of Part 1)
Part 2: Getting Stronger and Stronger | The Other Three Weeks
Recovery Rob BIO
Recovery Rob is a 48-year-old man who has more than twenty years of sobriety, whose drugs of choice at one time were alcohol and drugs, and he has worked in and around the field of addiction for more than 20 years. Having just recently launched his own website, www.askrecoveryrob.com, he hopes to reach out and continue to help others who work through their process of addiction and recovery. Recovery Rob is a professional writer who has published two novels and is currently working on his third. He has been writing and working as Pat Moore Foundation’s premiere blogger and content writer, which helps keeps Pat Moore Foundation’s addiction and recovery blog top-rated.