So you’ve been to drug rehab and successfully kicked the habit. Now you are home again and you may be feeling a bit let down. After all, home is nothing like that wonderful place you just came back from where everyone treated you so nicely. At home, you have to deal with people who may be cranky, drunk or just uncaring. Or even if they love you, maybe they just have too many issues to deal with to show you some of that TLC you crave.
If your life looks like it’s going to be a hard drag again, it’s important to do certain things to deal with it, or you risk falling once again into the habit you just got free from. Here are some tips to help you.
- If a home is difficult to deal with move out, as scary as it may seem.
- If you can’t move out, concentrate on making new friends who are caring, but not part of the drug scene. You can do this by joining a club – painting, photography, cooking, dancing – whatever your interests are.
- Go out regularly. Nurture your new friends by suggesting you meet for a coffee, a walk in the park or a movie night, whatever seems good to you.
- Eat good food. Many people live on fast food and miss out on the basic nutrition their body needs to remain healthy. Lots of fresh fruit and vegetables give you energy without piling on the weight.
- If you love fast food, you don’t have to miss it altogether, just limit it to once a week or fortnight.
- Get enough sleep. A rested body is a healthy one and you’ll have more energy after a good night’s sleep.
- If you don’t have a job, volunteer. There are many organizations that need helpers but can’t afford to pay them. It will make you feel good and increase your self-esteem when you become needed. It also looks good on your resume.
- If you have a job, make sure you also leave time for rest and relaxation.
- Exercise in the fresh air. Swimming, walking or cycling are all good ways to exercise.
- If you get stressed easily, take up yoga or do some kind of meditation/relaxation.
- Learn new skills that can help you become employed. Computer skills, cooking skills – these are often given for free, or you can find a book in the library to help you.
Remember, this is your life and you need to do things to help yourself, rather than just accepting help from others, although that is good too. Once you get all areas of your life sorted out, you’ll feel it is really worth living.