If you or a loved one suffers from a drug addiction, there are many facilities in New Jersey that are willing to help patients stop abusing drugs, find treatment, and begin recovery.

Overcoming this problem takes so much more than willpower because when an individual abuses illegal or prescription substances, it creates changes in the brain that result in powerful cravings and compulsions. For this reason, addictions are hard to quit, and achieving sobriety may sometimes seem impossible.

We are here to tell you that no matter where you are in your life, recovery is never out of reach no matter how difficult or hopeless it may seem. With the right treatment and support, a lifelong recovery is possible. The hardest part is getting started, which brings us to our first step:

Make the Decision to Change

You cannot force a loved one to change if they are unwilling to. The first step is accepting that they have an addiction and need professional help. For many people, this is the hardest step toward recovery because we all want to believe that we are okay.

Once you or your loved one decides it’s time to change, there are many things that can be done to get one step closer to sobriety. Among these include changing the following things:

  • The way you handle stress
  • Who you choose to spend time with
  • How you think about yourself
  • What you do in your free time

These are all important elements to consider. If you find yourself falling back on a drug to relieve stress or spending time with addicts, it’s a big red flag that you need to make a change. Take some time to think about what you do in your free time and how you think about yourself. This will make it easier to understand that you need help and begin your process of recovery.

Explore Your Options

So you’ve decided that you want to make a change in your life. However, you are unsure of what your options are. You want to seek a program specific to your addiction so that they can give you the treatment and support that you need. Whichever drug treatment program you choose, keep in mind that they will all often include the following:

  • Detox and Cleansing – the first few days will consist of only this so that you can purge your body of the drugs and substances that are causing you harm. The team of professionals that work alongside you will help you manage withdrawal symptoms and help you move past this first phase.
  • Counseling – therapy will help you identify the root of your drug use and help you better understand the situation that you are in. It will also help you repair relationships and enter healthier coping skills.
  • Medication – you’ll be given treatment to manage withdrawal symptoms, prevent relapse, and help with anxiety or depression.

Commitment

This is by far the most important step of them all. You must understand that addiction recovery doesn’t happen overnight and will take time. You must be committed to learning about your addiction, understanding the symptoms you’ll face, and working alongside individuals who want to see you get better.

A few tips and advice to staying committed to the process include leaning on close friends and family, building a sober social life, considering moving into a drug-free living environment, and making support group meetings a recovery. These are all ways to stay committed to what you’re doing and enhancing your quality of life.

Seeking a Health Provider

We congratulate you if you’ve made the decision to change and take these first steps toward recovery. Whichever type of addiction you’re experiencing, there are facilities in NJ such as SOBA College Recovery that are ready to lend a helping hand and help you achieve a sense of purpose in your life.

Working alongside SOBA, you’ll soon realize that day after day your addiction slowly begins to lose its appeal. Wherever you are in this process, don’t give up and talk to someone about seeking rehab. With the help of SOBA, your quality of life will drastically improve in so many different ways.