What Addiction Recovery Looks Like After One Year
The road to recovery is difficult and uncomfortable. From the physical discomfort to the lack of hope. Being trapped in addiction can seem scary and overwhelming.
It doesn’t take long for those effects to begin to manifest. After one year of abstinence, addicts have reported positive changes in their lives.
Physical Health
Better oral hygiene and the health benefits it brings. Their teeth would be less yellow, their gums are less black. As they recommit to taking better care of themselves, their mouths will look and feel better.
Mental Health
Mental health problems often go with substance abuse disorders. The point of most substances is to alter people’s minds. Drugs have negative side-effects, including an increase in suicidal thoughts. Risk of depression is also a negative side-effect. Someone who has gone through addiction recovery for one year would:
- Have far fewer suicidal thoughts
- Be able to think more clearly
- Overcome the depression that their substance abuse caused
- Be able to think more clearly
Social Health
- Enjoy spending time with people again
- Be less irritable, argumentative, and aggressive
- Be more willing to discuss their feelings
- Have an increased desire to establish and maintain healthy relationships
- Occupational Health
Most people who suffer from addictions have difficulty finding or keeping a job. Addicts behavior make it difficult for them to appeal to employers. Many addicts cannot abstain for eight hours at a time, making it impossible for them to hold a full-time job. Others resort to stealing money from their workplace which gets them fired. Someone who has gone through addiction recovery for one year would:
- Be able to think, act, and speak clearly
- Be less likely to steal things from their employer
- Be more motivated to find and keep a job
- Work harder and for longer periods of time
Spiritual Health
- Regain their belief in a higher power, whatever it may be
- Work toward improving their relationship with their higher power
- Hold themselves accountable for their actions
- Seek forgiveness from their higher power, themselves, and others
While addictions do affect people’s lives, they can be overcome. Even people with no hope have overcome their addictions and rebuilt their lives. Addiction recovery is a long-term process and requires long-term treatment. But it is possible—and worth it.
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