A person suffering from substance use disorder will have a hard time applying the skills learned during treatment. During treatment, the various triggers you learn are mainly theoretical. However, after treatment, the triggers happen, and it is very difficult to cope with them. If you suffer from, you should accept that addiction is categorized as a chronic disease.
When you hit a wall, you usually feel stagnant in your path to recovery. You are neither moving in the positive direction or the negative one. Most people hit a wall due to certain reasons and emotions. They include:
- Mood swings
- Lack of motivation
- Disappointment
- Complacency
- Strained personal relationships
- A pessimistic attitude
- Romanticizing on a particular substance
However, there are steps you can take to proceed with recovery when you hit a wall.
What To Do When You Hit A Wall
1. Try to Be Sober for the Next Minute, Hour, and So On
Try to take a step at a time. You can get overwhelmed if you think about years of sobriety. Sure, your goal should be to attain long term sobriety, but it should start with the next minute, the next hour, the next day, and the following week. You will eventually pick up momentum for the long-term recovery.
2. Enroll in Aftercare Programs
Going from rehab straight to normal life puts patients at risk of hitting a wall and relapse. The triggers you face will be intense, and you will have only prepared for them theoretically. Patients should enroll in aftercare programs like sober living houses to ease the transition from rehab to normal life.
3. Call on Loved Ones
Strained personal relationships can be a cause of hitting a wall. It can be a tough step, especially if it has been strained or your addiction has previously hurt your loved ones. However, patients have a better chance of recovery in any treatment if they have the support of their loved ones. You need to make your approach to them honestly about your situation. Furthermore, you must have the full intention and follow up on your promises.
4. Book a Doctor’s Appointment
Schedule a doctor’s appointment to cross out the chances for any serious health issues. Some health risks are characterized by sudden emotional and physical changes.
5. Get the Help of a Counselor or Therapist
Doctors will refer you to other specialists for the appropriate help if there are no serious health risks. A counselor or therapist is a neutral party that will help you get to the bottom of your problem. They will help you overcome the negative emotions and resume your recovery.
6. Join a Support Group
Numerous organizations offer support groups for various substance use disorders. Such organizations include AA, SOS, SMART Recovery, Narcotics Anonymous, and more. These organizations have members all over the world, and it is easy to find a meeting near you. There are both local meetings and online meetings.
Online meetings are more prevalent during the Coronavirus pandemic. You will get to share your emotions and experiences during these meetings. The other members will also offer neutral help. You will also get to help others facing various challenges.
7. Learn a New Skill
Sometimes, you may need to break the routine of normal recovery programs. Dedicate your time and energy to learning a new skill. Recovering addicts have especially displayed positive responses to creative projects. Examples of skills you can learn to include painting, drawing, sculpting, and more. You can use some of these skills to channel and express your emotions.
8. Volunteer
You can get your mind and focus on your struggles if you focus on helping others. There are numerous volunteer opportunities available. For example, you can provide help to an animal shelter, food bank, and more.
9. Engage in Holistic Therapies
Holistic therapies such as yoga and meditation help you to center your mind. It enables you to deal with feelings of isolation, mood swings, and more. There are treatment centers that offer these therapies, but you can also get them outside these centers.
Get Help And More Information At Riviera Recovery
Riviera Recovery is a wellness and health community. We are based in Los Angeles, California. Our main goal is to help men and women to recover from substance abuse, co-occurring disorder, and mental health issues. We base our services around support, empowerment, and safety. They can help you or your loved one when they hit a wall.
Our support services include 24/7 available staff, food management system, sponsor contacts, transport to and from 12-step meetings, and more. There are also amenities available in our facilities. They include private & semi-private suites, meditation area, self-help library, housekeeping, and more.
We have two main facilities: a men’s facility and a coed facility. The men’s facility is called the Barrington House. It is centrally located within Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, and LAX. It provides easy access to gyms, parks, museums, yoga, and meditation studios.
The Pacific Palisades is our coed facility. It offers gorgeous views of the Santa Monica mountains and the beach. The facility also has separate bathrooms to support coed living.
Final Word
Some various reasons and emotions cause individuals in recovery to hit a wall. Such causes include:
- Mood swings
- Lack of motivation
- Disappointment
- Complacency
- Strained personal relationships
- A pessimistic attitude
- Romanticizing on a particular substance
It is not the end of the road for you or your loved one if you hit a wall. You can engage in various steps and activities to help you get back on the road to recovery.
The steps to take when you hit a wall include:
- Try to be sober for the next minute, hour, and so on.
- Enroll in aftercare programs
- Call on loved ones for help
- Book a doctor’s appointment
- Get help from a therapist or counselor
- Join a support group
- Learn a new skill
- Volunteer
- Engage in holistic treatments
You can use these steps to create a personalized mix to help you get back on the recovery road. For example, some people will feel more comfortable with a therapist than a support group. Others will prefer holistic therapies to learn a new skill.
You can get help when you hit a wall at Riviera Recovery. We are an organization that focuses on support, empowerment, and safety. Our organization has two facilities to offer our services better. They include the Barrington House, which is strictly for men and the Pacific Palisades, which is a coed facility. We provide access to support groups, sponsors, holistic therapies, and various amenities to help you overcome the wall.
