You’ve overcome the first hurdle — getting clean and sober — and now you want to learn how to stay this way. The early days of recovery can be full of minefields and potential relapse, and you need all the help you can get to stay the course.
We offer that help here at HealthFirst. Dr. Jonathan Singer has extensive experience helping patients break free from substance use disorders, and he understands that there’s no magic bullet. Instead, we approach your addiction, both in the short and long term, from many different angles to set you up for the best chance of success.
Once you quit using or drinking and look into the future, it may seem daunting, which is why we present the following tips.
Nearly 1.3 million people in the United States rely on medications to get clean and stay clean. If we have you on medication-assisted treatment, such as SuboxoneⓇ or naltrexone, to control your cravings to prevent relapse, it’s important that you follow your prescriptions to the letter.
This means taking the prescribed doses and not skipping doses or deciding to not take them at all. If you’re feeling stronger in your sobriety, we can discuss weaning you off the medications, but you shouldn’t attempt this cold turkey and on your own.
Did you know that of the more than 20 million people with a substance use disorder in the US, nearly 40% also had a co-occuring mental health issue? Mental illnesses like anxiety and depression are closely associated with substance use disorders, and the connection is bidirectional.
If you started to use or drink to self-medicate a mental health issue, that mental issue is usually still present when you stop.
We can do our part with IASIS® Micro Current Neurofeedback, which is a treatment that essentially reboots your brainwave patterns to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression.
We also urge you to seek out counseling, therapy, and support groups to provide ongoing help with your mental health.
The odds are fairly good that you may have placed your health on the back burner while you were using or drinking. If you take steps now to boost your wellness, you’ll feel stronger and happier.
To start, we can assess your nutrient needs and deliver them through IV nutrient infusions. This quick boost in vitamins and minerals will help you feel better and more energized almost immediately.
With your newfound wellness and energy, you can take steps on your own to get healthy through diet and exercise.
Our final point is an important one. Be kind and patient with yourself during this time. You’re undergoing an enormous change that will affect your mind, body, and spirit, and it may feel like a roller coaster at times.
If you’re having a bad day, treat yourself as you would a friend going through the same experience. Be kind, give yourself permission to curl up on the couch, and then get back to it the next day.
Rest assured, we’re with you every step of the way, and we’re invested in your success. If you’d like more information on staying clean and sober, please contact one of our offices in Greenwood Village, Colorado, or Cheyenne, Wyoming, to schedule a consultation.
