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A New Year and a New Beginning

January 3, 2018

It’s a new year yielding new beginnings. Resolutions are at an all-time high during the month of January. It’s when thousands of people strive for change; whether it’s to eat healthier, spend less money, or make daily trips to the gym. But for some, their resolutions aren’t to cut carbs or deposit five extra dollars into the bank. Instead, they are focused on addiction recovery. 

An addiction can be the use of substances that disrupt a person’s life and can develop from any number of life circumstances ranging from job loss, divorce, the death of a loved one, etc. Recovery of any kind involves setting goals and working to achieve them. The new year just naturally feels like the perfect opportunity to take on the challenge of a recovery program. 

Strive to surround yourself with positive people. The negativity of others facing the same habits as you, could be too much for you to handle. Spending time with people who are sober and supportive of your journey will do good things for you. Their traits and views are likely to rub off on you as you spend more time with them, making a huge difference in your life and your recovery plan. 

Try meditating. For many, this is extremely helpful in working towards recovery. Spending 20 minutes in a peaceful, undisturbed place can help clear your head of any negative thoughts. By doing this regularly, your stress levels may diminish and you may find yourself feeling much better about letting your substance dependency go. Finding peace within yourself will surely help boost your self-esteem and reduce chances of a relapse. 

Not surprisingly, a number of recovering individuals find comfort in volunteering. Giving back can help you feel better about yourself and your role in your community. It doesn’t matter if it’s at an animal shelter or the local food pantry. Supporting a cause that is meaningful to you will increase your positivity, emotional state, and your overall outlook on life - all things that can help you achieve a full recovery in 2018.

If you or someone you know and love wants to tackle an addiction, Touchette Regional Hospital can help.  We offer the NEW VISION medical stabilization service for individuals facing addiction challenges with drugs, alcohol, and other health-related difficulties. Stabilization combined with the goal of becoming substance-free, is a huge step to secure a healthy lifestyle. When qualified medical personnel serve as your support system, you can make great progress in just one year. If you haven’t met with a healthcare professional to create a plan for a successful recovery, do it now, call NEW VISION at 618-332-5204.