By the time you enter a drug or alcohol treatment program, your body has been through a lot. Substance abuse takes a toll on your health, and recovery is the time to start establishing excellent nutrition habits that will help nourish you on your path to sobriety.
When you have a history of drug or alcohol abuse, it’s important to eat well for your body. You want to rebuild strong bones, teeth, hair and skin that may have been damaged. Plus, healthy eating is a great way to show your body how much you respect and appreciate it.
We’ve compiled the best information on nutrition for recovering drug addicts. First, we’ll take a look at what addiction has done to your body and then we’ll discuss ways to implement a healthy eating plan.
Poor Nutrition and Drug and Alcohol Addiction
There’s a clear tie between poor nutrition and addiction.
During the final stages of rehab, a lot of time is focused on preparation for the move back home. It’s important to be ready for this day. It should be looked at as a graduation of sorts. You’re moving from one step in your recovery to the next.
Feeling nervous about leaving rehab isn’t a bad thing. This is a common reaction and should be viewed as a sign you are consciously taking your recovery seriously. You put a lot of effort into successfully completing treatment, so don’t let the pressures of returning to your home overwhelm you.
While in treatment, you’ll learn you built a life around substance abuse. Within a structured setting, you are given the tools to rebuild a life around sobriety. Now, as you prepare to leave that structure behind, let’s talk about what to expect after alcohol rehab or drug rehab.
Did you know that an average of 40 to 60 percent of people who were once addicted to drugs or alcohol relapse into addiction? Just like hypertension and diabetes, addiction is a chronic disease that requires ongoing care. Without medicine, regular exercise and diet modification, a person with once-high blood pressure will become symptomatic once again. Similarly, a recovering addict needs ongoing support to stay sober. Without this treatment, relapse is likely.
Why Rehab Doesn’t Always Work
The quality of the care, the accessibility to aftercare and the family support structure all influence treatment outcomes. An individual who enrolls in rapid detox to beat withdrawal — but who doesn’t participate in talk therapy or counseling and who doesn’t have adequate family support in place — is likely to return to abuse. Similarly, a person who beats withdrawal and gets counseling might relapse if he or she doesn’t address any underlying disorder such as depression.
The stereotypes of addiction go back hundreds of years. You’ve probably heard them all before, but unfortunately, they’re all wrong. Here’s why paying attention to these dangerous stereotypes will do more harm than good.
Help Doesn’t Work Unless You Hit Rock Bottom.
Imagine yourself rolling uncontrollably down a steep hillside. Once you stop rolling, you have to climb back up. Would you prefer to start by hitting the ground hard at the very bottom, or after you’re only halfway down? Addiction works the same way. Facing sobriety is less overwhelming when there are fewer pieces to pick up. You’ll also protect your psychological and physical health from further damage.
If I’m Not Homeless, Then I’m Okay.
Addiction is sneaky, and it lives in many well-kept homes. Just because you’re still married, go to work, and have money in the bank doesn’t mean you don’t have a problem.