Over 130 people die every day in the U.S. from an opiate overdose.
Opiates are found in illegal drugs such as heroin, but also in prescription pain relievers such as codeine and morphine. They are incredibly addictive.
In 2015, 2 million Americans developed drug problems stemming from prescription pain relievers containing opiates.
Victims of severely traumatic injuries and those who need long-term pain relief are especially at risk of developing opiate addictions.
Overcoming the addiction is not impossible.
Once you recover, however, how do you return to a normal, happy life?
Read on to discover how to be happy after opiate addiction.
Find the Right Treatment
Finding the right treatment and rehabilitation center after drug addiction is paramount to your recovery. While rehab can be one of the toughest things you’ll ever experience, it’s worth every moment of discomfort.
Treatment centers are certified in helping you overcome addiction and any relapses or cravings you might experience during rehab. Night or day, treatment centers like Muse Treatment, will help you every step of the way towards long-term sobriety.
Finding people who can help, people who genuinely care is everything.
Go to Meetings For Support
Support groups can be one of the best answers to how to find happiness after opiate addiction.
Discussing your issues with people who have been through the same struggle can be imperative to getting through this part of your life. Knowing you aren’t alone can make all the difference.
Group members can also share helpful advice and new perspectives to your problems. It is a great place to learn, share, and grow.
Surround Yourself with Positive, Sober People
Learn how to be happy after opiate addiction by surrounding yourself with positive people. It is also important that these people are not former addicts. Studies show that 40 to 60 percent of recovering addicts relapse in the first year.
Though it may sound harsh, it’s too easy for addicts to relapse when they spend time together, even after decades of sobriety.
We tend to become like the people we surround ourselves with. Therefore, surround yourself with friends and family who are positive and sober.
Create New Life Goals
Creating new life goals can be a fantastic way of rebuilding your life after addiction.
New goals will give you a purpose to drive toward. It will also give you something positive to focus your energy on.
New goals can be a catalyst for creating a new you. Figure out who you want to be as a sober version of yourself. You can accomplish anything you set your sights on, you just need to decide where to aim.
Get Healthy
Finally, being an addict can lead to an incredibly unhealthy lifestyle.
As you on are your road to sobriety. Start reinvesting in your health.
Learn how to eat healthily and get a membership to a local gym. Show some love toward your body, opiate addiction was not kind to it.
Working out and eating healthy will naturally answer the question of how to be happy after opiate addiction. Your body releases mood-boosting chemicals when you exercise and eat well.
There are other benefits to getting healthy as well!
How to Be Happy After Opiate Addiction, You Can Do This
Drug addiction is a terrible thing to go through. It can quite literally ruin your life. Make no mistake, once the addiction has grabbed hold, it’s there for life.
But it is not the end.
You can and will recover. And you can and will be happy again.
Remember, you are never alone.
For more ideas on how to be happy after opiate addiction, check out our blog, we have way more suggestions!