You gave up alcohol—or watched your loved one do it—and life was great. Everybody was on top of the world and filled with optimism for the future.
Even rehab was exciting at first. New setting. New friends. You were doing yoga and coming back to a chef-prepared dinner.
Then reality (or what seemed like it) set in. This isn’t some cleanse or retreat. This is forever. And, really, it’s not all that it’s cracked up to be. Plus, you’ve still got all your old problems waiting for you back home. You get in a major funk—and can’t seem to find your way out.
Bottom line: You want a drink.
Quitting Drinking Timeline
The thing is, that line of thinking is not unusual. In fact, it happens more often than not.
But if you can make it—and you can—just a few more weeks, your body’s natural dopamine will begin to pick up again. The clouds will lift and, when they do, you’ll find the better version of yourself you’ve been waiting for. Not perfect or carefree, but happier and healthier with plans for the future and relationships that are becoming more genuine.
The key is to make it over the rehab hump.
The first and most important thing to do is to communicate with your therapist. That’s why you’re in rehab. And it’s why your therapist is there, too. Make use of the resources at hand. Be sure to be open and honest about how you’re feeling. Talking about your feelings can be useful in group therapy, as well.
Back up that first step with other positive actions. Get your exercise in. Eat healthy foods. Try art or music therapy. Read books or watch films that inspire you. Learn a new skill or hobby. Talk to family and friends who support you. Remember, these activities can be very helpful when surviving the first 60 days without alcohol.
No matter how you feel, tell yourself to gut it out. Do you really want to be back where you used to be, asking yourself how to quit binge drinking and regain control?
The way you’re feeling is common. Believe in yourself and believe in your body. Give yourself time to adjust and recover. Within a month or so, you’ll likely turn another corner and find yourself feeling better than you have in a very long time.
Rebuilding at The Raleigh House
At The Raleigh House, we know that the easy part is breaking free from the physical dependency on alcohol. The hard part is restructuring your life—and rewiring your brain—after years consumed by alcohol. Our master’s level trained therapists will help you get to the root cause of addiction and develop a strategy to manage and enjoy life without alcohol. Fill out our form or contact us today to learn more about the alcohol addiction treatment program at The Raleigh House.
