Going through recovery is enough to bring on stress and anxiety. Topping this off with significant life changes like getting a new job or moving can become overwhelming. High levels of anxiety can make it more challenging to avoid a relapse, and coping with additional stresses outside of recovery is crucial to maintaining sobriety.
Going Back to Work
Coming out of treatment typically means that you will either be returning to an old job or finding a new one at some point. Careers and work are significant points of stress, even for those who haven’t struggled with addiction. For those that have, it can become that much more daunting. Aside from worrying about new pressures, expectations, and workloads, individuals in recovery have to consider how those things may impact their recovery and how their recovery may impact their work.
Starting slow and considering part-time work or finding a job with people you know personally can be an excellent way to regain your footing. Entering into an entirely foreign position where the demands may be more than we can handle can easily lead to high levels of anxiety and self-doubt. Having a history of addiction can also make it difficult to find work for certain businesses. However, many employers are sensitive to these issues, and after hiring you, they may support you to make sure your recovery is successful. There are specific resources and job search websites that can guide you towards jobs like these.
Moving to a New House, City, or State
Having a change of setting may help those in recovery and at other times may be necessary. Regardless of the reason behind moving, doing so can be an intense experience. Moving into a new house or apartment usually requires some proof of income and a good credit score, and these things can be challenging to obtain. Before applying for leases or loans, consider finding a cosigner and getting a letter from your employer if you don’t have an income yet.
Moving also requires a good deal of planning—picking a move-in date, securing moving trucks or services, and ensuring that logistics like bills and mailing addresses are taken care of. Trying to tackle these things alone can bring on large amounts of anxiety. Having a helping hand can take some stress off of your plate and make you feel more confident that you’ve ticked off all the boxes. If your new destination is in a different city or state, there’s an even more significant amount of planning that will need to be done. Getting help and starting that planning early will help things go smoother and alleviate the stress of trying to do everything at once.
Moving away from where you currently live may also mean that you will be further away from your loved ones and current support system. Being far away from friends and loved ones can be the most challenging part of moving, but there are still ways to make the transition easier. Talk to your current health care providers and find a provider in your new location. Consider looking into Narcotics Anonymous (NA) or Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings that will be close to your new home and plan ways to keep in contact with your loved ones once you’ve moved.
The Stress of Becoming a New Parent
Like finding work, becoming a new parent can be stressful for anyone. Having a child means being presented with an entirely new world of responsibilities and pressures. For someone coming out of treatment, this means taking care of both your needs and the needs of your baby—something that can be incredibly demanding.
Having help from family members, friends, and childcare services can allow us to catch our breath and give us much-needed time to focus on ourselves. Reading up on parenting skills and potentially taking parenting classes can help you navigate the basics of parenting and prepare you for the unexpected. Researching parenting skills can relieve some of the anxiety that comes from not knowing what your baby may need.
When trying to raise an infant, it’s also essential to maintain your health and wellbeing. Keeping up with your treatment, therapy, or recovery plan will not only help you but also help your baby. Remember to be patient with yourself and your baby and forgive yourself for the inevitable parenting mishaps that are often unavoidable.
Losing a Loved One
Trying to juggle grief and recovery can feel impossible. When we lose a loved one, the pain can often be too much to bear. This pain may become so overwhelming that we start to feel the urge to begin using again to cope with and escape that pain. However, there are other ways to manage grief that won’t lead us to relapse.
Special counseling is available for those going through losing a loved one and can be a useful resource for learning skills that help us cope with any form of loss. Some people may find comfort in religion, which can lead them to have more fulfilling lives even after moving past their grief. After losing a loved one, it can also be helpful and important to spend time with other loved ones who can relate to our feelings and offer the support that strangers may not be able to.
While trying to treat addiction and work through recovery, having other significant life changes can increase anxiety and make us more likely to enter into relapse. There are many ways we can try to manage and address these anxieties to maintain our health, but when this is not possible, it may be time to seek or re-enter treatment. If you are seeking treatment for your addiction, call Rancho Milagro at (951) 526-4582 to discuss our treatment options. We offer both detox and inpatient care, and we cater each treatment plan to the needs of the individual. At Rancho Milagro, you will learn skills that you can use throughout your recovery, even after you’ve left our facility. Rancho Milagro is home to miles of hiking trails and many rescue animals, as well as other resources and therapies that can aid in your recovery. If you are looking for a loving environment to heal with many care options, Rancho Milagro may be the treatment center for you.