Introduction
When you’re in an addiction treatment center, it can be hard to manage withdrawal symptoms. The best thing you can do is stay busy and rest when you need to. Consider these tips for managing your withdrawal symptoms:
Try shower therapy
- Shower therapy is a form of hydrotherapy used to treat withdrawal symptoms.
- It’s very effective in helping patients feel more relaxed, and often reduces anxiety, depression and insomnia.
- The water makes you feel as though you’re floating on a cloud, which can help in calming the nervous system and releasing endorphins (the body’s natural mood elevator).
Get outside
As you can imagine, withdrawal can cause a lot of anxiety. Anxiety is the number one reason people use drugs or alcohol in an attempt to control their emotions. Getting outside and getting some fresh air will help reduce your level of anxiety. Exercise also helps with this issue as well because exercise releases endorphins that make you feel good both physically and mentally. Taking a walk around the neighborhood or going for a bike ride are great ways to get some exercise while also taking your mind off things for a little bit.
Yoga, stretching or tai chi
Yoga, stretching or tai chi are excellent ways to relieve your withdrawal symptoms. Yoga is a great way to get moving and stay active, which can be particularly helpful if you’re experiencing insomnia. Stretching and tai chi are also great for relieving tension that may result from your cravings. You can do yoga or tai chi in the morning, afternoon or evening hours.
Meditate or pray
Meditation and prayer are both forms of meditation that focus the mind on a single object or point of reference. When you’re feeling low, it can be helpful to sit quietly and practice meditation to quiet your thoughts so you can focus on positive things. You might also try praying, which is sometimes called a form of meditation that focuses on a higher power (such as God). Praying for help with your addiction recovery can help you feel more hopeful about the future and move closer toward sobriety than if you were left to cope alone.
The best thing you can do to combat withdrawal symptoms in an addiction treatment program is stay busy and rest when you need to.
The best thing you can do to combat withdrawal symptoms in an addiction treatment program is stay busy and rest when you need to. Staying busy means that your mind is occupied and focused on something other than the cravings, pains, or other issues associated with withdrawal. Some activities for staying busy include:
- Drawing
- Writing in a journal
- Reading a book (fiction or non-fiction)
- Exercising one’s mind by playing chess or solving puzzles like Sudoku.
If you find yourself getting bored with these activities, consider taking up another hobby such as knitting or sewing. It may seem strange at first but it helps keep the mind engaged while avoiding negative thoughts which can intensify cravings and make recovery more difficult.
Conclusion
We hope that this article has given you some strategies to help manage the symptoms of drug withdrawal. While withdrawal can be uncomfortable and even painful, it is a necessary part of treatment. Remember that getting through rehab is worth it!
