Addiction can lead to an unhappy life, but it doesn’t always have to be that way. With the guidance of an addiction recovery coach, your life can get back onto the track you deserve.
An addiction recovery coach will help encourage and empower you to push past your addiction—not only treating your physical addiction but helping with the mental effects, giving you lifelong skills to get through everyday life.
A coach will work closely with you, whether through an outpatient or inpatient facility. Their help also doesn’t stop there; they will teach you skills to use daily to help stay on the right track. Treating your mind and body together as a whole, giving you stability, and the confidence to live a long sober life not giving in to temptations later down the road.
What Is an Addiction Recovery Coach?
A recovery coach is someone who focuses on your future self. They will help motivate you to focus on and decide on a plan of action for your future. No part of your recovery will be left for you just to figure it out. A coach’s guidance will give you the reassurance needed to stay on the right path.
Your coach will listen to your feelings and help you understand your triggers and overcome them. A coach will also help you with any resources you may need outside of their care and into the future.
Asking for Help
There is such a tremendous stigma around reaching out for help. Many people grow up thinking it’s belittling to reach out for someone else’s support during a low period. They believe someone should be ashamed of asking for help. No one should ever feel ashamed of asking for help for anything in life. Humans grow, learn, and need help in many ways throughout life.
The truth is stepping up and seeking help is the bravest thing a person could do, especially a struggling addict.
Reaching out for help and guidance is the hardest step to recovery. Once you seek help, you can breathe again, knowing you are in the hands of someone fully capable as a coach that will guide you and give you a bright future.
How Is Coaching Different than Seeking Therapy?
A therapist and coaching are sometimes the same. Some therapists focus purely on addiction recovery. Coaching may be different than seeing a therapist, but it is still therapy.
A traditional therapist studies and works on just about any trauma out there. Anything you may need help working through from the past or present. They don’t tend to focus on mainly the future; instead, they focus on the now and your history. Therapists will diagnose and treat any mental issues you may have.
An addiction recovery coach works on your present issues and focuses on the future and how to make the best out of your life. They also are usually not trained on many different traumas, just addiction. They are trained to focus on a person being their best self and to have a better future.
They will guide you through the steps needed to have a fulfilled life.
The Steps to Recovery?
Most people have heard of the 12 steps to recovery, but most don’t know what the steps are. It may seem overwhelming at first to see so many steps. However, working with an addiction recovery coach will help you achieve each stage at your own pace and teaching you how to applies these steps to your daily life.
Step 1 – Admitting you have an addiction problem, and it has taken over.
Step 2 – Realize there is help and/or support out there.
Step 3 – Deciding to let someone help.
Step 4 – Taking a look at what works and doesn’t in your life.
Step 5 – Admitting the things you’ve done wrong.
Step 6 – Becoming ready and willing to make changes in your life.
Step 7 – Asking for forgiveness.
Step 8 – Making a list of people you’ve hurt.
Step 9 – Making amends those you’ve hurt.
Step 10 – Keep making changes when needed.
Step 11 – Asking for guidance to continue to live the right way.
Step 12 – Realizing the steps helped
Source – Addiction Helper
What Are the Types of Help Available?
Around the world, there are many resources for treating addiction. No matter what your needs are or what you are comfortable with, you’ll find something to help you:
- Local Meetings – Even the smallest of towns usually have a weekly/monthly meeting for addicts. These meetings are free to whoever needs the support.
- Online/Over the phone meetings – If you don’t feel comfortable with going to in-person meetings, there are thousands of places to call, text, and even video call an addiction recovery coach. Many of the sites also allow you to initially speak to someone free of charge to see if it is a good fit for you.
- Outpatient Treatment – This is when someone can come to your home or a local clinic. There is no need to stay overnight. You can still get daily treatments and will have help whenever it’s needed.
- Inpatient Treatment – This is where you stay in a facility at least overnight and for sometimes weeks. It is where someone would go to detox and live in the facility while they detox, recover, and are taught the tools to thrive in the world after their departure.
Relapsing is a very real and scary part of an addict’s recovery. Your addiction recovery coach will give you everything you need to not relapse. It is a good idea to become familiar with the signs of relapsing.
With that knowledge, you can stop yourself before you relapse or reach out to your coach for a little extra guidance. Even a person who has recovered from addiction should be cautious of triggers in the world and never feel ashamed of seeking help.
What are the Signs of Relapsing?
- Depression and Anxiety – Anxiety, depression, boredom, feeling unsatisfied make it very easy to slip. Staying busy, getting out of the house, or doing a hobby you enjoy can help.
- Stopping any help – Missing a meeting because of an emergency or significant plans is one thing but when you start missing meetings, it’s hard to drag yourself to them, you stop reaching out to your support.
- A change in your daily habits – If you find yourself sleeping more, exhausted, eating everything in sight, or having no appetite. These may seem like a simple thing but are a meaningful warning sign.
- Cravings – This doesn’t mean you crave sweets or some odd combo. This is as simple as if you want the thing you were addicted to. Reach out to your recovery coach immediately, and don’t feel defeated or ashamed that you feel this way. It happens, and your coach will help you through it.
- Lying to yourself or Coach – If you find yourself lying to yourself that “you’ll just give in this one time” or telling your coach that you’re okay. These are vital warning signs and should never be ignored. Admitting to your coach that you lied is a big step. They will not judge you but instead give you the extra help you need.
We Are Here for You
As a recovered addict, you may always silently battle your addiction. As long as you have it under control, it’s okay to have a doubt now and then. Know that your addiction recovery coach is always there for you no matter if it been five months or five years. They will be there to guide you through any of the obstacles you may face.
When you contact Steps Recovery Center, know we are here to guide you through addiction recovery. We have three locations: Salt Lake City, Utah County, and St. George, UT.