We are drawing nearer and nearer to the end of the year. This is an excellent time to reflect back upon 2022 and consider what went well and what you would like to change in the future. Perhaps you made certain mistakes over the past year that you want to avoid making again. Maybe there are things you want to work on within yourself to become the best version of yourself.

Part of this reflection process may also involve considering what you want to leave behind in the past, whether it be people or things. Maybe you’re struggling with substance use disorder (SUD) and are interested in leaving addiction behind in 2022. It’s possible to overcome the fear of making this positive change in your life and start 2023 out as your best year yet.

Overcoming the Fear of Leaving Addiction Behind

There are a wide variety of reasons why people turn to substance misuse in the first place and probably just as many more for why they hesitate to seek help. The individual could have turned to substance use as a way of coping with an undiagnosed mental health disorder such as anxiety, bipolar disorder, or depression.

Now they may be worried that if they do stop engaging in substance misuse, their symptoms will get worse. On the other hand, they could have turned to substance use after the loss of a loved one. They may fear that getting sober will mean that they will have to face the crushing grief they may have ignored over an extended period of time.

No matter what fears you may have surrounding leaving addiction behind, you can still overcome them. Remember that making the decision to get sober will bring no harm but only good in your life. Fulfilling this goal may be a challenge at times and will be something that you will have to continue to work towards. However,  you will not regret making these changes in your life. Many people have successfully left addiction in the past, and you can too.

Taking the Big First Step in Leaving Addiction Behind

Your first step in leaving addiction behind is to admit to yourself that you have a problem and that you need to get help. This can be a difficult thing to do and you may feel very vulnerable. However, it’s important that you come to this conclusion yourself. Nobody else can do it for you. Moving forward will be difficult if you don’t truly believe that a change needs to take place.

Part of coming to this conclusion may involve you taking the time to reflect back upon your life and any damage that has occurred as a result of your substance use disorder. Maybe you got into legal trouble, faced financial hardship, or damaged relationships with friends or family. These circumstances were likely a result of you not being in the right headspace and are situations that could have been avoided. This personal reflection can help put into perspective just how much of an effect substance use has had on your overall life.

After you have decided that you have a problem, your next step is to ask for help. There are many resources available to you that can help you as you begin your recovery journey and move forward. You don’t have to go about this journey alone. Start by reaching out to your primary care provider. They can help provide guidance, help you to understand your options, and figure out what type of treatment best fits your needs.

Letting Go of the Past and Beginning Your Recovery Journey

What your treatment plan will consist of will vary from facility to facility. At our facility at The Kimberly Center, we offer both inpatient and outpatient treatment. When you first get to our facility, we’ll sit down with you for an assessment and will help determine what sort of treatment plan is best suited for you. We’ll be with you every step of the way to answer questions and assist with anything you may need, from the detox process to preparing for a sober life and even after you have left our facility.

A huge part of the recovery process is learning to move on from the past and practice self-forgiveness. People who struggle with substance use disorders often carry a lot of guilt with them. This guilt can be associated with past mistakes or hurting others as a result of their actions. Feelings of guilt can continue even after someone has been on their recovery journey for a long time. Once you have put in the work to not only get sober but make amends for your actions, do your best to practice self-forgiveness. As you’re proactively leaving addiction behind, leave your guilt behind too.