Many people know how challenging it is when a loved one goes through addiction recovery. Many different situations cause them to worry about their loved one's well-being as they go through treatment. Substance use takes a toll on everyone involved. It causes individuals to act out of character or internalize every thought process. Substance use can cause individuals to develop co-occurring mental health disorders that take a toll on themselves and those around them. If you, as a friend and family member, are worried about someone in addiction recovery, you can learn to understand the unpredictable, complex emotions involved in the process.
When an individual first goes into an addiction recovery center, there are a few different things that you can expect when they start to become sober. Your loved one may experience withdrawal symptoms or have erratic behavior. Additionally, you will see cravings at the forefront of their mind as they work hard to battle them. They may be angry, sad, or confused. These things are easy to detect, but there's more below the surface, so what about the other complex feelings that are not always addressed upfront?
One of the first things to understand about addiction recovery is that individuals will have a diminished capacity for managing emotions. It can take a toll on those around them if they are not helped by a professional. If an individual chooses to go into an addiction recovery center, a professional helps manage the symptoms and erratic behaviors as the toxins leave their body.
As a loved one, you care about the individual going to treatment and will do everything you can to help them, but you might not know how. This is where professional intervention is necessary. Do not go at this by yourself. It is essential to find the resources and compassionate professionals who can help you navigate your feelings and those of your loved one.
Addiction recovery is no journey to take lightly. Many individuals experience abnormal feelings when they first start their journey. Their friends and family may also get engulfed in similar feelings of abnormality. Substance use haunts those who seek to be sober, becoming a fixation during the day or haunting them in their dreams at night. Because substance use was such a big part of their life, the individual will experience neurological changes now that it's been eliminated.
Nightmares and daydreams often plague those who are recovering from substances since their body and brain are used to having that crutch. These can make an individual feel anxious and push them to relapse, so they don’t have to deal with the emotional alterations or the withdrawals symptoms. Their brain is going through a mental detox where they have to change their lifestyle, but the difficulty will diminish over time.
During early sobriety, individuals have increased emotional imbalance. These imbalances can cause significant mood swings as the individual goes through physical and mental detoxification. As the toxins are eliminated from the body, the body reacts in unpredictable ways, affecting emotions and decisions.
Chemical imbalances in the body can cause significant mood shifts and swings, causing the individual to feel stressed, sad, excited, angry, content, or impulsive in unpredictable patterns. Though this is normal, there are instances where dramatic mood swings are indicative of an underlying mental health condition that must be addressed. It is not uncommon for the individual who struggles with substance abuse to have a co-occurring disorder such as PTSD, anxiety, bipolar disorders, and more.
Addiction recovery centers will outline a treatment plan that includes an assessment of any underlying medical conditions that may co-occur with substance use. If they have a co-occurring disorder, the individual will receive additional treatment. Over time, with simultaneous treatment of substance use disorder and any other mental health disorder, the individual can become more stable and will better be able to cope with their emotional imbalance.
When individuals feel nervous or fearful about going to treatment, they may end up pushing you away or distancing themselves from you. Try not to take this personally: this can happen because changing their lifestyle requires a lot of work, and they're struggling to get through it.
Many individuals feel that the weight of the situation is too much to expose you to. Some people lose friends or relationships in the process of addiction recovery because of this. It will help if you show them you will support them through all the changes they're facing.
Being newly sober, individuals may feel social anxiety or awkwardness when they step back into a normal lifestyle. They may want to continue the development, and they may distance themselves at first, but over time, with the right plan of action, your help, and the guidance of group therapy, they can make a full recovery.
At NorthStar Transitions, we understand that treatment is helpful for anyone suffering from substance use or co-occurring mental health disorder. If you have a loved one who struggles with substance use and you want to know more about the complex feelings that happen in addiction treatment, our team is here to help you navigate the emotions recovery brings up. NorthStar Transitions believes that involving a continuous development on self-reflection and implementing rational decision-making can help you and your loved one learn how to have the patience to achieve the healthy growth recovery delivers. Our team knows that finding the right path of recovery is a challenging and lengthy process, but you and your loved one can understand the underlying cause, get treatment, manage symptoms, and plan for long-term recovery, all under one roof. Reach out to NorthStar Transitions today for more information on how we can help you or your loved one. Call (303) 558-6400.
