3 Common Challenges of Addiction Recovery

Overcoming addiction requires more than willpower. It takes a significant amount of hard work to stay in recovery once you’ve made it through rehab. Remember, you’ve already gotten over one of the hardest parts, which is admitting you have a problem. It’s okay if you feel scared or uncertain about what the future holds. Accept that your journey is just beginning so you can prepare yourself for what lies ahead. If you’re having trouble overcoming the recovery challenges, reach out to Red Oak Recovery at 866.457.7590 today.

Stop Feeling Like a Failure

Many people find this to be the most challenging addiction recovery challenge they face. You may have done things that you regret while under the influence. Many people working to overcome addiction must deal with legal and financial fallout that seems never to end.

The best thing you can do to overcome that negativity is to focus on what you can control. You may not have all the money on hand to pay off legal fees from a DUI. Still, you can control whether you stay in contact with those you owe and negotiate alternative arrangements. Facing up to your mistakes can improve your confidence and help you feel better about yourself.

You can’t change the past, but you can control how you react to the future. Make use of the life skills you learned in rehab to navigate life without abusing drugs or alcohol. Turn to therapy or other support if your feelings of inadequacy threaten to derail your progress in addiction recovery.

Break Ties With Your Past

The people we hung out with or the places we visited while under the influence can be detrimental to your future. If individuals from that time insist on continuing with old habits, then you need to break away from that crowd. Continuing to hang around people who are still using puts you at risk for a relapse.

Find a new circle of friends supportive of your desire to stay sober. Try to connect with people living the life you want to emulate. Take part in activities that distract you from the desire to use drugs or alcohol. The further you move away from your old life, the more you can embrace your new one.

Learn to Manage Your Stress

Learning to live a life free of addiction is not an easy process. You’ll likely experience a lot of anxiety and stress as you work to maintain a consistent daily routine. Try exercise as an outlet for relieving stress. You can also look into practices like meditation to keep your mind and spirit focused and balanced.

You should also seek professional counseling to help you manage difficult periods. It’s good to get a professional opinion on the steps you’re taking. Your therapist can act as an outlet for your frustrations and offer you advice on changes you can make if you’re feeling overwhelmed by your situation.

Dealing with your stress is key to sticking to your commitment to staying sober. Stress can stir up cravings, which put you in danger of relapsing. That’s when you should turn to the coping mechanisms learned in rehab. Living a life free of substance abuse takes time and practice, so don’t get discouraged if addiction recovery doesn’t come easily at first.

Overcome Your Addiction Challenges

You don’t have to get through the challenges of addiction alone. Red Oak Recovery offers various programs that teach you coping skills and techniques to managing triggers you may encounter once you leave rehab.

Contact Red Oak Recovery at 866.457.7590 to get the help you need to manage your addiction recovery challenges successfully.


Red Oak Recovery Center North Carolina Addiction Treatment Center NC drug and alcohol rehab center Red Oak Recovery® is a clinically focused, trauma-informed facility with gender-specific programs for young adults. Each recovery journey is different, and our developmentally specific treatment methods take into account your unique story, gender challenges, substance abuse history, relapse triggers, and mental health issues. Our dual-credentialed master’s level clinicians integrate evidence-based practices and 12-step work with complementary modalities to help clients pursue positive, lasting change. Learn More