Introduction
Congratulations! If you are post rehab and have some sober time under your belt, GREAT JOB! Give yourself a well-deserved pat on the back. That was hard!
And it took determination and perseverance! You've demonstrated admirable willpower and taken control of your life. But beating down your addiction is just the start. What now? There’s been no instruction manual for picking up the broken pieces of your life and rebuilding - until now.
You’ve had a powerful beginning to your journey, and it's one you can be proud of. Now, prepare yourself for the next battle: Tackling the fallout of addiction and getting your life back in order. It will take some work, but it'll be SO worth it!
You probably established a useful ‘toolbox’ in rehab and have learned methods for re-wiring your brain on the inside – now it’s time to turn your attention outward. If you are newly post rehab, you probably feel powerful, strong, and ready to face what’s next! Good! You must maintain that strength and gather more tools, resources, and support. You’ll need them to face the challenges life will throw at you. We hope this book will be a valuable resource to help you do that.
So, what comes next?
How do you mop up the mess created by your addiction? How do you repair burnt bridges, untangle your finances, fix your relationships, and calm the anxiety of navigating this newfound life?
What are the secret "mechanics" of transitioning into an addiction-free existence? This book is like a trail map for your journey from rehab to real life. It's a guide to breaking old behavior patterns and building a new life based on a solid foundation of sobriety. Think of our recovery books as extensions of your sobriety toolbox, filled with ideas and options for you to choose from.
You don't need to follow them like an instruction manual – just pick the right tools for you. That way, you can craft your unique road map to recovery, doing one thing at a time.
The idea for this book came about when my daughter Jenna went through rehab. She came out of it buzzing with so much optimism, ready to take on the world! But we quickly realized that rehab didn't cover all the bases, and that thought was a little daunting, a bit overwhelming.
One little secret I’ve shared with Jenna to avoid getting overwhelmed, exhausted, or feeling like you’re sinking in quicksand is to imagine an invisible tattoo across your forehead that says, "Take Care of YOU!" - a perpetual reminder that to hang on to your sobriety you’ll have to get used to thinking of your own needs first, no matter what the situation, at least until your determination is stronger, you’ve learned to be more assertive and you have a healthy amount of self-respect!
So, when you decide, keep that invisible tattoo in mind and do what's best for YOU, even though it may initially feel quite foreign. Remember, you deserve to be happy! (You’ll learn a lot more about this subject in Chapter 2: “Learn to Say No Without Feeling Guilty”).
One little nugget of wisdom from Jenna is, "Just keep trying, trying, and trying until it sticks!” It will take time and effort to rebuild your life and learn to live without the crutch of your addiction. Jenna says, “It will take as long as it takes!” If you stumble along the way, don't sweat it. Just dust yourself off and keep marching forward. And remember, small victories are still victories!
In our sobriety books we hope you'll discover powerful ways to improve your new life. But please don't feel overwhelmed by these ideas. We suggest that you do Chapters 1 through 4 in order (they will provide a solid foundation for what comes next), but after that, just pick one that is important to you and get a start on it – then you can move on to another. One thing at a time!
And as you go along, don’t be afraid to ask for help – early sobriety is no place for false pride. Your family, friends, and colleagues want you to succeed. And health care providers have so many tools to add to your toolbox. Learn all you can – knowledge is power!
So, commit to putting your needs first and make self-care your new normal. Remember, change is a marathon, not a sprint, so don't expect to become an overnight superhero. Start small and take baby steps; you'll achieve your goals quickly with persistence.
CHAPTER TITLES:
1. Nurture Your Mental Well-being
2. Learn to Say "No" Without Feeling Guilty
3. Tackle That Mountain of Paperwork!
4. Whip Your Finances into Shape!
5. Take Care of Your Body
6. Get Your Creativity On!
7. (Re)Building Positive and Strong Relationships
8. It Feels Good to Look Good!
9. Take Care of the Legal Stuff
10. Give Back to the World
11. Get an Education
12. Take Care of Future You, Too!