Having patience means having the capacity to tolerate or accept delay, difficulties, and stress in healthy ways and without getting angry or upset. Patience enables us to analyze events and situations beyond their face value. Addiction recovery is not an easy or short process. It is a long-term process that usually begins within a drug and alcohol detox center. Depending upon your needs and circumstances, you may follow detox with treatment at an inpatient or outpatient drug rehab center. In rehab, comprehensive addiction treatment includes a life skills training program that teaches the importance of patience in recovery, among other skills.
In recovery, it is critical to remember that addiction does not happen overnight, and neither can recovery. The ability to practice patience can make or break an individual’s ability to stay sober. Addiction interferes with a person’s natural physical and psychological abilities to delay gratification. As addiction progresses, an individual’s behavior adapts to meet addiction demands at the expense of other areas of life. They need to relearn the patience needed to overcome cravings and find alternative coping skills in treatment.
Reasons People Lack Patience and Tolerance in Recovery
Modern technology allows us to have almost instant access to information, goods, and services and quickly see the results of our efforts. While there are numerous benefits to this, it has created a society of people who expect instant gratification. Likewise, addiction causes people to seek instant gratification to relieve their cravings.
A critical part of addiction treatment is learning to delay gratification and process cravings and urges in healthy, constructive ways. Addiction treatment and recovery bring on a wide range of emotions, including impatience. Some of the leading causes of this impatience include:
- Feeling that recovery isn’t happening quickly enough or at all
- Experiencing a relapse when trying to build sober time
- Financial concerns from being out of work to receive treatment
- Anxiety about getting started rebuilding damaged relationships
- Addiction damages the prefrontal cortex, which controls decision making and impulse control
- Having unrealistic expectations
Patience in recovery is essential for the person in treatment and their friends and family. People in recovery need to learn how to live without their substance of choice and address the underlying reasons they turned to drugs or alcohol. The only way to get through this is to learn skills such as patience and tolerance.
What to Expect in Recovery from Addiction
Choosing addiction treatment is one of the best decisions you will ever make. The fear of not knowing what to expect in recovery keeps many in active addiction, even when they want to be sober. One of the most common questions asked at the beginning of addiction treatment is, “how long will I be here?” Your time in treatment will depend upon the severity of your addiction and your progress in meeting your treatment goals.
Following an extensive intake and assessment, your multidisciplinary treatment team will work with you to create a treatment plan designed to meet your unique needs. Most clients can expect the following:
- Individual therapy
- Group therapy and support groups
- Wellness and fitness activities
- Evidence-based and holistic treatment modalities
- Nutritional assessment
- 12-step and recovery meetings
- Continuing care plan
Resistance to therapy is common, especially in the early stages of treatment. However, you will not have a successful recovery without addressing the underlying issues contributing to your addiction. Consider these tips for how to develop and strengthen your patience in recovery:
- Be realistic about your expectations and set attainable goals
- Practice mindfulness and meditation
- Exercise and take care of your physical health
- Train yourself to wait
- Use motivational mantras
- Remember to be thankful and express gratitude
- Learn to embrace being uncomfortable
Reach Out to an Addiction Recovery Center
Addiction treatment and recovery is a long process that can cause many stresses for the affected individual and their loved ones. Everyone involved needs to recognize and accept that there is no quick fix for recovery. Often, when a person is ready to receive addiction treatment, they are far removed from the person they once were and have suffered many losses.
Comprehensive addiction treatment helps individuals and their families reconnect with who they truly are and provides the skills needed to help them rebuild their lives. Reach out to an addiction recovery center in North Dakota, to begin your recovery journey today.
