Most individuals who have struggled with drug addiction would readily agree that admitting that they have a problem and they need help is one of the most difficult parts of recovery. This may be because the individual has to recognize that not only have they lost control over something they once chose to participate in, but this very thing they chose to do has effectively destroyed their health, relationships and life. For an individual who is already suffering from low self-esteem, self-confidence and self-respect, this can be incredibly difficult to admit to self, let alone others. But once the individual does admit it, they open the door to the possibility of recovery.
The purpose of rehabilitation treatment is to help restore the individual to the ability to live a healthy, happy and productive life. That said, simply because an individual has chosen to enroll in rehabilitation treatment does not mean that their recovery will be either fast or easy. In fact, most individuals discover that it takes quite a lot of hard work and persistence to not only establish the basic foundation for recovery, but also maintain and strengthen it. Fortunately, it is possible for an individual to fully and permanently recover from drug addiction–especially if they take action to truly engage in life and participate in healthier routines and patterns.
Volunteer Work and Long Term Addiction Recovery
Few sober individuals truly understand just how all-encompassing drug substances can become for someone who is addicted. In many cases, a drug addicted individual will discover that their every thought, decision and action revolves around obtaining and using more drug substances. Needless to say, this can leave the individual feeling as though they are entirely trapped within their own head, and the desire to “escape” can actually drive them ever further into drug use. Even when an individual has participated in rehabilitation treatment and has successfully addressed the many causes and effects of drug addiction, they can discover that they are still very much focused on self. They may have a healthy concern for their future and their ability to maintain their recovery, they may be aware of relapse triggers in their environment and their need to overcome them, and they may even continue to consider their past mistakes, but they are definitely still largely focused on self. Unfortunately, this continued focus on self can actually cause the individual more trouble because it essentially prevents them from looking out to the world around them and considering what they need to do in relation to others in order to survive well. This is where volunteer work can prove invaluable.
Volunteer work is a great way for an individual to stabilize their recovery by giving back to others, making a positive difference for others, and restoring their own self-confidence and self-esteem. It can be a wonderful way for the individual to practice their newly acquired life skills and move toward future employment, as it demands that they stick to a schedule, interact positively with others and work hard. Depending on the specific volunteer work they participate in, the individual can also learn valuable life skills like gardening, food preparation, tutoring and more.
As the recovering individual sees how their volunteer work creates good effects they can actually become much more mentally and emotionally strong. They begin to recognize that they are capable of helping others and contributing to society, and this alone can do wonders for their dedication to sobriety and recovery. Individuals with high self-esteem and pride tend to be much stronger–no matter what life tries to throw at them. They can see that as much as they were aided and helped through the rehabilitation process, they don’t have to feel helpless about only receiving help from others without being able to give back. This high sense of self-worth can serve as a bastion against potential relapse triggers, and make the individual even less interested in ever considering drug use again.
In addition to changing basic lifestyle habits, an individual who is working toward long term addiction recovery will find that they need new social groups and activities. Volunteer work can help enormously with this, as it is a great place to meet sober new friends and develop the strong, positive relationships any healthy individual needs in their life. The Corporation for National and Community Service has even revealed that volunteer workers tend to have lower depression and mortality rates. This means that while many view volunteer work as a truly selfless act, there is no doubt that the volunteer himself benefits greatly as well.
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