Last Updated on April 6, 2016 by Morris Green

Drug and alcohol abuse clout your mind, damage your body and cause feelings of hopelessness to settle in. When it comes to the recovery process, it is natural to feel as though things will never get better.

Although recovery may seem hard, there is an end in sight. Part of the process is understanding what you’re going through physically and mentally and knowing that it is temporary. Just what can you expect during recovery, and how can you cope with feeling unwell? Let’s find out.

Physical Healing

Taking the first step towards recovery is big. Your body is going to go through many changes, and it may feel as though you are never going to get through it. In that moment, reach for your inner strength. This is the time when your brain and body are begging for the toxins they have been fed.

According to the National Institute of Health, when you begin recovery your body will experience:

• Feelings of being ill.
• Increased craving for drugs or alcohol.
• Temptation to resume using your substance of choice.

The withdrawal process is necessary to remove these toxins and chemicals from your body so that true recovery can begin. Consider it a necessary and temporary pain in order to get to the root cause.

Mental Healing

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, approximately 37 percent of those who abuse alcohol and 53 percent of those who abuse drugs have at least one mental illness.

Being healthy isn’t limited to the physical. It includes cognitive or mental functions. Determining whether you have a mental illness isn’t anything you should be ashamed of. This process can help you better cope with underlying issues that may have contributed to your decision to use drugs and alcohol in the first place.

Emotional Healing

Emotional healing means that you begin to reconcile yourself and rebuild relationships that may have been destroyed by your mistakes. This can be a painful process as you begin to realize the impact your addiction may have had. However, forgiveness and love are powerful tools. As your loved ones begin to see your strides to a better and healthier you, it is likely that their support will be unwavering.

You don’t have to go through this process alone. There are amazing substance abuse counselors that will help you decipher your feelings and get back on track to a better, healthier you.

Stay the Course

The most important thing that you can do to stay well is stay on the course to recovery. There are several things that you can do to hold yourself accountable in the face of adversity:

• Join a support group.
• Talk to someone you trust.
• Maintain a healthy lifestyle by eating and exercising daily.

Remember that you are valued and important. It is may seem easier to stay unwell; however, full recovery is not something that happens overnight. The process takes time and will help you reach your maximum potential. Be brave and be patient.