Going ‘cold turkey’ may seem like an easy, affordable way to kick an addiction, but overcoming an addiction, and staying clean, is an involved process. Drug addiction is a disease and is most effectively treated when given professional care like any other illness.

The disadvantages of going cold turkey

• May be harmful to your health if the type of drug you’re addicted to has dangerous withdrawal symptoms
• Doesn’t address drug use triggers
• Doesn’t help you build coping mechanisms
• Doesn’t help you develop a relapse prevention plan
• Doesn’t educate your family about ways to support you both during and after your addiction recovery

With in-home rehab, you can get the quality care of a traditional inpatient facility without having to leave your house.

Here’s how to recover from alcohol and drug addiction at home.

Recover from alcohol and drug addiction from the comfort of your home

The most important thing you can do is to get professional treatment for your addiction. No, we’re not talking about an out-of-town inpatient facility; we’re talking about in-home rehab programmes, such as the one offered by Elite Home Detox.

In-home programmes are customised to your needs, not the one-size-fits-all programmes offered by most traditional clinics. Your clinicians and support team come to your home for your appointments. That includes everything from detox to counselling to aftercare. There’s no need to travel anywhere, and no need to take weeks off work for your recovery.

Get rid of temptations

Unfortunately, relapse is extremely common among people trying to recover from an addiction, with the American Addiction Centers estimating the rate between 40 and 60%.

Your in-home rehab programme will help you learn to recognise drug use triggers and build coping techniques in response. The program will also help you know when to enact your relapse plan, but you can further prevent relapse by getting rid of any temptations in your home. That means throwing out all of the drugs and/or alcohol – and, of course, avoiding purchasing replacements.

Practise mindfulness

Addiction rehab can be a complicated, busy time with a lot of change in many aspects of your life. During this time, it may be beneficial for you to practice mindfulness. This includes:

• Yoga to help stay active
• Exercise to help keep your body healthy
• Journaling to chart your progress and vent any frustrations
• Exploring creative outlets and hobbies to divert your attention and energy

Together, these activities can improve both your physical and mental health, giving you a better platform from which to work during your addiction recovery.

Order out

Now that you’re at home and focused on your recovery, you can’t just starve yourself. Treat yourself and order out for delivery every once in a while. You need to stay fueled while you’re recovering, especially during detox, when your body needs the energy to combat withdrawal symptoms the most.

Cook something

Unfortunately, as delicious as delivery is, you can’t order out for every meal. That’s where cooking comes in.

Cooking is a great creative outlet that can help take your mind off of your recovery. Plus, you can customise what ingredients go into your meal. Choosing nutritious, healthful foods can help your body overcome withdrawal symptoms and help you feel better all around. This means avoiding heavily processed foods and other unhealthy choices, no matter how delicious they are.

If you aren’t much of a chef, you can also hire a personal chef or a nutritionist to make sure that you’re getting a balanced diet for your needs to help support your body throughout your recovery.

Invite a friend over

There’s nothing like having a good friend over for support, especially if you’ve been isolating yourself or distancing yourself from your connections.

Do something fun, like playing a game, watch a movie, or go for a walk – anything to keep you active and in a positive mindset. With the current COVID-19 pandemic, just make sure to practice social distancing to help keep both of you safe and healthy. 

Elena Deeley did her degree in psychology at the University of Edinburgh. She has an ongoing interest in mental health and well-being.