Recovering from an addiction getting the help you need online

Recovering from an addiction is often a lifelong process that requires personal investment and commitment. Some days, staying sober is harder than others. When you are ready to kick your addiction, you may need to take advantage of local and online resources.

Here are some of the best ways you can use the Internet to recover from addiction and live a sober life.

Seek Advice from a Doctor

Addiction recovery often takes more than abstaining from alcohol and drugs. Withdrawal from certain substances can cause serious medical problems. Some of the most dangerous substances to withdraw from include:

• Alcohol
• Benzodiazepines (like Xanax)
• Opiates (like methadone)

Quitting any substance cold turkey can cause some health issues. A few of them are deadly, but many of them are dangerous.

It’s always a good idea to seek advice from a medical doctor before undergoing the withdrawal process.

You don’t necessarily need to see your general practitioner to get medical advice about addiction. The Curely app gives you 24/7 access to doctors who can address your needs. You even get to a choose your doctor by specialty, so you may end up getting better advice than if you visit your general practitioner.

Find a Local Support Group

The Internet can help you search for local support groups where you can get help from people in your community. There are many different types of support, so you should spend a little time reviewing your options before committing to a group.

Some popular options available in many cities include:

• Alcoholics Anonymous
• Narcotics Anonymous
• SMART Recovery (Self Management and Recovery Training)

In many cases, people develop addictions by trying to self-medicate mental health issues.

You may want to use the Internet to find mental health support groups that can increase your chances of recovery.

Participate in a Forum for People with Addictions

Communicating with people who also struggle with substance abuse and addiction may help you find coping strategies that make recovery more likely. Some people, however, do not want to attend meetings in person. Even though most groups promise anonymity, addicts may feel nervous or exposed when meeting with other people and discussing personal issues.

Online forums and message boards offer useful alternatives to addiction meetings. You may choose to exchange messages with people on a general addiction forum or a forum that focuses on your substance of choice. Some good forums to visit include:

• SMART Recovery Forum
• Addiction Recovery Guide Message Board
• Miracles in Progress

Many of these forums include success stories, coping strategies, and other types of information that can help you live without substance use.

Keep in mind that the people posting on forums usually are not experts. They can offer support and share their experiences, but most of them cannot offer sound medical advice. If you are worried about your health, you should talk to a doctor for help.

The Internet offers several tools that can help you recover from drug and alcohol addiction. Explore these and other options to find resources that work well for you.