When was the last time you had to wait in a long line? Maybe you were at a museum waiting to get into a popular exhibit. Maybe you were waiting in line for a book, sneaker, phone, or concert ticket release. Maybe you were at an amusement park winding your slow and steady way toward the most popular ride. The process probably felt more slow than steady.
No matter why you were waiting in that line, you probably experienced a combination of anticipation and impatience. You were likely excited about whatever awaited you at the end of the line. At the same time, you probably wished you could get to the front of the line much, much faster.
In some ways, experiencing those two feelings together while waiting in line is similar to the recovery journey. Let’s look at some moments of anticipation and some moments of impatience that are likely to arise during treatment and in the days afterward.
Anticipation and Impatience in Treatment
When you make the momentous decision to pursue treatment for a substance use disorder, you may well feel anticipation about reclaiming your sobriety and your life. In fact, you absolutely should feel that anticipation. Getting sober is, after all, a big deal.
But you may also find yourself experiencing impatience along the way as you go through medically supervised detoxification and a therapy-based rehabilitation program. You might wish the detox process could be quicker and less challenging. You might find the therapy sessions–both group and individual–during rehab to be helpful and encouraging but sometimes repetitive or even ponderous.
You might find yourself eager (a feeling of both anticipation and impatience) to reach the end of treatment so you can return to your daily life. That is all for the good because that is the goal of the treatment process. Still and all, you have to be prepared to do the ongoing work of maintaining your sobriety. And that work will likely inspire its feelings of anticipation and impatience as your recovery journey gets underway.
Anticipation and Impatience After Treatment
It might seem like you could set aside feelings of anticipation and impatience once treatment comes to an end. After all, you have achieved your goal of reclaiming your sobriety, right? Can’t you count on smooth sailing from here?
We wish the answer was yes. But the fact is that ongoing sobriety takes work—and like anything you work at, there are likely to be moments of anticipation and impatience.
You might, for example, find yourself anticipating the day when you won’t be surprised by cravings. And you might be impatient when it seems like that day will never come (and to be honest, it probably won’t). You might anticipate that you will be able to put your life back together in no time at all. And you might be impatient when you realize there are lots of mistakes to make up for. You might find yourself anticipating the restoration of relationships that may have been damaged while you were using drugs or alcohol. And you might be impatient when you discover that some people are not going to be quick to trust or forgive you.
That might all sound like bad news. But we do not want you to feel discouraged. Happily, there is good news, too. You can anticipate that each sober day is a gift—and you will be right each and every time.
We Anticipate That We Can Help
At The Farley Center—located in Williamsburg, Virginia—we are committed to helping individuals regain and maintain their sobriety. We understand that every person has a unique story and unique needs, so we are fully dedicated to creating a personalized treatment plan for each individual we serve. We offer inpatient, outpatient, and virtual treatment options to fit your needs, and we provide ongoing support and resources when your program comes to an end.
No matter what substance you are struggling with—whether it is alcohol, benzodiazepines, opioids, heroin, fentanyl, or something else—we are equipped to help you. We bring to bear evidence-based practices supported by our years of training and experience as well as our commitment to providing a judgement-free environment and a spirit of empathy.
When you are struggling with a substance use disorder, it can feel as if you are all along and there is no path back to a sober life. But you are not alone. We can help you find that path so that you can reclaim your sobriety and your life. When you are ready to make a lasting change, we are eager to get started.
