When the weekend is over, are you wondering where the time went? You’ve got missed calls and an alarming amount of messages from your nearest and dearest, from the plans you’ve missed, or the event you didn’t quite make.
It happens more and more these days, most weekends, and all you can remember clearly is heading to the pub after work on Friday night, or buying wine on the way home.
The guilt, the dread, the fear, the worry – all of these feelings combine to that horrible feeling that you just can’t shake.
We have been there.
And here are some ideas on how to deal with it.
Accept that it is not your fault
It’s happened, and dwelling on it won’t change it. While it may feel like the world is closing in on you, and you can’t shake the feelings, know that looking back and blaming yourself is not going to help.
As for the feelings, try breathing. No fancy meditations and no YouTube-worthy techniques. Just breathe. Focus on each inhale and exhale, and allow yourself to feel calm and connected to your body, even if you’ve not felt at home in it for the past few days.
Nourish your body
After a weekend of bingeing, alcohol and drugs, we know it can be tempting to go one way or the other; either super strict with what you put in, or an all-consuming eat everything in sight. Balance is the key, feeding your body with the things that you know will make you feel calmer and naturally satisfied. Healthy food, lots of water, and eating at the times of day that energise you most focus on what works best for you.
Be kind to your mind
Next up is what’s going on inside your mind. You may be familiar with the racing thoughts, and while we cannot give you a magic wand to make them vanish, we can tell you to be kind to yourself. Speak nicely, speak softly, and forgive yourself. Start the week as you’d like to go on. If you’re regularly suffering with troubling thoughts, then please get in touch with us about treatment to stop drinking or taking drugs for good.
Allow yourself to be honest
Be honest with yourself and be honest with those around you. Tell trusted people how you feel, and take some time alone to sit with your thoughts and feelings, and whether or not it is a pattern you can break yourself.
As for the missed calls, the texts and the WhatsApp messages, here’s how to work on rebuilding those relationships, and surrounding yourself with the right kind of people.
Work out who is in your corner
It is important to be surrounded by the right kind of people. The ones who will cheer you on, and help you stay on the road you have chosen. It might be that there are some people in your life that you will have to distance yourself from for a while, or there might be people who are always there for you, and those are the ones that you should spend more time with, either physically or digitally.
Speak up
Don’t try to make people guess how you’re feeling or what is going on. Tell people what’s going on in your head and let them be there for you. A problem shared is a problem halved and hey, you don’t know what other people are going through or what they have been through! Allow yourself to be supported.
Don’t leave them on read
If someone has been in touch or you have missed an event, get back to them. We know it’s hard and we know it feels like a big deal, but we promise that reaching out and speaking to them sooner rather than later will be much less painful. Think about ripping off a bandaid!
Getting addiction help and support
If this is a regular thing for you, and you want to get your weekends and your Monday mornings back, consider speaking to someone about help and support available to you. While one drink may lead to three days away from home, know this doesn’t have to be your normal. It’s important to understand that harmful drinking isn’t necessarily daily drinking – it’s when alcohol is costing you more than money. If your health, wellbeing, relationships, work and general quality of life is being affected, then maybe it’s time to consider another way.
There are so many different support options out there, from friends who will listen to professional services, and even rehab options like what we offer.
Help Me Stop
We offer non-residential rehab services to those suffering with problematic drug and alcohol use. We know that harmful drinking or drug-taking looks different to everyone, and that it may not even be obvious to the outside world that you are struggling.
Getting help with alcohol or drugs can feel tough, but we promise that we are here to help, to listen without judgement, and to help you stop.
Our model is called Dayhab, and it means that you can integrate your recovery into your daily life. A lot of our clients come to rehab along with going to work and engaging in family activities. We have created this Dayhab model to make rehab more accessible and more affordable, and we have rehabs in London, Hampshire, as well as an online rehab programme too.
If you want to get a handle on your life and regain control of your weekends, then get in touch with us for a confidential chat and we can go from there and tell you more about our rehab London, rehab Hampshire or online rehab service.
For a confidential chat about affordable addiction treatment, please call 0208 191 9191, message us on Live Chat, or email enquiries@helpmestop.org.uk.
Resources and guidance
There are other resources out there, and we have compiled some of them here so you can discover what is right for you and so you can get the help that you need. If you have any questions, you’re more than welcome to get in touch with a member of the team.
Alcohol addiction help
You can use this page of the NHS website to find free alcohol support services.
Alcoholics Anonymous is a free service available across the UK. Explore the website and get in touch with them for support.
Drug addiction help
The NHS has an informative page for you to find out more about the effects of drug addiction and the support available.
FRANK has plenty of free advice and guidance on drug addiction support. You can find their website here.
Mental Health
Mind is an incredible organisation doing amazing work across the UK. Find out more about their work here and get in touch for support.
Talk to the Samaritans for free about how you’re feeling. Call 116 123 for free, or get the contact information here.
CALM offers chats, helplines and guides for those looking for support.
