Getting clean is by far the easy part; it's staying clean that's the hard one.
Healing is not a miracle; it's all about using your skills and knowledge resourcefully. A complete life-style transplant is needed to recover. We need to take care of our new life and carefully consider a plan for intervention, and to reorganise and re-evaluate our decision making and forward planning skills. Let's be honest: as addicts living in chaos, these were not our strong points. We need to smarten up!
Think of how obsessive we were with drugs if we apply that passion to recovering, we will be very fortunate.
In the early days of recovery, try not to take too much on. Strive to take each day as it comes and slowly acquaint with reality and everyday life.
You may find it hell at first as I did but stick with it, your mindset and body will go through a massive amount of change.
I know all about feeling like you've landed from another planet: At this point further alienation needs to be avoided, as uncomfortable as it may be you have to live and re-socialise.
I struggled at first and really went into myself. I struggled with people, conversation and social situations, even fearing close friends in some instances. I was really unwell and needed a lot of healing and nurturing. Give yourself that time.
If you have lost good friends and close ones due to your addictions then you have to get out there and meet some new people. My best friend told me one night that she couldn't be my friend anymore. She couldn't watch me from a far killing myself.
If you want people to accept you at face value and you're looking for support and encouragement NA (Narcotics Anonymous) is a good road to take. Working through the 12 steps will help you heal, accept and move on with an open heart and mind.
I found NA to be a place I could be honest, share and listen to others who were in similar situations.
My advice is to not over think things. I spent many hours in CBT due to over thinking with my self conscious thoughts.
It's destructive, it can hold you back and overall it is negative on your whole recovery!
As addicts we need to think positively about ourselves, if we had any self worth in the first instance we wouldn't have spent most of our lives living in a deeply deprived state.