Approximately 80% of US college students have abused alcohol, and 31% of US college students report symptoms of alcohol abuse. While universities geared towards partying might not foster the perfect atmosphere for students regarding irresponsible alcohol consumption, those who are recovering from addiction might feel that returning to school is next to impossible. Thankfully, there are a few ways that you can successfully cater to your education goals while continuing down the path of recovery.
Taking it slow
When returning to school following addiction recovery, it’s important to be realistic by taking things slowly as opposed to jumping back into things. For example, if you’re at the beginning of your education journey and are still considering what path you want to take, weighing options like online school or a shorter education program may be a great way to meet your education goals while avoiding taking on more than you can handle.
One great option, should you be considering a career in business such as a marketing or financial manager, is that of an MBA program. While they’ve been seen as elitist in the past by many, recent technological developments prove otherwise as an online MBA program is more inclusive. In turn, this can be a fantastic option for those recovering from addiction, as it allows for more flexibility when trying to successfully manage and continue treatment — along with a fast track to graduation without the party atmosphere of on-campus life.
Finding a balance
Finding a balance between education and treatment is another key aspect of doing both successfully, though it doesn’t have to be as difficult as it sounds. Ensuring that there’s time to maintain your recovery goals, such as attending meetings is essential to keep in mind when signing up for classes. Furthermore, it’s imperative to ensure that you don’t overdo things and avoid getting overwhelmed, further highlighting the importance and need for a balanced schedule. One way to effectively manage this is to gauge how you feel by checking in with yourself every so often in order to ensure you’re keeping up with both schoolwork and recovery and doing so in good mental health. Otherwise, you may need to adjust accordingly.
Utilizing your resources
Along with taking things slow and finding a balance, knowing about and utilizing the resources available to you is a great way to successfully navigate schooling and recovery. While there are likely to be organizations and groups associated with your school that are geared towards helping students experiencing addiction/ going through recovery, there are also others that aren’t affiliated with a particular school that are worth knowing about too — such as The Herren Project, which is “a national nonprofit organization that provides free resources and support for treatment, recovery, and prevention of substance abuse disorder.”
Meeting your educational goals following addiction recovery can seem like a major challenge, though by taking things slow to avoid overwhelming yourself and making use of resources while also finding a balance, you can ensure that you’re successful at both schooling and in continuing recovery.