Drug addiction can impact all aspects of your life. Your physical or mental health might have taken a toll as a result of substance abuse, or your relationships with loved ones might be strained. One area of your life that addiction can affect is your finances. If you are newly in recovery and are working to rebuild your life, you might find yourself confronted by the financial aftermath of addiction. Whether you ignored financial responsibilities, used savings to feed your addiction, or lost your job due to substance abuse, all hope is not lost. Just like you’re working on returning to health and wellness in recovery, you need to focus on your finances and bring it back to health too. A counseling center near you can offer financial help after addiction and can assist you as you reach your goals.
Assessing Your Finances in Recovery
If you were ignoring bills, collectors, and money while you were using, then it’s time to get reacquainted with your current financial standing. What are the bills that you need to pay every month? What income do you receive on a regular basis? What are your personal expenses? To make a budget, you’ll want to factor in:
- Groceries
- Clothing
- Rent/mortgage
- Utilities
- Property or car insurance
- Gas
- Car maintenance
This will help you make a plan as you move forward in recovery. Having a very clear idea of your expenses will let you know how much you need to make each month and how much you need to pay back any unpaid bills.
If this feels like a monumental task, talk to others in your therapy program about how they have approached finances in recovery. They might have helpful insights.
Get Organized
To really get a handle on your bills, put them in some order you understand. For instance, you might make a planner or spreadsheet of the income and expenses in your life. At the top portion of your spreadsheet, list all the income you receive on a monthly basis. This might include salary and wages, interest and dividends, social security benefits, or rental income.
You may need to pay debtors back, or you may need to repay family members that helped you pay for your rehab and recovery services. Whatever the case, you will need to have some kind of income to repair the financial damage done during addiction.
Life Skills and Financial Assistance
Life skills therapy can help you navigate life in recovery. You may need to get the support of a counselor who can guide you on what to focus on first. For instance, a counselor may suggest that you pay your higher-interest credit cards first. A counselor will likely have other suggestions and can help you develop a plan for healing your financial life.
Your financial counselor can help with negotiating debt, or you may want to do this yourself. Most lenders want to work with you. They would prefer to get something for the money you owe them versus having you claim bankruptcy and get nothing. Most lenders will come up with a plan, lower payment, and/or even a lower interest rate to help you pay back what’s owed to them.
These are suggestions for restoring your financial life and getting yourself back on track. It’s not going to happen overnight. Just like your recovery, it will take time to heal and grow.
Reach Out to Westwind Recovery® for Substance Abuse Help and Financial Assistance
In our Los Angeles addiction treatment center, we offer addiction therapy programs as well as financial help after addiction. If affording rehab has kept you from reaching out in the past, don’t hesitate to contact our team. We offer financial assistance in order to remove any potential roadblocks to recovery. And in our life skills program, you’ll discover how to rebuild your finances after recovery. Contact us at 855.340.8832 or reach out online today to learn more.
Dr. Deena is the Chief Clinical Officer of Westwind Recovery®, an award-winning outpatient treatment center in Los Angeles where she oversees the clinical and administrative program and treatment methods. Dr. Deena is a doctor of psychology and licensed clinical social worker since 1993. LCSW #20628. Originally from the East Coast, Dr. Deena has worked running treatment centers, worked as a therapist in psychiatric hospitals as well as school settings and currently has a thriving private practice in the LA area. Dr. Deena has appeared regularly on the Dr. Phil Show as an expert since 2003. She has also been featured on many other TV shows, podcasts and has contributed to written publications as well as podcasts.
