Negative moments can play a substantial role in the development of substance use disorders and they can come at you almost every day. Navigating negative situations in recovery can be hard. We most likely have previously turned to drugs and alcohol to try to escape a slump, but that is no longer an option now that we have to start on this path of recovery. Developing new ways of coping with negative situations and emotions is critical to successful sobriety.
Stress regularly is encountered in everyday life. It can be the downfall in someone’s recovery and interfere with a person’s success. It is important for those in recovery to develop the life skills to support a sober lifestyle, which may include developing new coping mechanisms to deal with stressors. While some of these coping mechanisms may be physical acts such as working out, playing music, making artwork, or writing, there are other exercises a person can engage in to encourage positive thinking and release negative feelings.
Tips for Staying Positive in Recovery
While In recovery, it is very important not to let negative thoughts get you down. Often in treatment, you hear that “this too shall pass” in order to help others stay in the present. It is easy to dwell on negative experiences and focus on the wrong things, but positive thinking can help improve the outcome of treatment.
There are simple ways you can increase positive thinking and improve your outlook. Some skills are acquired through the recovery process naturally. Some ways to increase positivity are:
- Eat a Healthy Diet and Exercise – After years of abuse on your body from drugs and alcohol, your body was most likely lacking proper nutrient physical strength. With a proper balanced diet and exercise not only will you reverse the damage you’ve caused but it will also help you better your mood and behavior. Eat antioxidant-rich foods and be sure to fill up on fiber and high-quality lean proteins and daily walks can help boost your endorphins
- Stick to a Sleep Schedule – While we were using drugs and alcohol we most likely weren’t getting sufficient sleep. It is a known fact that drugs and alcohol mess with people’s circadian rhythms. Lack of sleep definitely does not put anyone in a good mood.
- Surround Yourself with Positive People – Still hanging around those you used with is a sure way to end up relapsing. You don’t just have to hang around sober people either. Whomever you hang out with just make sure they support your sobriety and will hold you accountable for your actions. A true friend will tell you when you are wrong.
- Practice Self Love – Drugs and alcohol had brought you to a point where you thought of yourself as a loser, a disappointment and probably couldn’t even look at yourself in the mirror. In order to stay happy and healthy in sobriety, it’s important to be diligent about practicing self-love. Create positive daily affirmations, Start journaling, Read inspirational books And, most importantly, treat yourself with compassion and kindness.
- Find a New Hobby – After freeing yourself from the chains of drugs and alcohol you find yourself with a lot of free time on your hands. The time you used to spend using and finding ways to use is now free for exploring new hobbies and interests. When you fill your schedule with positive activities where you create or learn new skills you feel accomplished and proud of yourself. This is not only healthy mentally but physically too.
- Give Back – In active addiction, you only thought about yourself. Addiction can make people selfish and unforgiving. In recovery, people you don’t even know give you love and kindness and in return, you do the same for the next newcomer. When giving back and doing service you improve your self-confidence and also bring a sense of meaning and purpose back to your life and others.
If you or a loved one are struggling with substance abuse, the first step is detox and most likely you will require a medical detox to ensure the most efficient and comfortable start to your new life of recovery.
Our Medical Detox Program
While the main priority of every detox program is to ensure safe withdrawal in a medically supervised setting, at Garden State Detox we also believe that every effective detox program should set a solid foundation for long-term sobriety, and prepare each individual client for a seamless transition to the next appropriate level of clinical care. We are here for your next step.
