One of the biggest challenges in addiction recovery is learning new ways to cope with stress. You can no longer rely on drugs or alcohol to escape reality or numb your feelings. And this all comes at a time when you have to face the consequences of your previous actions.
While this part of the recovery process isn’t easy, there are ways to overcome your challenges and discover effective strategies for relieving stress. Below are some of the best ways to manage stressful situations in addiction recovery.
Make Time for Self-Care
Self-care should be a top priority. When you take care of yourself, it’s easier to make the right decisions for your health and well-being. Follow a consistent sleeping schedule, eat well-balanced meals and take your medications on time. In addition to taking care of your practical needs, schedule “me time.” Use this time to do what you need to feel grounded in your recovery.
Exercise Daily
Spend time exercising each day. It doesn’t have to be a scheduled workout session – walking for 10 minutes three times a day works, too. The key is to stay physically active so that you maintain good mental and physical health. Exercise also increases feel-good endorphins in the brain to boost your mood and distract you from your problems.
Prioritize Your Goals
Are you trying to do everything at once? While you might want to make up for lost time now that you are sober, you can’t overburden yourself with commitments. This will add to your stress and make it harder to stay sober. Prioritize your goals while keeping your recovery front and center. You will have time to do the things you want, but for now, focus on what’s absolutely necessary.
Attend Therapy
Whether it’s individual therapy, group therapy or a self-help group, continue your counseling sessions. As comprehensive as Arizona rehab centers are, they can’t do everything in a few weeks or months. It’s up to you to follow your aftercare plan. By staying in therapy, you can continue learning about yourself, the issues that led to your addiction and strategies for staying sober.
Connect to Nature
Spending time in nature brings balance to the mind and body. Suddenly, your problems may not seem so bad as you recognize that you have a greater purpose in the world. To ease your mind and restore clarity, journal or meditate while spending time outdoors.
Practice Gratitude
Daily gratitude practice encourages you to look at the positive side of life. We recommend taking a few minutes in the mornings to write down the things you are grateful for – a roof over your head, an encouraging family, a beautiful sunrise, etc. When you start thinking this way, it’s easier to find beauty in the little things in life.
Reflect On Your Progress
Recovery has its ups and downs, but it’s important to keep track of your progress so that you can see how far you’ve come. Remind yourself why you quit in the first place and all the things you can now take part in – birthday parties, holidays and more. This will help you keep things in perspective.
Wolf Creek is an Arizona treatment center that treats both substance abuse and mental health disorders. Contact us today to start your recovery. We provide a number of evidence-based and alternative therapies to help our clients manage their stress levels.
Finding purpose in pain is what Jonathon does best. He is a strong advocate for those suffering from substance use disorders. As a person in recovery, Jonathon knows how important it is to receive empathy and compassion. He recognizes that each person comes from a different set of circumstances and deserves to be valued and respected.
With a fresh perspective and compassionate attitude, Jonathon works closely with clients to help them let go of the past and know when to take necessary risks. The recovery process is ongoing, which means people need to move forward while applying the skills learned in treatment. Jonathon is a great motivator when it comes time for this!
Jonathon also places emphasis on the family unit and how it can make or break the recovery experience. Individuals with active, supportive families have far better outcomes. Jonathon realizes that it’s impossible to move mountains overnight, but with the right support team and positive attitude, anything is possible.
