Staying Positive During Addiction Recovery
You’ve done something that many people haven’t done: You quit drugs and alcohol. In other words, you’re sober, and that’s a tremendous accomplishment. But day-to-day life is challenging, especially for someone who’s recently kicked the habit. And if you’re not careful, the anxieties of life can snowball until you can’t cope and end up returning to drugs and alcohol. What can you do to stay positive so that you have a higher chance of remaining drug free? Read on to find out how.
Exercise
The American Psychological Association states that exercise boosts your mood. It even alleviates long-term depression. Incorporate regular physical activity into your life such as take a walk through the neighborhood, ride your bike or participate in an exercise class. Even walking briskly through the mall can boost your mood and make you feel better about yourself. Everyday Health reports that as you experience a boost in mood and a stronger body, you also enjoy improved health and a sense of well-being.
Positive Relationships
Building positive relationships is essential. People who view themselves as happy usually enjoy close relationships. Cultivate quality relationships with people you care about and who care for you. Arrange your schedule to spend time with them, so you can continue to build these relationships.
The Cause of Your Addiction
Acknowledging what caused your addiction can help you remain positive during recovery. Getting to the root of your addiction will be a confusing and emotional experience, but understanding your substance abuse completely is an important step in conquering it. Additionally, marriage and/or family counseling can help facilitate healthy conversations with your loved ones and pave the way for stronger relationships.
Hobbies
Life has more meaning if you make time for hobbies. Working all the time without any chance for recreation makes life boring. If you want to remain positive during addiction recovery, pursue a hobby. If you don’t have any hobbies, find some. It could be painting, reading books, playing an instrument, building model cars, sewing, knitting, dancing or anything else that gives you joy. Psychology Today reports that just setting aside an hour a day or a few hours of week to devote to a hobby can bring a “newfound zest” into your work and family life. Pursuing something that inspires you and makes you feel alive helps you remain positive through the recovery process.
Gift of Time
Donating your time to others without expecting any reward works wonders for keeping you positive as you recover from addiction. You may want to volunteer at soup kitchen, care for dogs at an animal shelter or help out at your local chapter of Alcoholics Anonymous. It doesn’t matter where you donate your time. The only thing that matters is that you give back to your community. When you volunteer, you meet new friends, build self-esteem and reduce your stress levels. Community service allows you to help yourself and others at the same time.
Dealing with Guilt
When you struggled with addiction, you let a lot of people down. You may have been fired from your job. Maybe you stole from friends or family. Your addiction may have prevented you from attending your kids’ soccer games. These memories can cause overwhelming feelings of guilt, but you can make up for all your past actions. Ask for forgiveness from the people you hurt. Some of them may not be able to forgive and forget, but others will excuse your wrongdoings. Finally, you must learn to forgive yourself. Admit your mistakes and move on toward a more positive way of life. As long as you dwell on the guilt and shame, you will never be able to completely heal.
Beating addiction is an amazing accomplishment, but remaining sober isn’t easy. Dealing with life’s stresses lead many people to relapse. In order to maintain sober, it’s important to remain positive, and you can do this through exercise, positive relationships, hobbies, volunteering and learning how to deal with feelings of guilt. Taking one day at a time and remaining focused on positivity will help you maintain your sobriety and enjoy a happy drug-free future.
Photo Credit: Pixabay.com
Kimberly Hayes enjoys writing about health and wellness and created PublicHealthAlert.info to help keep the public informed about the latest developments in popular health issues and concerns. In addition to studying to become a crisis intervention counselor, Kimberly is hard at work on her new book, which discusses the ins and outs of alternative addiction treatments.
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