Recovery is a difficult and often lonely road. There are many pressures to stay sober, but there is also the pressure not to relapse. But which pressure do you overcome? Recovery is much easier when paired with healthy coping skills like relaxation, mindfulness practices, managing physical hunger and fatigue, and finding healthy coping methods in a social setting. The best way for this is through mutual support groups or even one-on-one therapy or counseling. These are some of the ways to find balance in substance abuse recovery.
Find A Mutual Support Group Or Therapy
Finding a support group or treatment provider who can understand the process of recovery is key to staying sober. If you can locate someone who understands the struggles that caused your addiction in the first place, then you will have found the right fit. Staying connected with a therapist is important because it gives us structure and purpose without going through each day alone.
Meditation And Yoga
These tools are some of the best ways to achieve a balanced lifestyle. You can relax your mind and body while staying focused on the present by practicing these regularly. It will keep you from thinking about relapse and help you stay connected to the world around you. Learning how to focus your attention also helps in social settings by giving you more information about what’s going on around you. It may sound simple enough, but it takes a lot of practice to make it happen automatically.
Create Meaningful Goals
Many people misunderstand having a goal as having an ultimate destination. Instead, it’s important to create meaningful goals. They give you a purpose and keep you from feeling like you have nothing to do in life. A great example of this is having a healthy relationship or finding a meaningful career path, keeping you busy, and preventing boredom from setting in.
Manage your Physical Hunger and Fatigue
One of the main triggers for relapse is physical hunger or exhaustion caused by overworking yourself. Make sure to eat balanced meals, get enough sleep, and exercise daily to eliminate the feeling of physical hunger. Some people in recovery decide to join a gym or go out for a jog each day. Although it’s not always convenient, it can be a good way to stay in shape and meet new people if you’re making friends at the gym.
Stay Out Of Situations Where You Can Easily Relapse
Although it’s important to stay social and to have activities outside of your home, it’s also important to know your boundaries. For example, if you are trying to quit drinking, then going to a cocktail party might not be the best idea. Although others will accept your presence, people will silently judge you for being sober, and that will make you feel uncomfortable. It also applies to other people who may not understand your sobriety.
Talk To Someone You Trust
The best way to find balance in recovery is by staying connected in various ways. Talk with your friends, family, and therapist about how you’re feeling in recovery and let them know how they can support you moving forward. It’s important to get this out of your head and talk to someone because it may be hard to express these thoughts on your own.
Chart Your Progress
Charting your progress is a great way to track how you’re doing in recovery. Make sure to create small goals and then work on achieving them. Once you’ve completed your goals, make new ones. It’s important to remain flexible so that you can enjoy the journey without feeling like it’s never-ending.
Join A Group
If possible, join a group that is supportive and understanding. These groups are excellent for finding support because they understand the struggles of recovery and can offer guidance through the process. Many times, people in these groups will create their own goals as a way to keep each other accountable. It can be a great way to stay connected and on track as you move forward in sobriety. In conclusion, it’s important to find a balance in recovery. There are many ways to achieve this, but you can do it by joining a support group or therapy provider with others who understand the challenges of recovery.
Ultimately, it will make the process easier since you won’t feel isolated and alone while recovering. Maintaining balance is also important to keep your mind and body healthy so that you stay in recovery and don’t relapse. To get help finding balance in substance abuse recovery, call 772-266-5320.
