One of the most significant challenges a person faces when they have completed addiction therapy is dealing with stress. All of us suffer from stress at some point during our day, although most of us are able to cope with the small irritations we face. For others recovering from substance abuse however, these small irritations represent huge obstacles to their sobriety. One of the most common causes of alcohol and drug abuse is stress, whether that’s the death of a loved one, divorce or a traumatic event.
How to Deal with Stress in Recovery
Here are some helpful tips to help you deal with stress in recovery:
Manage your time: When people are in rehab, their day is very structured so that they don’t have any downtime. This is mainly to prevent patients from developing cravings for substances by not allowing them enough time to dwell on things. The same principle of keeping busy is extremely useful in recovery, making it a good idea to create a daily agenda of duties and activities to stick to.
Talk it out: Internalizing negative feelings is very unhealthy for all of us. When someone is recovering from substance abuse, they will find it very beneficial to talk things through on a regular basis with someone who understands. Individual and group therapy sessions are valuable for recovering addicts as are support groups of which there are plenty to choose from.
Identify stressors in advance: It is important for you to understand the situations and circumstances that are likely to trigger relapse. This will allow you to plan ahead of social or professional situations where you feel you might be at risk of relapse. Take a friend; nominate yourself as designated driver or arrange to leave after a couple of hours as a precaution to protect your sobriety and have fun at the same time.
Discover the Benefits of Healthy Living during Recovery at Casa Recovery
If you are struggling with substance abuse, Casa Recovery provides the perfect environment for healing at our mental health treatment center in Orange County. We can introduce you to techniques to help you use the benefits of stress management to power a fulfilling long-term recovery. To find out more contact us at our addiction recovery center in San Juan Capistrano, CA and let Casa Recovery set you on the path to a healthy and happy future.