Entering rehabilitation is the first major step addicts take in their attempt to recapture their life. Such individuals admit they possess a serious shortcoming and demonstrate the willingness to conquer said vice. However, the recovery process is typically not simple and the healing soul should expect to experience hurdles along the way. During these stages, negative thoughts might creep into their minds. If these feelings become pronounced, such emotions might derail their progress.
With these concerns in mind, our facility invites prospective patients and recovering addicts to read the following short piece discussing how to stay positive when rehab presents challenges.
Challenges Rehab May Present To Recovering Addicts
Uninformed persons might assume rehab is simply about ridding one’s system of a specific substance and moving on. The reality, however, is far more complicated. Recovering addicts must then learn to reenter society as a sober individual. Accomplishing this task necessitates addressing sensitive issues and developing skills, such as:
- Identifying the roots of the addiction
- Creating re relationships or repairing or eliminating existing ones
- Developing coping strategies
- Learning to handle life’s stressors without drugs or alcohol as a crutch
- Finding their life’s purpose
- Devising strategies for a return to the civilian world
- Preventing relapse
These tasks require a significant degree of mental and emotional toughness. In many cases, reaching these goals can prove challenging and frustrating. When a recovering addict experiences such struggles, their mind becomes an increasingly fertile ground for negative thoughts.
The Importance Of Remaining Positive
Addiction specialists maintain that positive thinking is paramount to successful recovery, reentrance into society and productive life thereafter. A positive mindset typically trickles down into other aspects of the remerging subject’s life. Studies have shown that recovering individuals who adopt an optimistic mentality often experience:
- Better or improved physical health
- A greater amount of physical and mental energy
- A greater capacity to handle stress or other difficult circumstances
- More fruitful personal and professional relationships
- Longevity
Recovery is a lifelong battle and each of these issues could prove critical to establishing and maintaining sobriety.
Tips For Staying Positive During Rehab
Addiction and mental health professions suggest that encountering negative thoughts during rehab is a normal occurrence. However, preventing these feelings from burgeoning into potentially detrimental forces might be achieved by partaking in actions, including:
Take Responsibility
Recovering addicts are encouraged to take ownership of their circumstances. Said individuals must realize that they will ultimately determine the outcome of their efforts.
Practice Healthy Habits
A sometimes overlooked aspect of the recovery process is the pursuit of optimal physical health. In many instances, body and mind go hand in hand. Therefore, healing individuals are encouraged to adhere to healthy practices, such as consuming a nutritious, well-balanced diet, staying or becoming physically fit, obtaining adequate rest, keeping properly hydrated, engaging in mind-stimulating activities, identifying and partaking in productive stress outlets and avoiding all potentially detrimental vices.
Set Goals
The ultimate goal for most recovering addicts will be to enter the civilian world and once again lead a happy, productive life. That said, large goals are usually not immediately attained. Ergo, the healing subject is encouraged to set smaller goals that contribute to the one big aim and work towards setting those first.
Focus On The Good Things
When dealing with difficult circumstances, dwelling on the negative is easy. However, recovering addicts are strongly urged to identify the good things in their life. Granted, there will be occasions when this task might be challenging but necessary. Such persons are encouraged to find even the tiniest joys, such as nice weather, a nutritious meal or the ability to partake in an activity that brings them joy.
Establish A Positive Support System
Reemerging subjects need to establish a positive support system. Such individuals not only support the recovering addict’s desire to get clean but demonstrate a positive outlook and offer optimistic words of encouragement when they need inspiration and uplifting. Negative, critical or difficult individuals should be avoided at all costs.
Contacting Us
Those who are experiencing the throes of addiction or share a close relationship with someone who does, we encourage you to contact us at 833-846-5669. Though we are located in Southern Florida, we have helped many adults from numerous states across the Northeastern. Mid-Atlantic and Midwestern United States conquer substance or alcohol dependencies.