Substance abuse recovery is often a complex and lengthy process. Few cases are similar and techniques that yield success for one healing addict does not produce similar results for another.
Therefore, dependency specialists, healthcare providers, and psychological experts often apply numerous different approaches in an attempt to help patients overcome their struggles. One such method is known as emotional intelligence.
Emotional Intelligence Overview
Mental health professionals define emotional intelligence as an individual’s capacity to control the emotions of both themselves and others.
This psychological concept is broken down into three primary facets, emotional awareness, emotional harnessing, and emotional management.
Emotional Awareness
Individuals with emotional awareness gain proficiency in identifying their own particular emotions.
Emotional Harnessing
This skill involves learning the value of holding one’s emotions back and utilizing said feelings to perform critical tasks like problem solving.
Emotional Management
Emotionally intelligent people also learn to productively manage their feelings and inspire others to engage in such behavior.
As of yet, scientists and psychological experts have been unable to formulate any type of quantitative formula designed to measure an individual’s exact emotional intelligence.
That said, various companies, organizations, and institutions have developed individualized tests to gauge the emotional acumen of prospective and current employees or subjects they serve or conduct business with.
Moreover, a discernible percentage of professionals in the healthcare and mental health communities maintain that mastering emotional intelligence concepts can improve an individual’s job performance, personal interactions, and other important skills.
Applying Emotional Intelligence To The Recovery Process
In recent times, addiction treatment specialists have discovered the value of emotional intelligence and employed said philosophy as a valuable tool in aiding those facing recovery. Said professionals have found that said concept often precipitates the following benefits:
Emotional Identification
The inability to identify one’s emotions inhibits their capacity to properly process certain feelings. In many instances, said circumstances result in chemical dependency.
When one can pinpoint how they are feeling and why, they are less likely to turn to drugs or alcohol and more apt to engage in productive activities such as improving their self-esteem, gaining confidence, and building better and more trusting relationships.
Heightened Coping Skills
Many recovering addicts used substances to dull or avoid painful past experiences or feelings. Moreover, those who do not learn to deal with such emotions in a healthy manner stand at an increased risk of relapse following treatment.
Therefore, the ability to keep one’s emotions in check often proves paramount to standing up to the many challenges healing souls face in their quest to maintain sobriety.
Tips For Developing Emotional Intelligence During Recovery
Though valuable, emotional intelligence does not develop overnight. Typically, said attribute improves with time, practice and experience. Fortunately, a those in recovery might enhance their abilities by adhering to the following suggestions:
Manage Stress
One key to gaining emotional intelligence is learning to identify and effectively manage stress. Everyone faces a certain degree of stressors in their professional, personal, and social lives.
However, for recovering addicts, increased tension is often more difficult to cope with and could result in a return to past transgressions. Therefore, said individuals must learn to identify stressful situations and develop fruitful methods of coping with such circumstances.
Read Various Forms Of Communication
It is no secret that individuals communicate in different ways. Not everyone always conveys their current emotional state through spoken word. In a significant number of cases, persons display their emotions through facial expressions and body language.
Emotionally intelligent people know how to spot these important signals and respond accordingly.
Listen
Emotionally savvy subjects understand the importance of listening. Offering a sympathetic ear demonstrates a sense of caring. Additionally, those who listen often actually learn more and heighten their overall intelligence.
Face Challenges Head On
Recovering addicts will face obstacles post-treatment. Said subjects gain emotional intelligence by facing these challenges head on. Those who embrace difficulties learn to think clearly and tackle problems by applying thought instead of reacting with emotion.
Embrace Empathy
Emotionally intelligent people demonstrate empathy. Empathy is the act of placing oneself in another’s difficult situation and understanding why said individuals think and react in certain ways. Empathetic souls are often more in line with the feelings of others and are able to help shepherd them through trying events.
Display Humor
Emotions must not always be negative or serious. Emotionally intelligent persons understand the importance of humor and its value in breaking tension and bringing levity to potentially difficult occasions.
Contacting Us
Our southern Florida facility has a proven track record helping individuals overcome the throes of addiction and reestablish productive, joyful lives. Individuals who yearn to recover in a professional, calming, and therapeutic environment are encouraged to contact us at 833-846-5669.