This article begins with a strong caveat. Addiction is an illness that has many contributing factors. These may be childhood trauma, depression, anxiety, other forms of underlying mental illness, addiction that runs in the family, and other factors. Therefore, the following suggestions are to be taken into consideration if you already have the medical and psychological support you need.
For instance, typically, you’ll need to see a medical doctor to address any of the side effects from withdrawal. And then ongoing medical treatment as your body adjusts to the absence of the substance you were addicted to. Because addiction is an illness of the brain, it’s also essential to see a psychologist, therapist, or drug counselor. There are many emotional and psychological reasons behind why an addiction might develop. And for this reason, a mental health professional can provide coping tools and education on ways to avoid the cycle of addiction.
With this in mind, if you’re still experiencing trouble in your daily life the following suggestions are meant to support your recovery. They are meant to aid you in moving closer and closer to emotional, psychological, and physical health.
Exercise
Now more than ever before, exercise is the piece of direction that doctors give to their patients. Experts and researchers have found that exercise can be beneficial for aiding in the treatment of depression and other psychological disorders. Exercise not only helps heal mental illness but it also prevents it. This is especially true with depression. Also, exercise doesn’t have to be excessive to feel its benefits. Walking twice per week can give you a sense of feeling alive, refreshed, and emotionally revived.
Join a Support Group
Discussing your challenges among others who experience those same challenges can feel incredibly supportive. Also, at times there are feelings and experiences that we don’t have the words to express, perhaps because they are too challenging. Commonly in a support group there is someone else who can articulate what you’ve been hoping to express all along. This too can be incredibly healing. Along with joining a support group, building a network of support can strengthen your recovery.
Learn at least one Relaxation Technique
Whether it’s yoga, meditation, or deep breathing, a relaxation technique can be the tool you use when you’re stressed. Often a lack of coping tools is precisely what causes one to turn to drugs or alcohol. Yoga is a practice, or a form of exercise, which invites an integrated experience of body and mind. Its effects can be experienced immediately as well as over time. There are many forms of yoga that can either bring a relaxing, meditative type of experience that yields a closer relationship with your body. Meditation is also a very calming practice that can also produce healing experiences. Although meditation might be difficult at first, the challenge at the beginning is worth the rewards. There are many forms of meditation. The type of meditation that brings the most psychological relaxation is concentrating on a point of focus. Finally deep breathing can be an essential tool, particularly right in those intense moments of emotional stress! If you’re in the middle of an emotional situation the best way to relax in the throes of a stressful situation is to breathe. Take a deep breath in and feel the breath go into the body. Let it open the belly, drop the shoulder, and loosen the mind. Let the breath smooth over you and through you, nourishing all of your cells.
Self-Talk
This can also be particularly effective. Often, if not always, the thoughts and inner dialogue are what lead to stress in the body. The thoughts that take place in response to the stress of work, business pressure, and other forms of psychological tension is worth thorough exploration. To explore your thought process more deeply, you might begin a Thought Diary, which is a way to document anxious thoughts and the result of those thoughts. This is a tool that can facilitate the exploration of the underlying causes of anxiety or stress that later lead to physical pain.
These are suggestions to consider incorporating into your recovery plan. As stated above, these tips alone shouldn’t be the extent of your addiction treatment. Be sure to contact a health professional for thorough treatment.