Now that you are off drugs or alcohol for the first time, your emotions tend to be fragile. Navigating life without them may seem unbearable. Each time you were shaken, happy or sad, you always found solace in the drugs. Going without them often sends mixed signals, causing you to feel stressed. You may start doubting your decision to stay sober and think only strong-willed individuals can manage their emotions without relapsing. While it perfectly normal to feel that way, you can still find alternative measures to ensure you take charge of your life without going back to your old habits. Here’s how;
Get a solid support system
Having a one-on-one conversation with a trustworthy person is one of the best ways to deal with your emotions. Alternatively, you can get a therapist since they are trained to handle your meltdown with judging you. During the session, they will allow you to vent out and offer the most appropriate solutions to your problems, giving you the chance to see the positive side of life.
Take it easy on yourself
While this may sound difficult for you as a recovering addict, being gentle with yourself can have a lot of positive effects. Always remind yourself that you are a work in progress and a human who is prone to mistakes and flaws. Many individuals are sharing your current predicament, which is why you shouldn’t be hard on yourself. Get a support network and share what you are currently going through. You will realize that the amount of support they will give you will help you to suppress your negative attitude towards sobriety.
Be mindful of yourself
Most recovering addicts possess low self-esteem because they have lost friends, employment, or anyone that cared for them. For once in your life, allow the self-appraisal spirit to cover you. While it is easy to fall into negative thinking patterns, you can always take time to reflect on the good things you have and work towards being happy. Identify your most active side and work on improving them. The process may take longer than expected, but it is worth taking a try.
Don’t take life too seriously
The journey towards total sobriety is too complicated to be serious about life all the time. Each time you are having a meltdown, go out of your way by engaging in stress-relieving activities. Are into kayaking, hiking, camping, or reading novels? Once you identify what you love doing your free time, you will have the energy to control your emotions. It may sound silly, but it has worked on some former addicts like yourself.
Be part of a spiritual program
There is power in prayers or fellowshipping with other people. No matter your religious affiliation, you can still work on your spirituality to help you maintain emotional sobriety. Each time you attend a prayer session, keep reminding yourself that there are forces more significant than yourself. This will help you accept things that are beyond your control.
Stay grounded
Did you know that your emotional sobriety is entirely dependent on your emotions? Each time you are at your lowest, ground yourself by being grateful for the positive things happening in your life. It could be a graduation, or scoring good grades or meeting a new lover. Channel your energy in that direction to suppress the negative energy around you. Always remember to be humble. Everyone is going through trying situations, but they are still living, aren’t they?
Meditation/ deep breathing
When you harbor strong emotions, your physiological wellbeing is compromised. Each time adrenaline rises, your heart rate and blood pressure increase. You understand the impact it will have on your body each time this happens. To avoid this, always include a relaxation technique to help you control your physical response to strong emotions. Take time to reflect on the triggers and choose to prevent or cope with them.
Be mindful
Anytime you think of past or the future, you develop anxiety. You start to worry about how your history can affect the future. Focus on the present and cope with the current situation. In all circumstances, remember your present feelings are only temporary and that they won’t affect your future.
The journey towards recovery
The journey towards sobriety involves a series of steps, and every individual works through them at their own pace. Because every recovering addict’s journey is unique, there is no telling how long it will take you to walk through all these steps. During early recovery, you will be required to pre-contemplate, contemplate, prepare, act, and maintain each phase. Even after successful termination of drugs from your body, you are still susceptible to cravings that would result in a relapse. All the efforts to prevent you from going through this can be a waste if you don’t play your part.
