When you go to rehab, you’ll likely hear that this is an opportunity to grow beyond who you are and become who you want to be. This is true, but the positive spin on challenges, hardship and suffering can make you feel like an outsider. You may even question whether you can get sober because you don’t see the value in all your challenges; this is normal, and you aren’t alone. But before you make any final decisions, learning about the importance of perspective in rehab and recovery may help you.
What You Bring to Rehab
Rehab is not a cure-all for addiction. It provides a safe, productive environment, tools and resources that you need to get better, but even the best rehab in the world can’t “cure” someone’s addiction if they’re dead set on keeping it. Wanting to stop using drugs or alcohol and actually committing to living a sober life are two different things; you need to bring an open mind and willingness into rehab if you want to get anything out of it.
Finding purpose in your challenges takes time; learning how to see mistakes as learning opportunities and teaching moments rather than reasons to regret and self-loathe doesn’t happen overnight. But if you decide you’re going to at least try and see things in a different light, rehab will be able to help you.
What You Face in Rehab
You’ll find that getting over addiction has very little to do with drugs and alcohol. Substances are a symptom of a deeper problem; they are rooted in feelings of shame, guilt, unworthiness, anxiety, trauma and so much more. Every person’s story is unique, but everyone who enters rehab learns that overcoming addiction is not just about learning how to abstain.
Through therapy, you will be taught how to gradually confront the real causes of your addiction. You’ll need to address why you believe you need substances, what they’re protecting you from and what they’re preventing you from having. This requires honesty and a willingness to experience pain without numbing it.
Do these challenges present learning opportunities? Only if you are willing to learn from them. It can be easier to stay angry and indifferent. It’s easier to make excuses and remain a victim of your past than it is to confront who you are in the present. But all of this is part of a greater process.
Learning How to Be More Positive in Rehab
When you enter rehab, there are likely a dozen emotions running through you. You may find that fear, doubt and anxiety are far louder than the excitement over the possibility of beating your addiction. The problem arises when you identify with your fear and doubt more than your own mindset; these are all common emotions that are reasonable given the situation. You are allowed to be scared, to hurt, to worry. You may even, in some ways, miss the comfort of addiction. But you’ve chosen to get help for a reason, and that reason deserves some credit, too.
Although you may struggle to be positive, especially if you suffer from depression, there are some strategies you can try to be more content in the present moment.
Practice Gratitude
At the very least, you can always be grateful you’re breathing. Gratitude does not have to be big to matter; list things as simple as soft socks or a sunny day. Practicing gratitude reduces negative feelings and can be a grounding way to counter the nagging thoughts produced by anxiety and depression.
Don’t give up just because it isn’t easy; gratitude can be a real challenge sometimes, especially in the beginning. This is one chance to turn a struggle into a learning opportunity.
Speak Kindly to Yourself
Even if you only muster one compliment a day, make a habit of saying positive things to yourself. You can even say, “I made it through another day. That wasn’t easy, but I’m here, and I’m proud of myself.” A positive outlook starts by learning how to appreciate your own efforts. The more you focus on cultivating a positive outlook about yourself, the easier it will become to see things from a more optimistic, compassionate point of view.
Get Help Today
We want to help you learn from your addiction. You deserve the chance to experience happiness and freedom beyond substance abuse; our representatives are always standing by to connect you with local rehabs that can help you start your recovery journey. Call us today at 844-639-8371.