In life, every decision made is on the path to another destination. It’s understandable that when life gets out of control that it can be difficult to cope with where you have ended up. Sometimes, these transitions happen so quickly that it can be difficult to backtrack far enough on your own to determine where things went so wrong. Especially, when you are dealing with addiction and are submerged in a social network of other people who are battling unhealthy habits as well. However, it is possible to regain control of your journey and the healthy living strategies you learn in residential drug rehab will help you to do so.
A key feature of successful recovery is rebuilding habits. Healthy living habits prevent slipping up and ensure that the individual in recovery is able to successfully move forward in life by utilizing the necessary tools to do. Often times, these habits were never formed or a have been diverted from for great lengths of time. With the guidance of healthy role models, important healthy living habitats like coping skills, boundaries, and controlling reactions can be formed and embraced successfully long-term.
Coping Skills
Individuals with substance abuse problems generally cope with disappointment, grief, rejection, nervousness, fear, doubt, worry, and other unfortunate circumstances by turning to their chosen substance. It is critical that new coping skills be introduced during treatment so that the individual has the needed tools to handle adversity in a healthy manner.
Healthy coping skills come in a spectrum and ultimately, whatever works best for the individual is what should be embraced by that person. What is most important is that the method being used brings relief to what the person is feeling. Exploring different coping skills is an excellent option for finding what works best. Some coping skills include:
- Breathing exercises
- Journaling
- Peer to peer support
- Using “I” statements to express frustration
- Stepping back
- Becoming aware of triggers and being triggered
- Self care: yoga, rest, taking a walk
Forming Appropriate Boundaries
Unhealthy environments produce unhealthy relationships. At the core of an unhealthy relationship is usually an issue with boundaries. Boundaries with individuals and within society as a whole can become blurred when living on the fringes of society. Relationships are difficult for everyone to navigate, but with the correct tools, a person can feel good about showing up for and participating in relationships with the people that matter most to them.
Forming autonomy and learning to have appropriate boundaries with others can be challenging for people who have little experience in forming these healthy bonds. However, by being challenged to do so, the person lacking boundaries is forced to confront their own behavior and how it affects others. Ultimately, they’ll be able to make choices for themselves and not be so easily influenced by others. This is incredibly important during recovery if the individual is to be successful long-term.
Rewiring Reactions
Being reactionary or easily “set of” can trigger negative situations. It is important that everyone become aware of what their personal triggers are. By becoming aware, the individual can maintain conscientiousness when setting off instead of going into the heated moment. This approach allows the person to consider how they should respond, instead of reacting impulsively based on emotion. The human brain is malleable in that we can actually rewrite our behavioral tendencies. The key is consistency, overtime our natural habits will change. Committing to this reprogramming is tough work and calls for a supportive environment equipped with supportive role models.
By using the methods previously mentioned, a person can experience real success with rewiring their brain. For example, say the first person upsets the second person by activating their trigger, the second person now has a choice to blow up or keep their cool. Choosing to keep cool, the individual could calmly respond with “I” statements to express how the first person’s words or actions caused the second person to feel triggered. By taking this approach the person would be maintaining healthy boundaries. To cope with the experience, the person could spend some time journaling after the interaction.
Our counselors are available to support you 24 hours a day. Please call 844-639-8371 if you are ready to begin your journey to recovery today.