Recovery can be an amazing experience, but it can also be a stressful experience. Whether you are trying to decide to enter recovery or have been in recovery for quite a while, stress will arise. Life events that are difficult are inevitable. Stress does not care if you are going through withdrawal or if life is going great. Whether your stress is related to family issues, financial issues, or relationships, anxiety can wreak havoc on the body and mind. Don’t lose hope; there are ways to deal with this stress and still stay in recovery. Below we will explore some basic ways to deal with the stress that life brings.
Some basic ways to deal with stress include mindful meditation, makes time to relax and spend time with healthy and supportive friends, laughing, exercise or yoga. These are all pretty simple and straightforward.
Mindful meditation means focusing on yourself and your body. One form of mindful meditation involves relaxing one muscle or body part at a time. Many people work from the bottom of the feet up or from the head down, consciously relaxing each part as stress slowly fades from the body. Yoga and exercise can have the same effect as getting active can help you relieve stress by detoxing the body. Just getting the extra energy out can be highly beneficial. Even something as simple as taking time to relax alone or with sober friends can help eliminate stress. While this may not be an option if the stress is caused by work that needs done. It can help to take a little time to unwind before buckling down and getting to work.
If you are in recovery make sure you are spending time with friends in a safe environment that will not tempt you into a relapse. A final suggestion, which may seem silly, is to laugh. Read some jokes, watch a funny movie, or simply have a fun conversation with a friend. Laughter really is the best medicine when it comes to stress. Spend time laughing until you cry and you will automatically feel more relaxed and able to face whatever is happening.
While some stress can be a motivator to work hard and get ahead, too much stress can be bad for your mental and physical health. So we must identify the source of the stress and find a way to fix the problems that can be fixed. If a problem has no solution, then you must learn to move on. Remember that in recovery and in life you control your feelings and emotions.
Stress is simply a chemical reaction. If you do not allow yourself to be overwhelmed by stress then it will no longer be a problem. What are you willing to do to limit your stress while staying in recovery? There are always answers other than your addiction of choice. Just be willing to be honest with yourself when you are feeling stressed out and deal with it in an appropriate manner. You are strong enough if you choose to be.
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