The Power of Positivity During Recovery

Most people are aware of the benefits of thinking positively, whether you have a physical illness, a mental problem or a substance abuse disorder. However, those who are struggling with addiction often find that taking a positive attitude is incredibly difficult and they need some help and guidance to find that path.

Changing Your Attitude Towards Long-term Recovery

There are many things in life that cannot be changed, and part of the recovery process from addiction lies in accepting the things that cannot be changed and focusing on those things that can be altered. In many cases, the only thing that can be changed is the individual’s attitude. The only thing in life that can be truly controlled is yourself. Therefore, taking steps to take back that control goes a long way toward promoting a successful outcome. By mastering the ability to retain a positive attitude, you will naturally encourage the world to send positive vibes back to you. Sometimes, you will need to fake positive feelings, but, eventually, the effect builds up into a new and powerful positive attitude.

Positive thinking has been shown in studies to have a strong effect when it comes to improving physical and mental health. Additionally, extensive research has proven that patients who stay positive recover more quickly and more speedily from surgery and illnesses. Some cancer survivors even attribute their remission to remaining positive despite all the odds. Positivity gives the immune system a boost, reduces stress, and increases energy. For those who are struggling with addiction, remaining positive can have an extremely powerful effect on their chances of success in rehab.

How Does Positivity Help When Dealing with Addiction?

While positivity is helpful when coping with any challenge or illness, it is especially significant during recovery from addiction. Overcoming something that is so challenging requires persistence and endurance and remaining positive about those challenges helps to give an extra edge in rehab. The benefits of staying positive during rehab include:

• Reduced risk of a relapse.
• The opportunity to find greater happiness in other things apart from substance abuse.
• The ability to attract people who can become part of a positive system of support.
• The challenge of recovery becomes less stressful.

How to Construct More Positivity in Life

It is surprisingly difficult to be happy. However, being positive is a more reasonable prospect. Here are some tips that will help you to bring more positivity to your life. Many people have reported that they are happier when they form close bonds with others. Cultivating new and positive relationships with people who are also positive is a vital step for those who are in recovery from addiction because it will steer them away from the negative influences that encouraged them to turn to drugs or alcohol in the first place. It will also give them the strength and encouragement to remain sober in the long term.

Become More Spiritual

People who are going through addiction frequently report that they feel that they have lost themselves at some point during their journey. By developing greater spirituality and better self-care, individuals can ground themselves more effectively and work toward inner peace. Spirituality does not necessarily mean religion. It is possible to develop better self-awareness and a better understanding of one’s place in the world without having to believe in a deity.

Read Positive Materials

The material that you read can have a very strong impact on the way that you think and feel about the process of recovery. Rather than reading negative stories and depressing tales of failure, read positive recovery literature and informative booklets. This will help to prevent you from straying from the path and help to keep relapse triggers at bay.

Get Plenty of Exercises, Rest, and Healthy Food

Stabilizing your emotions is a key part of remaining sober in the long term, so you need to give yourself the best chance of avoiding the emotional upheaval that so often leads to relapse. One way to avoid mood swings is to get plenty of sleep, eat a healthy and nutritious diet, and get some exercise so that your mind and body can remain both physically and emotionally strong.

If you are deprived of essential sleep, vitamins, minerals, and the endorphins that exercise provides can cause a mental breakdown that results in a return to substance abuse. Some choose to go on vacation to get rested. This is not a time to let your guard down.

Feeling Grateful

One of the simplest steps that you can take to feel more positive is to develop a sense of gratitude in your life. Look at the things that you have rather than the things that you don’t. If necessary, list all of the ways in which your needs are being met and all of the things in your life that you should feel grateful for. Remember to express that gratitude to other people because this will help to remind you and reinforce in your mind all of the positive things you already have around you.

Living Every Day

Addiction robs you of your ability to truly live every day of your life. And, once you have emerged from that fog, you are free to live a sober life with no alcohol or drugs to make you feel happy and/or satisfied. Although it can be hard to find yourself again without the substances that you used to rely on, by making the commitment to really live every single day, you will slowly develop a love and appreciation for your new self. Positivity about who you are as a person will spread positive vibes throughout your whole life and give you the best chance of long-term success.

SOBA New Jersey’s Addiction Treatment Center has a customized approach to treatment that addresses the issues that lie behind substance abuse disorders. By giving individuals the skills that they need to cope in the world after leaving rehab, including developing greater positivity, SOBA can give individuals the best chance possible of long-term success in recovery.