Maintaining Positivity in Addiction Recovery
While there is really no way to avoid negativity completely in life, you can make the commitment to focus on positivity instead. In addiction recovery, there will be extremely difficult days where you will struggle and won’t want to leave the comforts of your bed, these are the times where positivity can impact your life the most. Sometimes it can feel as if the universe is against you, it is how you handle these difficult times that truly impacts your recovery. Human beings average between 40,000 and 60,000 thoughts every day. That’s a lot of thinking! These thoughts include everything from everyday troubles to major life stresses. Negative energy is extremely draining on the mind and body and if you allow yourself to sink into the doom and gloom and stay there, you are bound to see the effects throughout every aspect of your life.
Why Focus on Positivity in Addiction Recovery?
We are more likely to be susceptible to feeling extended periods of depression and anxiety when we stay trapped in feelings of anger, hopelessness, and frustration. This is extremely troubling when trying to maintain your sobriety. Not only that, but extended feelings of negativity can actually shorten your lifespan. When stuck in negativity we are at greater risk for developing hypertension, increased instances of infections, cardiovascular disease, and digestive disorders.
Tips for Staying Positive
So, how do you maintain positivity in addiction recovery? Begin by taking responsibility for your life. You alone are responsible for your life, and therefore have the ability to transform it. Now is the time to put your individual skills to good use and begin making positive changes. Contribute some of your time to helping others. Giving back to others and making yourself of service is a great way to put things into perspective and to feel like you are making a difference in the world for the better. Meditation is another way to increase your positive thinking while in addiction recovery. It is a powerful tool that you have at your disposal and can use it just about anywhere. Just setting aside a few minutes a day for meditation can help to re-center yourself and put you into a more positive mindset. Focusing on your breathing and relaxing can help you to focus on the current moment and how you can impact the present. Maintaining a positive mindset during recovery can help you most when relapse could be looming. During recovery you are provided with tools to help prevent against relapse and keeping a positive mindset is just one of the tools that should be used every single day. At Silicon Beach Outpatient our addiction specialist team provides patients with the tools needed to recognize the signs of relapse and the knowledge on how to manage moments when relapse can be a threat. To learn more about the intensive outpatient and outpatient programs available at Silicon Beach Outpatient, please contact us today at 310.846.8215.
