Coping is simply referred to as our thoughts and eventual actions to tackle stress, both internal and external. It is essentially our defense mechanism against any unpleasant experience and emotion. Your coping mechanism is the shield between your addictions (escape mechanisms) and your tendency to relapse during your recovery. Having effective and positive coping mechanisms shapes your approach toward rehabilitation and determines the success and extent of your recovery. Hence, identifying and practicing constructive coping mechanisms is at the core of a meaningful transformational journey.

Having said that, now let’s look at some of the most essential coping mechanisms and how they can lead you to a better life.

Don’t react. Only respond

Addiction often makes you impulsive. It instills a tendency in you to snap at everyone and for almost everything. Being short-tempered is one of the most common traits people exhibit during addiction. Hence, when you have decided to leave that life behind, it’s imperative to transform at a temperamental level too. Rushed reactions and remarks result in remorse and that can be dangerous during the recovery period. Hence, it is essential that you take your time to respond to situations, people, and emotions that earlier acted as a trigger for you. More rational, logical, and informed decisions will yield better results and satisfaction, thus boosting your morale and easing the road to recovery for you.

Be grateful

Be grateful for your existence, for your consciousness, and for the path towards recovery that you have embarked upon. Gratitude will help you fight and empower you with perseverance when you need it the most during the harsh phases of recovery.

Adopt healthy hobbies

Adopting new hobbies stimulates positive chemicals in the brain and helps you overcome recovery-related challenges. Here are a few simple hobbies you can adopt:

• Writing: Self-expression is a very underrated personal trait. You might shy away from sharing your thoughts in front of people but who’s stopping you from writing them down? Write letters to yourself or express anything that you have contained within yourself. It will be a very relieving experience.
• Craft: Be it any craft or art like painting and knitting the artist in you deserves a window to step out.
• Gardening: Gardening is one of the most gratifying activities you can do, especially during recovery. Nothing comes close to you the fruit of hard work, perseverance, and nurturing, quite literally!

Be true to yourself

Addiction mostly results because of supposed escapism from life’s challenges. Lying to oneself is the root cause. You can give yourself a false narrative but not for very long. Hence, it becomes absolutely necessary to be honest with yourself while you attempt to attain sobriety. The act of owning one’s emotion be it low, high, or even solitude makes you stronger internally and helps you overcome the mental challenges. Being honest with yourself erases the dilemma as you identify your scope of improvements and work within. It empowers you to gain your self-control back and keeps you in charge of things.

Attend Group Therapy

Group therapy reinforces your learnings during recovery while establishing accountability, responsibility, and emotional support. Hence, it’s crucial to participate in group therapy sessions. Some of the most essential reasons to do so are mentioned below:

• Group Therapy fosters a community among the seekers. Addiction often breaks personal bonds and burns intimate bridges which leads to an emotional downfall. Group Therapy tends to fill such voids as participants open up about their experiences and celebrate each other’s accomplishments which also instills a sense of hope and positivity.
• Recovery is the phase of self-reflection and introspection. However, this can be confusing to some given their misinformed narratives about their addictions and experiences. Group Therapy talks about everyone’s struggles and coping mechanisms positively which creates awareness and helps participants become more conscious and better towards their transformational journeys.
• At a community level in Group Therapy, you are expected to share your personal achievements during the recovery phase. Hence, that added recognition gives the extra motivation to adapt and embrace their recovery journey to set an example for the group.

Keep yourself busy

The time you spend yourself in recovery might appear as a void and lure you towards addiction-led escapism. You must refrain from giving up against such lures. The best way is to keep yourself engaged in some activity. Replacing your past activities with constructive ones will give you a sense of accomplishment and help you regain self-confidence. Be it watching a light-hearted movie, or reading a novel, choose what brings you joy.

Meditation and being in the moment

When you embark on the path of sobriety, you must pay attention to your thoughts and channel them since it’s easy to be distracted with withdrawal symptoms. Meditation helps you attain mindfulness effectively while also providing you with an affirmative and embracing approach towards your transformation.

Build a supportive network

Recovery can seem daunting especially if solitude and loneliness surround you. The battle is half-won when you know you are not alone. You often encounter similar people in recovery. Embracing them and their experience will inculcate a sense of belonging in you and the other person as well. When you are able to relate your struggle with someone else’s, the journey becomes easier. However, you must be cautious who you are befriending since the association should only be constructive.

Trigger avoidance

The path towards sobriety involves carving out a new lifestyle. You must learn to navigate your way around triggers to be calm and composed and avoid a relapse. Diligence and self-control will help you evade certain situations, people, and emotions that acted as triggers for your past self. Always remember to prioritize sobriety before reacting to or indulging in triggering situations.

Attain Long-Term Sobriety with Studio 64

Do you find recovery impossible or know someone who feels the same? We understand you. At Studio 64 Recovery, we help you transform your life for good. We offer a host of methodologies and treatments for you to build a sustainable lifestyle and attain sobriety in an easier, and attainable way.

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