Substance abuse and addiction recovery is a lifelong process. It does not end when treatment is over or when a client returns to everyday life. Maintaining long-term recovery takes effort and can be difficult at times. Those in recovery can encounter challenges or hardships that increase their risk of relapse. We are committed to helping people on a path to lifelong recovery at Rise Above Treatment. We offer many substance abuse treatment programs for our clients to help them develop the coping mechanisms for substance abuse they can use to maintain lifelong sobriety.
Examples of Healthy Coping Mechanisms for Substance Abuse
A coping mechanism is a strategy used to reduce or manage unpleasant emotions. People experience a lot of stress in their daily lives and challenging situations like loss or grief. For a person in addiction recovery, this can be especially difficult to navigate and put their recovery at risk. Developing healthy coping mechanisms for substance abuse helps clients safely manage these negative feelings and challenges and maintain sobriety.
Some healthy coping mechanisms for substance abuse are:
- Be honest with yourself about how you are feeling – It is not uncommon for a person to want to hide negative emotions like anxiety, fear, or sadness. Being open about these feelings allows you to accept them, normalize them, and move on from them.
- Practice mindfulness or meditation – Mindfulness is being conscious and aware of where you are, your thoughts, and your environment. Meditation can help a person focus their attention and achieve a clear and emotionally calm state. These are healthy coping skills to deal with stress or relax.
- Build a healthy support system – Surrounding yourself with people you trust and who care about you is an important coping mechanism for substance abuse recovery. Having healthy relationships with family, sober friends, and other loved ones can help you maintain long-term sobriety.
- Practice self-care – Taking time out of your day to relax or do something you enjoy is essential for decreasing stress and limiting burnout.
- Make a routine for yourself – Having a routine that you can stick to provides structure in your life. Structure is important during substance abuse recovery as it helps you maintain balance in your life.
- Find healthy hobbies – Finding activities you enjoy brings more joy into your life. Hobbies also keep you busy and occupy the time that used to go into abusing substances.
- Take care of your physical and mental health – Exercising regularly, eating healthy, sleeping well, and attending therapy will improve your overall well-being and decrease the risk of relapse.
Why Are Coping Mechanisms for Addiction Important?
Even when a client successfully goes through treatment and recovery, they can still experience challenges and obstacles throughout their lives that put their sobriety at risk. Certain events, such as unemployment or grief, are out of your control but can increase the risk of relapse. However, coping mechanisms for addiction can help you get through these times safely. They help those in recovery maintain a healthy mindset and manage stress. At Rise Above Treatment, we provide various substance abuse treatment programs that help clients identify healthy coping mechanisms for drug addiction they can implement throughout their daily lives. Meeting with a mental health professional can help you develop tools and strategies to navigate new challenges and negative feelings.
Substance Abuse Treatment Programs at Rise Above Treatment
At Rise Above Treatment, we provide evidence-based addiction treatment that helps clients detox, heal, develop coping mechanisms, and build a healthy support system. Our goal is for our clients to recover from addiction’s physical and mental side effects and move forward with their lives. Contact Rise Above Treatment at (877) 641-0717 to learn more about our treatment programs.
