Just like life, addiction recovery is challenging. It can be complicated by daily stressors, mental health issues, and big life changes. You can’t live in a bubble, protected from those challenges. Resilience is your ability to overcome, adapt, and thrive through those difficult situations.
Why Are Some People More Resilient Than Others?
Most of us aren’t born with an ability to happily and easily deal with adversity, but resilience is a skill that can be developed. It also requires resources that some may have more access to than others. The American Psychological Association shares that many factors contribute to how well people are able to manage adversity. Some of the most important factors include the following:
- The availability of high-quality resources (money, education, information, etc.)
- The view you take toward your adversity
- How you typically engage with the world
- Coping strategies you know and use
- Your willingness to cultivate and practice resilience
During addiction recovery, you will be forced to face challenges. How you handle those obstacles can directly impact your sobriety and your future. No matter how hard it feels right now, there are several things you can do to stay on the path.
How to Build Resilience in Early Addiction Recovery
Along with willingness to improve your resilience and commitment to the path, the following strategies can help you stay focused:
#1: Ensure You Have a Strong Network of Support
Having support and resources to guide you is a critical factor in being resilient. From the start, you need to recognize that resilience is not an inborn trait; rather, it is cultivated by seeking help when you need it.
Having a strong support network may mean:
- Having a mentor to call in the middle of the night if you need to
- Routinely seeking help from your therapist and continuing your addiction treatment
- Having friends who want you to remain drug- and alcohol-free
- Turning to family and friends who are honest and not just going to “fix it” for you
- Going to recovery meetings locally on a consistent basis
#2: Have the Right Frame of Mind
Another core component to successful resilience is having the right attitude towards alcohol and drug addiction recovery. If you head into life’s challenges with an attitude of “why does this happen to me?” or “I can’t do this…,” then you’re going to struggle. It sure isn’t easy to think otherwise, but having the right frame of mind can help.
It’s okay to feel disappointed, angry, and hurt when you have a setback. Yet, resilience comes from the recognition that it is just a setback and you still have the ability to keep going.
Try to view every setback or challenge you face as an opportunity to learn. What could you have done differently? What did you learn about yourself through this challenge?
#3: Utilize Mindfulness
Also valuable is the use of mindfulness, the practice of continually bringing your mind and energy to the present moment. Mindfulness can improve your ability to detach from negative thoughts. You may find yourself feeling angry and stressed, but you can learn to identify the thoughts behind those feelings and assess whether they are actually true.
Mindfulness also helps you let go of the past. Instead of dwelling on what happened at some point in your past, focus on your breath and let it bring you into the present. When you are dealing with a difficult day, practice mindfulness breathing, which is controlled, smooth breathing that helps you re-orient yourself to the moment and let go of regret or worry.
#4: Put Time Into You
To maintain your resilience, take care of your emotional, mental, and physical health. Give your body everything it needs to heal. You can start by:
- Ensuring you eat a healthy diet that includes vitamins and minerals
- Getting outdoors to encourage emotional well-being
- Exercising every day, even if it is just going for a walk
- Sleeping on a routine schedule
- Practicing yoga and meditation
- Staying socially engaged with people whom you like to be around
What can you do to help yourself today? Maybe it’s taking the time to read a book, work on a hobby you’ve put off for some time, or spend time with friends.
#5: Establish Realistic Goals
Resilience is built over time by successfully achieving your goals, one after another. Start by setting some realistic goals to work towards.
- Choose a daily goal. This could be something like spending a few minutes each day meditating. Or, you might plan some time each day to relax and do something fun.
- Choose a weekly goal. Aim to focus on your recovery in some way each week, whether that’s by going to a meeting, reaching out to a friend who needs help, or talking to your therapist.
- Choose a long-term goal. This can be a goal to develop a certain skill, reach a certain level of achievement, or finish a project. Breaking the large goal into smaller daily, weekly, or monthly goals can help it from seeming overwhelming.
Know When to Get Help
Resilience is not doing it all on your own. It’s about recognizing the need for help. When you need support, reach out to The Ranch at Dove Tree in Lubbock, Texas. We’re here to help you succeed.
