Amid the ongoing national opioid epidemic, there’s one silver lining: life after addiction is the norm, as the majority of people with a drug addiction will eventually recover. One 2020 study found that three in four people who experience addiction will overcome it.
Opiate addiction treatment plays a huge role in a patient’s chances of avoiding a relapse, of course, but it isn’t the only factor. The coping skills recovering addicts pick up along the way can make or break their recovery.
If you’re going through the rehab process, these key habits can be crucial. Let’s take a look at a few skills that can help you avoid relapsing and overcome your addiction.
Distracting Yourself From Triggers
The chaos of addiction eats away a lot of time. Getting, using, and recovering from the effects of opiates may once have been the primary way you spent your days.
During drug recovery, many people find that they suddenly have a lot of spare time. It’s crucial to transfer your attention to healthy hobbies and activities that can help you avoid triggers.
Fortunately, this allows you to treat yourself by trying or returning to things you didn’t have time for before. Learn a new language, travel somewhere new, spend time in nature, or learn an instrument. Read books, test out a new sport, or try your hand at writing.
Waiting to Respond
Waiting to respond is a crucial coping strategy we talk about in our California opioid detox program.
Opiate abuse can make your actions impulsive and reckless. You may be in the habit of rushing your decisions or acting without thinking when your emotions are high. These impulses can cause you to react with anger or aggression.
Instead, it’s important to reframe your thoughts. Learn to clear your mind before responding to a stressful situation. This can help you better manage your emotions as well as your personal and professional relationships.
Striving for Honesty
When you’re struggling with an addiction, lying often becomes a habit. You may be used to lying about using opiates, the effects on your body, your recovery efforts, and more.
Being honest is crucial for your recovery. Be open with yourself and others about your feelings, and don’t hesitate to ask for support. Talk about your cravings and health, and get used to telling the truth.
Meditation and Mindfulness
In addition to the point above, meditation and mindfulness are crucial tools for dealing with substance abuse disorders. These evidence-based practices are the key to all of the best treatment programs in California.
Mindfulness is a strategy that teaches you to stay present in the current moment. Rather than worrying about the future or regretting the past, mindfulness helps you observe and accept the present without judgment.
Meditation is a further step. This practice can help you reduce your stress while working through difficult thoughts and emotions. There are many different meditation techniques, allowing you to try the style that works best for you.
Leaning on Your Support System
At any drug detox center in California, you’ll find resources like group therapy and counseling. These group programs are essential parts of your recovery. Talking to peers about your experience can help you work through your treatment.
However, you’ll also need to organize a support system in your personal life. Recovery isn’t a short process, so having a circle of friends and family members to help you in the long term is crucial. Work on establishing healthy relationships with people you trust, and get comfortable leaning on them when you feel stressed or anxious.
Engaging in Self-Care
It’s common to ignore your health when you’re dealing with a substance abuse disorder. You may not be used to considering and tending to your needs.
Focusing on the basics of self-care is a great coping skill to have. Try to eat nourishing foods, take care of your personal hygiene, and get enough sleep.
Exercise is another huge component of self-care. Not only do regular workouts improve your overall health, but they also raise your endorphins and reduce stressful feelings that can trigger cravings.
Writing in a Journal
Journaling is a great way to organize chaotic thoughts and sort out your feelings. It helps you consider your current mindset and acts as a record of your emotions and fears. As you move forward on your journey to sobriety, this record lets you reflect on how far you’ve come.
Writing in a journal also helps you with another key coping skill: finding gratitude. Treasuring the people in your life and the things you enjoy makes it easier to turn away from cravings and navigate personal struggles.
Helping Others
Though you may not feel resilient enough to do so right away, helping others can be a vital part of your recovery. Volunteering to help others makes us feel better about ourselves and our contributions to the world. It can help you recognize your strengths and abilities.
As soon as you feel comfortable after attending your opiate rehab in Chatsworth, consider finding a way to give back. You may want to call someone who’s going through a tough time, volunteer in the community, or become a sponsor in a 12-step program.
Key Skills for Opiate Addiction Treatment
As you work through your opiate addiction treatment, the coping skills above will become crucial. From maintaining your basic self-care to helping others on the road to recovery, these strategies can help you get your physical and mental well-being back on track.
Beyond the coping skills above, our team at Oasis Detox offers many additional strategies to help you beat your addiction. This includes medically guided detoxification, mental counseling, and more for patients in Los Angeles and the surrounding areas. To learn how we can help, contact us today.
