Managing stress in addiction recovery can be challenging. Recovery is all about rearranging your life and finding new ways to go about your daily routine without falling back into old habits.

Recovery is all about rearranging your life and finding new ways to go about your daily routine without falling back into old habits. From drug or alcohol addiction treatment to returning home after rehab, the process of recovery itself can be an emotional rollercoaster. In addition to finding new ways to live out a life free from addiction, you may also have to learn how to make amends with people you hurt or come to terms with your past behavior.

As a drug and alcohol treatment center in Boca, we know that it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by these changes. That’s why we wanted to offer some tips for stress management in addiction recovery.

How to Manage Stress in Addiction Recovery

Addiction treatments and therapies like the 12-step program often stress the importance of learning how to manage your emotions. But even after receiving treatment and going to therapy, you may experience stressful situations or moments that can make you feel helpless. Fortunately, there are plenty of tried and tested ways to manage stress in addiction recovery.

Below are a few tips for stress management in sobriety that can help you get over tough obstacles and stay on track.

Get Outside

Exercising and connecting with nature is wonderful for addiction recovery. Take the time to go out for a walk or hike alone to a place where you can sit down, decompress, and simply enjoy the view. There’s nothing like watching the sunset to reset your mind after a tough day. Being outside also encourages physical activity, which can release endorphins and boost your mood. That’s why plenty of addiction programs and therapies incorporate exercise into their programming.

Don’t Skip Out On Group Sessions

If you’re part of an alumni program or a group, do not skip your meetings! Group meetings are great for stress management in recovery because they offer peer support. These meetings are opportunities to interact with others who are also coping with difficulties in their sobriety. Not only can you learn from them, but you may also encourage someone by sharing your experiences.

Get Plenty of Sleep

Sleep is necessary in order to maintain mental and physical wellbeing. When you don’t sleep enough, you may feel extremely tired and irritable, making it difficult to get through the day. Consistently missing out on sleep can cause stress. If you’re having trouble sleeping, try reducing your caffeine intake and create a relaxing evening routine. Avoid being on your phone or watching TV too long before going to bed.

Maintain a Healthy Diet

A healthy diet is not only good for your body, but it can also boost your mood. Eating foods high in minerals and vitamins like B12 can increase levels of a neurotransmitter called serotonin in your brain, which helps to regulate mood. Eating a good diet can also help you maintain your weight. Weight gain in addiction recovery is normal, but it could also cause additional stress. That’s why a healthy diet is recommended for both the mind and body.

Don’t Have Control Over Everything

We often become agitated when we feel as if we have no control over a situation. Feeling out of control is common in addiction recovery, which can be stressful. That’s why it’s important to remember that not everything is going to go your way; it’s important to take each misstep as a lesson rather than a defeat.

At Banyan Boca, we also offer cognitive behavioral therapy that helps patients identify thoughts and behaviors that contributed to their substance abuse. This therapy teaches patients how to manage these factors in order to have a successful recovery.

Celebrate Your Achievements

It’s easy to focus on the challenges in this phase of your life, but a big part of stress management in addiction recovery is celebrating your achievements. The fact that you went to rehab and are now sober are huge accomplishments. Don’t be afraid to celebrate every milestone.

Make Time for Yourself

Between your sponsor, group meetings, work, school, family, or other obligations, it can be easy to put yourself at the end of the list. While there are responsibilities that you may have to keep track of, it’s important to make time for yourself. Neglecting self-care can prevent you from decompressing and resetting your mind for the next day. Take care of yourself so you can take care of other things to your fullest potential.