Life Management

Stress

Drugs are Short-Term Solutions for Stress

Alcohol, or using other drugs, can provide a feeling of stress relief and that is how many drug abusers start. Drinking alcohol, smoking marijuana, or taking pills are ways to relax and distance oneself from daily problems. At this point, you’ve probably realized that substances are just temporary remedies. Ultimately, these substances increase your stress, anxiety, and fear while only providing short-term relief. Now that you are sober, you are going to have to find other ways of dealing with stress.

Reduce Stress by Being Honest

It is impossible to achieve inner peace without being truthful and honest. Abusing alcohol and other substances often lead to making excuses to both yourself and the people around you - making up stories or lying to cover up the addiction or behavior. As you become sober, you can relax and strive for honesty. Feelings of fear, anxiety or shame will disappear as you become confident in yourself. No one can live a totally stress-free life, but acknowledging that we are human can prevent the stress from building up.

Strategies to Relieve Stress

Nutrition

Eating Well is Important for You!

Choosing when to eat and what foods to eat (or avoid) should be an important part of a recovery plan. The use of alcohol and other drugs may have harmed many parts of the body. With a proper diet, you can provide the body with the essential nourishment needed to repair any damage.

In addition to rebuilding a strong body, your dietary decisions will affect your feelings, stress management, thinking skills, energy levels, and the ability to rest and sleep. All of this will help you remain on a strong path.

Some Tips for Eating Better

Stop and Think Before You Eat

Why are you eating? You may say because you are hungry - and of course you are correct. However, that might not always be the case. Food can be used for the same reasons as mood-altering drugs: to change how we feel and to gratify a craving. For example, if you are anxious or bored, you may respond by having a snack or some fast food. You may feel better at the moment, but this might lead to overeating or compulsive behavior. Try to get in the habit of thinking before you eat!

Physical Activity

Start Moving More

It is easy to become more active in your day - and you don't have to make it into a big thing. Look for opportunities to become more active. When you incorporate more exercise into your daily activities, you will benefit in almost every aspect of life.

Regular physical exercise can reduce stress, enhance brain activity, increase your energy, and improve self-esteem. It can also reduce your risk of obesity, improve your health, and help you manage the psychological changes brought about by recovery. It is also an excellent way to get you to think of something else, especially if you catch yourself daydreaming about drinking or using.

Some Ideas to Live a More Active Life

• Join a class of something you like to do - dancing, yoga, running, or a sports team

• Limit yourself to short periods of exercise in the beginning; ten minutes is all that’s needed

• Get in the habit of taking daily walks; a lot of us spend too much time in our car or in front of the TV

• Stretch! If you’re sitting down for long periods, get up and stretch: you will immediately feel a boost of energy

• Find a friend to work out with, go on walks, or jog with you

• Take the stairs to feel better about yourself and burn some extra calories

Sleep

Start Sleeping Better

Few people with an addiction have good sleeping habits. When your life revolves around one or more mood-altering substances, the thought of sleep might seem distant. Just like other parts of life, you lose the ability to rest and sleep naturally. And that takes its toll on both your physical and mental well-being. One key area to manage your life is getting back into the habit of healthy sleep patterns - without any drugs involved either to get up in the morning or go to bed. It may take several months to develop the ability to do so, especially if you've been using substances to help you for a long time, but you can do it.

Strategies for a Better Night’s Sleep

• Try not eating for a couple hours before going to bed

• Do some relaxing activities in the evening - avoid work or stressful problem-solving

• Avoid stimulants like coffee, tea, or sodas

• Refrain from taking naps

• Get up early and activate yourself - you’ll be tired earlier and get into a good sleep pattern

Financial Responsibility

Face your situation

When your main goal in life is to achieve and maintain using a substance, you may rarely spend your energy looking after the financial needs of you and your family. You might have made bad investments or spent a lot of money on your addiction. You may feel that the legal problems or debt you have is overwhelming; you may even be scared. But there is no hiding from these problems. They won’t go away, so the best thing you can do is be open about them and face them.

Try to Stay Strong and Positive

Many people who are in an early stages of recovery face difficulty and challenges caused by drinking or using substances for many years. If you feel depressed about your financial situation today, be aware that most people with addiction had financial problems when they start their personal recovery. Many of them recovered from heavy debt, bad credit, and legal issues, and are living a financially responsible life today. They did it, and you can too.

The First Steps

• Get an an accurate picture of your assets, income, and monthly expenses

• If possible, share your situation with someone you trust

• Look for professional help to get everything sorted out and organized

• Try to restructure your debt and, if possible, make deals with your debtors

• Going forward, make a realistic financial plan

Time Management

Spend your Time Better

Being sober may give you a new understanding of time. For a long time, your substance controlled your behavior and your daily activities . Now that you are free from alcohol or other drugs, you will have the opportunity to spend your time in a way that best suits your new lifestyle.

Old habits may linger in your life. Maybe you wasted a lot of time in your old life thinking about, getting or using substances, and this still limits you. Think of how much time you’re saving now! But don’t forget that you have new responsibilities now, daily duties you may not have given much thought to before. Try to balance your new life and manage your time appropriately.

Create Daily Structure

For a lot of recovering people structure is very important. Try to make a plan for your everyday life: how to allocate your time to get enough sleep, alone time, and also daily routines like cooking and paying bills. A healthy lifestyle includes a blend of responsibilities and privileges!

Good Habits

Better Habits for Success in Life

During your treatment you have been working hard to develop the skills and tools you need to achieve positive life changes. In the coming months and years, you must take the steps necessary to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Just as bad habits can lead a person towards self-destruction, the establishment of good habits and consistent practice can lead a person to personal success.

Three Habits that Provide a Key to Personal Satisfaction