Recovery can be a fantastic time in your life, filled with highs and lows, challenges and successes. While recovery is thought of as incredibly positive, sometimes, recovery can be challenging. It can feel as if you are constantly running uphill, and you just cannot catch your breath. There might be days that you do not feel as if you can keep running. Those are the days that you need to be able to look within and find hope. When you can connect to the hope within you, then you can keep pushing forward.
Everyone is on a unique recovery path. For that reason, finding hope will look different for everyone as well. Take time to figure out what helps you the most. Continuing to work with a mental health professional will help you learn to use all the different coping skills and tools you have learned. As you begin working towards finding hope, here are a few ideas to keep in mind.
#1. Lean On Your Support System
When you find yourself struggling to find hope in your recovery, connect with your support system. Your loved ones want to support you. They want you to succeed and lead the healthy lifestyle that you want. Talk with your loved ones about what you are feeling and experiencing. They will be able to help you talk through your feelings.
Having a solid support system is essential as your journey through recovery. Everyone needs support in life. Feeling safe opening up to people can be beneficial on tough recovery days. Everyone needs to feel connected and that they are a member of a group. Work on strengthening the support you have and building new relationships that you can count on.
#2. Keep a Journal
Journaling can be a therapeutic activity to practice during recovery. Write about what you are feeling and experiencing. Sometimes, when you are feeling strong emotions, it can be challenging to put them into words. Journaling gives you an outlet to sort through and express your feelings. You can utilize your journal as a safe place that only you see, or you can use it as a tool to remember details to discuss with your therapist.
Finding a healthy outlet to express yourself is beneficial for most people in recovery; however, if you find that journaling doesn’t help you, then try other activities. Do what helps you the most to work through challenging days and strong emotions.
#3. Share Your Story
For some people, sharing their journey can be therapeutic and helpful. Try sharing your story with others in treatment or considering treatment. You can help others find the courage to improve their lives, just like you did when you decided to seek treatment.
In the process, you will remember all the hard work you have done and the accomplishments you have already achieved. It can be easy to forget how far you have come. It can be easy to minimize your accomplishments. If you had a best friend complete something challenging, you would congratulate them and remind them how great they are doing. Why treat yourself any differently?
#4. Make a Gratitude List
Try making a gratitude list. Write down everything that you are grateful for, enjoy, or hope to do. This can help you to remember what you are working for. Recovery is a time of exploration and discovery, but sometimes recovery can seem overwhelming, and it can be easy to forget what you are striving for.
#5. Volunteer Your Time
Consider volunteering your time with a cause that is important to you. You may find it beneficial to volunteer your time at treatment centers or hospitals. Sometimes we can be our own harshest critics. It can be easy to get inside of our own minds and hinder growth.
Volunteering your time can help you to put yourself and your experiences in perspective. Helping others can improve your overall well-being. You may notice that when you help others, you feel good about yourself. You may feel revived in your abilities to help yourself because you successfully helped others.
#6. Talk With Your Therapist
If you are struggling to feel hopeful as you work through recovery, it is essential to talk with your therapist about this. Open up about what you are feeling and why you think you may be feeling this way. Relapse is a frightening thing. Working closely with your therapist can help you to better understand what you are feeling.
Many people in recovery find it helpful to join support groups, along with working closely with their therapist. Try not to wait until you are struggling to have this support in place.
Recovery can be an amazing time filled with discovery and growth, but it can be challenging at times. If you are struggling to feel hopeful during your recovery journey, try to take time to figure out why you are feeling the way you feel. You may find that volunteering your time or journaling every night helps you. Other people may find it comforting to connect with loved ones and join support groups. Having solid and comforting support is an essential component of the recovery process. If you are struggling to find hope in your recovery, know that you are not alone. Here at The Guest House, we understand how frightening recovery can feel at times. It can feel as if you are constantly being tested to choose a healthy path. We are here to support and help you along your journey. Call us today to learn more about our different treatment options at (855) 483-7800.