When it comes to recovery, it can be important to explore activities that help you to relieve the stress you may be experiencing. At times, recovery can be stressful. Recovery is often filled with exploration and growth, but it can also be a time of temptation and discomfort.
Learning to navigate your new lifestyle takes time. Helping yourself along the way can make a positive impact on your recovery and your life. Explore stress-relieving activities that can help you as you journey through recovery and work to maintain your overall well-being. Here are a few different tips to get you started along that path.
Identify the Sources
Work to better understand the source of the stress in your life. When you can understand why you are feeling the way you feel, it can help begin the process of learning how to overcome the stress and work through any negative emotions you may be experiencing.
For some, stress can be caused by relationships. For others, stress may come from sources such as employment or routines. Everyone experiences stress differently, and it is essential to note that almost everyone experiences stress on some level. When that stress begins to affect daily life and well-being, it becomes something to explore on a deeper level.
Identifying the sources of your stress can be difficult because these sources are often below the surface. Work with a mental health professional to continue to address your mental health issues and identify and work through the sources of your stress.
Identify Your Goals
Goals are a huge part of recovery. You have probably worked on setting and attaining goals since being in treatment. Consider having some specific goals pertaining to stress management or making time for certain activities. You may also want to think through your goals if those goals are causing you stress.
Having big goals can be amazing. These goals can keep you pushing forward. However, big goals can easily cause stress, especially if it feels as if you will not reach these goals. Work to create smaller goals underneath large goals. As you achieve the smaller sub-goals, you will see your progress along the way.
Focus On What You Can Control
Stress can affect every single area of a person’s life. Try to analyze the situation or event that is causing you to feel stressed. Can you control the situation? Can you change anything to lessen your stress level? If you can change something, then that is great. Work towards changing the situation to fit your comfort level and needs better.
If you analyze the situation and it turns out you cannot control or change anything about that situation, then that is when you use your skills and tools to let go of the stress it is causing. It can be extremely challenging to move forward and let go of stress. Work with your mental health provider to better understand the skills you should use.
Establish Boundaries
Establishing strong boundaries can help you manage and reduce your stress. Boundaries can be established in the areas where you find yourself experiencing the most stress. Maybe you have someone in your life that causes you great stress when they do certain things. Work on creating a boundary that does not allow them to do that activity around you. Others may find that certain situations or environments cause them significant stress. Boundaries can be put in place to help you avoid putting yourself in those situations.
As you work through your recovery, you may notice that your boundaries change along with you. That is expected. Continue to analyze your stress and find the source. You can then continue to ensure that the boundaries you have in place help you continue moving forward towards your goals.
Make Time for What You Enjoy
Often many people forget that simply having fun and doing activities that you enjoy is beneficial to your mental health and overall well-being. If you are feeling overwhelmed and stressed, hit the pause button and go and do something that you enjoy. Take that hike that you have wanted to take. Consider reading the book that has been on your list for a year now. Doing what you enjoy can help you to lessen your stress levels and feel better.
Do Not Forget the Importance of Sleep
Sometimes stress can feel unavoidable. However, certain actions can help you to manage your stress levels. One of these is to maintain a sleep schedule. When you lack sleep, you will feel more stressed and anxious. Get enough sleep so that you feel refreshed and ready to take on the day.
Relieving stress is an integral part of the recovery process and in maintaining overall well-being. Everyone experiences stress differently and learning how to best manage yours can be tricky. Remember that doing the things you enjoy can significantly help you to feel less stressed and overwhelmed. Maintain strong boundaries that help you manage your triggers and avoid situations you are not ready to handle yet. It can also be essential to remember that small things such as getting enough sleep and eating healthy food can significantly affect your feelings of stress. Work on understanding the sources of your stress. Here at The Guest House, we know that stress affects everyone differently. We are here to help and support you as you work to better understand your mental health issues and overall well-being. Call us today at (855) 483-7800 to learn more about how we can support you on your journey of recovery.