Communication is at the foundation of your recovery. Yet, most people struggle with effectively communicating their needs and wants in recovery. Open communication is the revolving door within recovery. You are aware of the impact that communication has on your life. However, you may struggle with opening that door for fear of hurting someone.
When powerful emotions surface, they can hurt your recovery. You are in control of verbalizing what you want and need. Being open and honest when encountering difficulties gives your support system the option to help you with your recovery.
You acknowledge that some things in your life have to change and are ready to make the changes that need to occur. Understanding how to communicate your wants and needs in recovery will help you to manage your overall quality of life. Your recovery is at the top of your list. Learning how to communicate is the foundation of a stable and successful recovery.
Value of Communicating Needs and Wants In Recovery
You have worked at building trust with important people in your life. Throughout recovery, you work to continue to build relationships that enrich your life. Communication is essential to building trust; you build trust by being consistent with what you say and do. Learning to be open and honest about your feelings is an important aspect of communicating your wants and needs.
When you deliver messages clearly, there is no room for misunderstanding, which decreases the risk of confusion. Effective communication is key to resolving problems and maintaining emotional composure when you have an uncomfortable discussion. Communication is important in daily life because no matter where you go or what you do, somewhere, you will need to communicate. Every interaction you have will benefit if you can communicate effectively.
Communicating Through Body Language
You are aware of the words you speak; however, you may not be aware of what your body language is saying. For example, you may say that you want a new job, but your body language might tell a different story. Perhaps you are not aware of what your body language is communicating.
Take a moment to think about how you present yourself when communicating with others. Are you standing up straight? Do you speak with confidence? Are you looking the person in the eye when you speak? All of these can be signals to other people about your confidence in what you are trying to communicate.
3 Keys to Communicate Needs and Wants In Recovery
The following three points can help you communicate your wants and needs in recovery.
#1. Listen to What Others Are Saying
You may be so focused on what you want to say or how to respond that you may not be actively listening to what someone else is saying. Sometimes you have to pause and listen to what someone is saying. This shows that you are attentive and focused on the other person’s words.
#2. Avoid Being Defensive in Conversation
You know that emotions can get out of control at times. Try not to take things too personally to maintain emotional control. Take a moment to pause before you respond to any conversation.
#3. Be Open and Honest With Your Wants and Needs
Only you know what will work for you. Don’t expect others to know what you need. Being real with people can help build a healthy support system and increase your self-confidence in recovery.
Build Your Confidence
Sometimes, you may struggle with being assertive in your needs and wants. Your confidence may be shaky because you struggle with negative thinking processes. You may get caught up in thinking that you are undeserving of your needs and wants being met.
If you develop resiliency, this will help you to build your confidence. Self-confidence can enable you to take care of yourself, and all that doing so entails. At times, a lack of self-confidence can be a factor in not communicating your needs and wants.
You may feel that you don’t deserve to have anyone listen or take you seriously. However, this is your recovery, and you get to make the rules. You have come so far, and you keep striving to be the best version of yourself. To be successful in recovery, you need to communicate effectively. You have come so far; now it is time for you to be heard and feel validated in asking for what you need to succeed in your recovery.
Individual Counseling
Talking to a professional counselor can provide you with the support you need while developing the confidence you need to communicate honestly. During individual counseling sessions, you may role-play with effective communication styles. A trained mental health care professional will treat you with unconditional positive regard and help you explore different tools for you to use.
Group Support
At this time in your life, you may need extra support as you establish your needs and wants in your recovery. At The Guest House, we offer an alumni group that caters to individuals who have finished treatment and are now in recovery. We understand the challenges of being in recovery and struggling with communicating your needs and wants.
While your friends and family members are supportive of your recovery, they may not understand what you need. An alumni program can bridge that gap and connect you with positive support in recovery.
Now that you are in recovery, you continue to think about ways to tell everyone what you need and want. You may struggle with confidence, or you may not want to talk about your struggles in life. Whatever the case, you have a voice that needs to be heard. You need to shout your needs and wants in your recovery because you are the author of your story. Conversely, you might be in a space where you are tired of being silent, and you find yourself wanting to be heard. Whatever the case, The Guest House is listening, and we are here to help point you in the right direction. Call us today at (855) 483-7800.