Our habits dictate the way we handle situations in our lives. If you have been using substances to manage stress and anxiety, it is time to seek healthier habits to ensure your recovery and mental health.
Whether you are in active addiction or in recovery, there are a number of unhealthy habits that could be holding you back from healing and finding peace. It isn’t just crucial that you retrain yourself to develop healthier habits, but that you are also able to identify unhealthy ones before they cause more damage.
Unhealthy Habits Holding You Back From Healing
During addiction recovery, you may feel that by being sober, you are successful. However, addiction recovery is a process that takes time and patience. Being in recovery does not mean you’re cured but are on the road to healing. When you are in recovery, you are still at risk of falling into old patterns. You may not be using the substance that led you to recovery, but you can develop other unhealthy habits that keep you from progressing.
Often, addiction results from dealing poorly with stress, anxiety, or other mental health issues. Even if you cease using drugs or alcohol, other behaviors can lead you down an unhealthy path, such as:
- Habits that replace your addiction, like smoking, sugar, or over-exercise
- Co-dependent relationships
- Behaviors you took part in during active addiction, such as lying, cheating, stealing, or keeping secrets
- Quitting therapy
- Spending time with triggering people
How to Quit Unhealthy Habits
Halting unhealthy habits like these can feel like a lot to give up at once when you’re in recovery, but healing isn’t just about sobriety. You need to change not only your drug or alcohol use but also your pattern of thinking and behaviors.
Identifying these poor habits is critical to ensuring your continued healing and recovery. Even things you perceive as small, like overindulging in sweets, can set you off on an unhealthy path or lead you to relapse. Continuing your hard work from treatment into recovery is vital for your overall well-being.
Just because you are done with treatment does not mean you’re done with recovery. Continuing with aftercare, group meetings, and therapy are integral aspects of maintaining your wellness and healing journey. You never stop learning and growing, so ensuring that you are taking an active role in bettering yourself and building healthy coping skills and tools to live a happier life is key.
Developing Healthy Routines in Recovery
Not only is it vital that you learn how to stop unhealthy habits that may be holding you back from lifelong healing, but incorporating healthier habits into your life can improve your healing. Some healthy routines and habits you can develop during recovery to help you gain a better perspective and create a positive environment for yourself include:
- Performing light exercises in nature like yoga, hiking, or biking
- Spending time with supportive friends and family
- Taking an active role in therapy
- Being present in the recovery community
- Building new skills like cooking, sewing, or household projects
Here at The Guest House, we provide everyone in our care with quality addiction treatment services to guide them through their stay and life beyond. During initial treatment, we provide you with the support you need to leave our facility with confidence. We will teach you the skills and tools that will help ensure your long-term recovery and wellness. If you or a loved one are struggling to develop healthy habits while healing, you can call us today at (855) 483-7800.