Learning to say no while in recovery is something that is necessary. You will need to be comfortable not only saying no in regards to your substance of choice but also saying no in other situations that are simply not healthy for your well-being or recovery.
People struggle with saying no for many different reasons. Work to find the core reasons behind your struggles. When you understand your struggles, you can begin to better work through them.
Recovery can be a fascinating time of exploration. You get to relearn who you are, what you want to do, and what relationships mean the most to you. You will also learn that saying no is a huge part of learning who you are.
Not every situation is worth your time. Not every person is worthy of your friendship or connection. Here are a few different ways to learn how to successfully say no while you journey through recovery.
Invest in Your Recovery
Think of your time as your investment in your recovery. Everything you do should be beneficial for your sobriety and recovery. Every relationship that you invest time in should be healthy for you to be in.
You spent a lot of time working hard to face your addiction and learn more about your mental health issues. If something does not benefit you and your health, then you should feel comfortable saying no.
Work Through Feeling Guilty
Often people struggle with saying no because feelings of guilt surface. You may experience someone asking you for help to accomplish something. That person may have helped you in the past, and you feel as if you need to repay that favor.
Putting your mental health and sobriety first needs to be thought about. Don’t feel guilty saying no to something that puts your sobriety or mental health at risk.
Understanding your guilt will help you to work through it. What is below the surface of the guilt you are feeling? Often, guilt is an emotion that needs to be examined on a deeper level.
When did you begin to feel guilty saying no? When did saying no to that substance begin to feel impossible? Work with your mental health professional to examine the different feelings of guilt that surface.
Be Direct
Sometimes saying no to someone can simply be awkward. You may not want what they have; you may not want to help or be involved. Try to be direct. Many people struggle with being direct.
As you journey through your recovery, your confidence in your abilities will grow as well. Saying no will become easier, and you will feel more powerful. If you struggle with being direct, use the support around you.
Have your loved ones support you in saying no. When you feel supported, you will feel more confident. Soon you will realize that you no longer need as much support to say no to as you did before; growth is an amazing process.
Focus On Your Goals
Having goals throughout life is essential. Everyone needs to have goals. Goals help you to stay focused and keep moving forward. In recovery, goals can help you to get through tough and challenging days. When you focus on your goals, you can zone in on the steps that will take you there.
You may notice that saying no gets easier when you focus on the important goals you have set. If something causes you to stray from your goals, you should be able to notice. Say no to anything that hinders your progress or takes you off course.
It is important to note that flexibility is also a key to successful recovery. Being able to know when something is negative and not healthy versus just a different course can be difficult. Continue to work towards understanding your mental health and the progress that you are making.
Know Your Limits
Everyone has limits. If you are someone who does not like to say no, it is essential to know your limits. Burnout is a very real thing. Pushing yourself too far can be dangerous to your recovery and sobriety.
If you feel you are beginning to be stretched too thin, hit the pause button and assess your situation. What is pushing you to your limits? Figure out what needs to be done right away versus what can wait. Being able to say no when you are at your limit is putting yourself and your sobriety first.
Learning to say no while in recovery is incredibly important. You will need to be able to say no to temptation, to situations, and when you are simply pushed to or beyond your limits. Everyone struggles to say no for various reasons. Take time to learn why you struggle with this task. Work on being direct when you are saying no to someone or something. Try to think of your recovery as an investment. You have put so much time, energy, and emotion into working towards the life you have always wanted. Your sobriety and recovery need to be made a priority. Here at The Guest House, we know how challenging temptation, daily life, and unplanned activities can be. We are here to help and support you as you journey through your long-term recovery. You do not need to face challenges alone. Call The Guest House today at (855) 483-7800 to learn more about the different treatment options available.