Addiction can take complete control over your life and leave you feeling powerless. However, taking back your power is possible with the right strategies and support. Becoming a more empowered individual is one of the greatest things you can do to find success in recovery.
Cultivating Self-Empowerment
Self-empowerment is a state of being that includes feelings of confidence, hopefulness, and overall well-being. This state can help you find purpose and meaning in your life. It also allows you to move through recovery with a more positive mindset and genuine love for yourself, which can help improve your chances of success.
A 2021 study published in JAMA Psychiatry sought a link between empowerment and participation in research groups for patients with mental illness. It said that empowerment is “identified as a key aspect of recovery-oriented mental health care in itself.” It’s also recognized as a “mediator toward improved long-term health.” Even though the study was primarily geared toward those with mental illness, the same can be said for individuals in addiction recovery.
JAMA Psychiatry also mentioned that empowered patients are thought to improve their health behaviors “in terms of their self-esteem, social and community functioning, and abilities to manage their illness.” All of these improvements can go a long way in helping one not just overcome addiction but also rediscover purpose in life without the need for substances.
Taking Back Your Power: Creating Healthy Relationships and Boundaries
When you’re in active addiction, much of your time may be spent around substances or with others who also have substance use disorder (SUD). In recovery, you can take your power back by first redefining what a healthy relationship means to you. It’s also important to set healthy boundaries in your relationships. This is another dimension of empowerment that will help you create a new substance-free life.
The Importance of Healthy Relationships
According to a 2019 study published in Substance Abuse: Research and Treatment, maintaining positive relationships is important for those with SUD to “reach and maintain abstinence.” The study mentioned that individuals with SUD have reported finding the greatest support from peers, siblings, and service providers.
Setting Healthy Boundaries
After you have established healthy relationships, the next step is to define your boundaries. Setting boundaries is another layer of empowerment that allows you to choose what is best for you and your recovery.
Boundaries can help you avoid triggers and maintain sobriety. They also allow you to choose the relationships and activities you do with others that make you feel happy instead of on edge or worn out.
Remember that saying “No” to people, places, and things is one of your most empowering tools. Saying no helps you establish more self-love, self-respect, and self-care. At the end of the day, your recovery journey is all about you. Standing your ground on what is best for you can create one of the deepest senses of inner strength you will ever know.
Taking Back Your Power: Mind, Body, and Spirit Connection
External factors like social support and addiction treatment are usually necessary for recovery. However, to truly take your power back, you will want to focus on a mind, body, and spirit connection as well. Self-care routines and positive inner work can help you feel grounded in a sense of self-worth.
Committing to Self-Care Practices
A solid and consistent self-care routine is a powerful tool that will help you create a stronger connection between your mind, body, and spirit. If you’re not familiar with self-care, a great place to start would be to get a journal and brainstorm different activities you can do for yourself each day.
Self-care does not have to be expensive or complicated. You may enjoy taking time out to read a book, exercise, write in your journal, or even have a spa day. Simply committing to just one thing a day can help you create big shifts in your life. The sheer act of finding out what you truly love to do for yourself can even help you create a stronger sense of empowerment and self-love. This pursuit can boost your self-esteem too.
Pursuing Holistic Therapies
In recent years, many holistic therapies have been utilized in addiction recovery programs to great success. These therapies can help you process your pain and struggles on a deeper level and create a stronger sense of self.
Meditation is one holistic therapy that helps to foster a strong connection between the mind, body, and spirit. Many studies have shown that meditation can help you reduce stress, get better sleep, boost your health, and even give you more purpose in life. This ancient Eastern practice can teach you how to focus your mind and observe your thoughts instead of allowing them to control you.
Another ancient practice that will help you take your power back is breathwork. This therapy helps you connect your mind, body, and spirit by focusing on intentional and repetitive breaths. Your breath is your life force. Once you become more aware of this force through breathwork, the more you will feel peacefulness, increased energy, and enhanced focus.
Taking Back Your Power at The Guest House
Your journey of recovery will also be your greatest journey of self-empowerment at The Guest House. Our cutting-edge program includes everything you need to rediscover your sense of self as you experience deep healing of your mind, body, and soul.
At The Guest House, our highly-trained staff and clinicians are here to support you every step of the way. You also have an opportunity to establish healthy relationships with your peers through our fun and innovative group activities.
The Guest House offers a unique blend of holistic and traditional therapies to help you find what works best for you, including both meditation and conscious connected breathwork. Here you will create a toolkit for lasting success, happiness, and empowerment in recovery.
Taking back your power after addiction is crucial to the recovery process. A stronger sense of empowerment will enable you to set boundaries, create healthy relationships, and pave the way for long-term sobriety. At The Guest House, our cutting-edge program was created to help you take back your power one step at a time. Here you can explore various holistic and traditional therapies to heal your mind, body, and spirit. At The Guest House, you will also find strong support in your peers as well as our highly trained staff and clinicians. This safe and supportive environment will help you regain your sense of self and set you up for lasting success. Call us at (855) 483-7800.