Stress is inevitable in life. The journey through addiction recovery is no exception to that. In fact, the recovery process is liable to produce a lot of stress at different times. Stress management in recovery is vital to meeting sobriety goals and persisting through treatment. Without question, one of the biggest relapse triggers is stress. If left unaddressed, stress can derail recovery and quickly cause clients to backslide into old habits. Sunstone Recovery prioritizes stress management in addiction recovery as a protective measure to ensure progress continues and relapse is avoided.
Call 855.833.9199 today to learn about Sunstone Recovery’s mental health treatment center and the multiple telehealth options we have available.
The Importance of Stress Management In Recovery
Eliminating all stress before, during, or after addiction recovery is unrealistic. After all, life will always pose challenges and test your resolve. Addiction treatment providers recognize just how critical it is to be aware of your common stressors. Managing stress in recovery is a constant priority during therapy sessions and will often be a topic of discussion in support groups.
Stress often tops the list of potential relapse triggers. The unfortunate reality is that the majority of people who engage in addiction recovery will relapse at least once. People who avoid relapsing are often those who are most effective at stress management in recovery.
Managing Stress In Recovery: A How-To
Stress management in addiction recovery is not something you need to wait for an expert to help you with. Certainly, your therapist is a critical partner in developing stress management techniques. Yet you can start forming healthy habits and implementing stress reduction techniques today, even if you haven’t started official treatment yet. Explore a few of the best ways to promote stress management in recovery.
Exercise
Exercise is one of the best ways to relieve and reduce stress. Even better, there’s a kind of exercise to fit every personality and set of interests. You could take up jogging or water aerobics or just do online workouts from the comfort of home with nothing more than a yoga mat and free weights. The key is to find something you can commit to doing regularly. The benefits of exercise are biggest when you stay active throughout each week rather than doing things sporadically.
Meditate
Meditation is a great intervention for times of stress or when you experience drug cravings. How you meditate is less important than making it a regular practice. Typically, it involves breathing exercises, mantra repetition, and stillness. You can find quick, easy-to-implement meditation guides online to get started.
Attend a Support Group
Support groups are a key component of most addiction treatment plans. Your treatment provider will likely connect you to multiple support group options. Unless you are attending inpatient or residential treatment, actually attending a support group is on you. Don’t brush them off as an unnecessary part of recovery. Investing your time and energy in a support group will pay off tenfold when it comes to helping you successfully navigate recovery and keep stress minimized.
Get Outdoors
Spending time in nature is intrinsically relaxing and a great way to boost your mood. You can even combine this method of managing stress in recovery with exercise by biking or going for a hike.
Recognize When You Need Help
You are not alone in recovery. Sometimes stress will build up and threaten to overwhelm you. In those moments, you may feel tempted to withdraw and isolate yourself. Crisis moments call for connection, though. Don’t hesitate to reach out to your therapist or an accountability partner when you feel like your sobriety is being threatened.
Avoid Unnecessary Stress
Some stress is unavoidable. But sometimes people are their own worst enemies when they fail to remove themselves from stressful situations. Don’t tolerate avoidable stress. If you can remove stress from your life, do it. Your sobriety may depend on you letting go of things that may feel important but are actually causing undue stress.
Prioritize Stress Management In Recovery With Sunstone Recovery
Sunstone Recovery specializes in telehealth services that target mental health and substance abuse. Online addiction services provide therapy that prioritizes stress management in recovery. Options include:
- Individual therapy
- Group therapy
- Family therapy
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Trauma therapy
Managing stress in recovery can make the difference between lasting sobriety and relapse. Find out more about dealing with your stress during recovery when you call 855.833.9199.
