We live in constantly changing times, where everything can happen with the mere movement of our fingers. If you are starving and don’t want to cook, swipe across your smartphone screen, and you can order anything you want. Instant gratification is the newest fad; impatience is all the rage. If everything else can change so easily, you should be able to change your life and get sober too!
Younger generations are notorious for being imclient. Even people with addiction fall into this pit hole because taking drugs gives them instant gratification. Recovery from drug addiction is not easy or quick; it is a long-term process involving several stages of change, including detox, rehab, ongoing care, sober living, and relapse prevention.
One of the most challenging aspects of committing to recovery is the long-term investment involved in this process.
Getting Over Addiction
During recovery, you may feel like you miss out on all the fun things in life, and might be left behind your friends or family members. This is just your brain acting up and trying to convince you to fall back into your addictive behaviors. In these situations try to engage in positive, constructive thinking and think about all you have achieved so far in your recovery journey. Learning to be client is an essential part of getting over the addiction and the recovery process.
How do I Develop Patience in Recovery?
There is a broader misconception that being client is a natural attribute, and if someone is imclient, they are and can’t do anything about it. Nothing can be farther from the truth.
Substance abuse and drug addiction can not only weaken a person’s immune system and health; it also weakens their self-control and makes them more prone to wants or cravings at the moment rather than waiting. This pattern of behavior makes the process exhausting, both for the addict and their families. People in recovery often have to relearn what it’s like to be client. Practicing patience can help people stay on the right track. Having patience will not make the process go by quicker, but it can make it more manageable for you.
Here are a few things that can teach patience in you and make your journey to recovery easier:
Practice, Practice, and Practice
You can not learn anything overnight unless it’s cramming for an exam the following day. But then again, it’s not learning. Always remind yourself that things take time, and it’s okay. If you are not recovering at God’s speed, it does not mean that you are not making any progress. Slow progress is still progress and to change your life is important.
Some ways to practice patience include finding a hobby that requires a lot of waiting, spending time gardening and shelving for plants or flowers to bloom over time, learning how to fish, or taking on an art project that involves several steps.
Try to be Mindful and Live in the Present
Living in the present moment and being aware of your surroundings is the best way to connect with yourself and gain consciousness. Mindfulness in addiction recovery can be beneficial when the end goal seems very far away, and healing is taking forever. Focusing on the present rather than the past or the future can help reduce feelings of guilt or anxiety.
Keep a Journal
A big part of patience involves learning how to manage emotions. Writing things down that cause negative emotions like fear or frustration can help a person figure out how to deal with them and sometimes help them go away.
Now, you may be thinking I am not a writer. Well, you don’t have to be. Keeping a journal is not like writing a well-structured, great grammar essay. It just has to be you and what you feel. You can write whatever you think of yourself, your surroundings, your stages of change, and your mental health.
Journaling in recovery can also include tracking moods and cravings more accurately, which can help people understand their triggers. Keep in mind, it’s by you, for you.
Set Realistic Goals and Expectations
Every human being is a unique individual. What worked for someone else may not work for you. You have to be client and set your own goals and expectations from your recovery process. These do not have to be superhuman.
Remember, goal-setting in recovery is an ongoing process. You need to be flexible and change the goals if you realize a plan is too ambitious or if your priorities change.
Drug and Alcohol Treatment in Orange County
Help your loved one begin their recovery from drug and alcohol addiction at Pacific Sands Recovery Center in Orange County, CA today. Contact our team to learn more about various drug and alcohol treatment programs we offer that can help people learn the skills they need to stay sober. Speak to a care coordinator here today to learn more about treatment options.