Substance use disorder treatment is a life-changing experience that allows people to take control back over their lives from the grips of addiction. The work patients do in treatment through counseling and self-improvement helps build healthy coping mechanisms and other important tools they carry through the recovery journey. However, the path towards long-lasting recovery is full of ups and downs, and knowing how to boost health and happiness can help patients get past speedbumps along the way.
Prioritized Sleep Schedule
A good night’s rest is possibly one of the most underrated aspects of human life in these modern times. With screens and 24-hour news cycles bombarding the population all day, many people subconsciously feel too impatient to sleep for the recommended eight hours a night. For people in treatment and recovery, deep, restorative sleep is not just a recommendation– it’s a vital aspect of healing for the brain and body.
Optimized Nutrition
Substance misuse can take a toll on the body, depleting essential vitamins and minerals from vital organs. An elevated act of self-care in treatment and recovery is discovering the wonderful world of fresh and nutritious foods that supply the body with energy and regenerative properties that help repair damage caused by drugs.
Productive Hobbies
Along with nutrition, hobbies like cooking and gardening also develop life-skills that can make those in recovery feel more self-reliant and capable. Of course, not every hobby needs to be a major undertaking. Activities like creating art or taking up an instrument are wonderful for brain stimulation that can help rewire the reward pathways previously harmed by substances.
Physical Activity
Patients often report that post opiate depression often makes feeling happy in recovery much more difficult. One of the easiest ways of harnessing a dopamine boost is by engaging in physical activity. This doesn’t always mean going to the gym. It can come in many other forms such as dancing, hiking, swimming, playing sports, and more.
Acts of Charity
Doing things for others benefits both parties involved! Patients in treatment and recovery have reported that frequently volunteering and “paying it forward” has helped them connect with others and also alleviate confounding feelings of guilt and shame brought upon by their past experiences while they were controlled by substance use disorder.
Goal Setting
While it’s essential to live in the present, goal setting is an excellent habit of having something to look forward to in the future. These goals can be big or small, ranging from cleaning out all the junk drawers to a bucket list adventure. Working towards keeping those goals in mind can have a profound effect on motivation in treatment and recovery.
Applegate Recovery is ready to help anyone who suspects they may have substance use disorder by offering high-quality and effective outpatient treatment. Our office-based services allow people to treat their addiction and work towards recovery while still attending to their lives and responsibilities.
Reach out to AppleGate Recovery today for more information about medication-assisted treatment and opioid addiction recovery. Feel free to contact us online or call us at 888-488-5337.