There’s no questioning that the world has gone through significant changes in recent years. With this has come an immense sense of worry and concern about where we’re heading on both a global and individual level.
If you’re one of the over 21 million Americans struggling with substance use disorder, commonly referred to as addiction, then these stressors can lead to an increased urge to lean into drugs or alcohol. Fortunately, there are ways to keep moving forward through recovery during even the toughest times.
Stay Honest with Yourself
Trying to deny what’s going on around you and the emotions you’re feeling only leads to more stress and anxiety. Accepting that there are simply aspects of life out of your control removes the pressure you may feel to change every little thing for the better.
That being said, there are still ways you can take control of how you react to and handle troubling times. Letting yourself spiral down a rabbit hole of what-if scenarios only serves to increase the number of worries.
Remind yourself that nothing bad lasts forever and that there is always something to learn or take away from life’s hardships.
Remember To Unplug From Social Media
Browsing social media feeds can be a great, low-pressure way to unwind by catching up with loved ones or enjoying some relaxing videos. Unfortunately, these feeds quickly get overrun by negative news stories whenever there’s a conflict around the world.
Staying current on world events isn’t a requirement to live a fulfilling life. If there’s a change that will impact you directly, there’s almost no way to miss it in today’s digital age as your friends and family will likely see it and think of you before sharing.
Resting assured that truly important matters will make their way to your screen, take a moment to replace your normal scrolling time with more positive activities. Even just taking this time to reflect on your day and go over your goals can help keep you grounded and reduce cravings.
Find and Foster Hope
When hope is maintained, it becomes much easier to stay motivated. Removing the doom and gloom of sensationalized news can limit stress, but putting media that inspires you in its place takes it to the next level.
Listen to stories of those who have successfully gotten through recovery and find positive affirmations that resonate with you to repeat them each day. There’s the future of the world that you can’t control and then there’s your personal future that you have the final say in how it happens.
Stay present in your own timeline and you’ll soon find out that there are fewer responsibilities to tend to than the rest of the world would make you think. You don’t have to agree with what’s happening out of your control in order to accept that it currently exists. Set your sights on how you can positively influence your immediate world.
Help Yourself and Others
Whenever our society faces struggles, there are always bands of hopeful volunteers who fight to help those affected. Putting yourself in a position to join the cause and lend a hand to those in need. Whether you can donate your time, money or skills, your mental health will benefit from the good deeds.
You’ll be able to gain perspective regarding your own situation when you see others who are going through similar or worse times. This doesn’t mean what you’re experiencing isn’t valid, it simply shows that even the hardest times can be met with support from your community to help keep your head held high.
Call Upon Professionals When All Else Fails
Not everyone can benefit from motivational media and self-affirmation as well as others. If this sounds like you, there’s still hope through professional recovery centers such as America’s Rehab Campus.
With group and individual therapy options available during treatment, substance use disorder and underlying cases of depression or anxiety can be tackled all at once. If you or a loved one is in need of assistance during addiction recovery, don’t hesitate to reach out to the ARC team today.
