If you are in recovery from substance use disorder, how you cope with stress and anxiety is very important and needs to be monitored carefully.
Stress, unfortunately, is part of life and learning new, sober coping mechanisms is part of the process. Burnout and addiction, especially in those working in executive fields, is on the increase as is self medication to cope with stress.
So more people are suffering from lifestyle-related diseases like diabetes or heart disease and it can be difficult to spot the symptoms of drug addiction until it is too late.
This chronic stress culminates in withdrawal from society, isolation and often workaholism.
Workaholism is just as damaging to your long term mental health and just as destructive to your home life as substance abuse. In fact, many workaholics also cope with the increasing demands they make on themselves and begin to take drugs or alcohol to relax, to stay awake, to retain focus which in the long run is not sustainable.
With no active down-time, a person loses their resilience and ability to recharge. Without taking a break and committing to self-care, it becomes more a struggle to endure. Resilience is about how you recharge, not how you endure. Life is not a sprint, it is a marathon. Pace yourself.
Without making a conscious decision to look after your mental health, you may become vulnerable.
Building resilience is key to relapse prevention and something that needs to be practised continually. This is why a good rehab will offer a continuum of care programme or aftercare service once you have completed the in-patient primary care. You could also opt for an outpatient rehab programme as many people do not have the luxury of taking time off.
The hard reality but for most people, they will have to return to the workforce at some point, if not immediately after completing in-patient treatment.
This may well trigger all the familiar coping mechanisms. The key to resilience is trying really hard, then stopping, recovering, and then trying again. Again, the most important part here is stopping and recovering.
But what does that mean?
Here are a few things you need to learn if you going to manage your stress levels:
- Learn to set boundaries and say ‘no’
- Create a realist set of goals
- Give yourself a little longer to complete a task
- Choose where to focus your energy
- Practice mindfulness and meditation to clear pervasive thoughts
- Start seeing a local therapist for emotional guidance
- Start taking time to appreciate the things you have achieved success in
- Spend more time with friends and family that build your self-esteem
- Stop distorting your life issues with substances
- Start looking at your relationships and personal life goals and start working on things that give you inner peace not money, power or status.
- Stop worrying about the past and future and keep focused on achieving your immediate goals
This sounds quite simple. It is, but in practice, it will take patience and mindfulness, yet over time is where the value lies as you will be in better command of your life, thoughts and feelings as a human being.
A Deep Dive into Building Sustainable Resilience
Navigating through the serpentine path of recovery from substance use disorder provides both challenges and revelations. The stress and anxiety that loom in everyday life necessitate the development of sober, robust coping mechanisms, especially amidst the increasing trends of burnout and self-medication in high-stress professions like the executive fields. Here, we extend the discourse into the subtleties of stress management and resilience building during and post-recovery.
Stress and Lifestyle Diseases: A Silent Tandem
Stress, often intertwined with lifestyle-related diseases such as diabetes and heart disease, covertly impacts our health and wellbeing. The necessity to manage stress effectively becomes paramount, not just to guard against relapse but also to shield oneself from the other pervasive health ramifications. Enhanced stress management goes hand in hand with mitigating the risks of lifestyle diseases, thereby ensuring that the journey towards recovery is not sidelined by other health crises.
Understanding Workaholism as a Potential Relapse Trigger
As we delve deeper into the pitfall of workaholism, it’s imperative to underscore its potential to function as a trigger for relapse. The quest for achieving more in the professional arena often blinds individuals to the impending dangers of burnout and relapse. Engaging in comprehensive post-recovery programmes, be it continued therapy or support groups, can act as a bulwark against the stressors that are intrinsically woven into the fabric of workaholism.
Building Robust Resilience: The Keystone of Sustainable Recovery
Moving further into resilience building, it’s pivotal to consider it not as a destination but a perpetual journey. Integrating resilience into daily life involves creating a meshwork of healthy habits, thought processes, and support systems that shield against the vulnerabilities of life post-recovery. While taking prudent pauses, focusing on recovery and evolving from setbacks are fundamental, there’s a multifaceted approach that can be adopted to deepen this resilience further.
- Enhanced Self-Compassion: Beyond setting boundaries and creating realistic goals, practicing self-compassion allows for a healthy internal environment, promoting recovery and reducing the likelihood of self-blame and criticism which can be potential relapse triggers.
- Engaging in Meaningful Activities: Cultivate hobbies and activities that provide a sense of achievement and joy without being tethered to material gains. This could range from community service to exploring creative avenues, providing a holistic approach to leisure that’s disconnected from past triggers.
- Re-establishing Healthy Relationships: Evaluating and working on personal relationships is an integral facet of ensuring emotional well-being and support. Emphasizing transparent communication and mutual support in relationships offers a safe haven during turbulent times.
Mindfulness and Meditation: Going Beyond Stress Management
When exploring mindfulness and meditation, it’s worth probing into varied techniques and approaches, adapting them to individual needs and comfort. This might involve engaging in guided meditations, exploring mindful physical activities like yoga, or diving into mindfulness exercises that help anchor one in the present moment, mitigating the disquieting wanderings of the mind towards past struggles or future anxieties.
Employing Technology for Ongoing Support
In today’s digitized era, leveraging technology can be a potent tool for providing ongoing support and resources during recovery. Virtual therapy sessions, online support groups, and digital platforms providing resources on mindfulness and stress management can act as accessible, anytime-available reservoirs of assistance.
The Journey Forward
Practicality in application and consistency in practice lie at the heart of managing stress levels and preventing relapse during recovery from substance use disorder. While the steps might seem straightforward, the path is often layered with complexities and demands an unwavering commitment to one’s wellbeing, mental health, and ongoing recovery.
Encapsulating the essence of resilience and mindful living into every aspect of daily life burgeons not just a barrier against relapse but propels individuals towards a life that’s holistically enriching and safeguarded against the multifaceted challenges that lie in the path of recovery.