Day-to-day life can bring up different thoughts, feelings, situations, and emotions, and how we navigate these moments can say a lot about how we lead our lives. When addiction is involved, it’s easy to rely on alcohol or drugs to numb bad feelings – but in recovery, it’s all about developing the proper tools and building a network of support for working through bad days in healthy, productive ways. Whether you’ve recently begun your addiction recovery journey or you’ve been working at it for quite some time, it’s time to assess how you currently handle bad days:
- When you’re having a bad day, do you feel like your emotions control you?
- Does your perception become more skewed to the negative?
- Do those around you feel they need to “walk on eggshells”?
- Is it hard for you to “get out” of it?
Your answers can reveal a lot about how you handle bad days, and if you think that you may have some tendency to pursue the rabbit hole of negativity, know that there are healthier ways to work through this. The Huffington Post suggests partaking in activities that provide some relief from a bad day – such as stopping to take a breath, looking around you and practicing gratitude, being more realistic about the situation you’re experiencing, avoiding blaming others and instead, taking responsibility, and more.
In the middle of a bad day, stop and force yourself to practice self-compassion. What are some self-care activities that you can engage in to start feeling better? Can you take a hot shower? Read a good book? Call up a supportive, loving friend? Go back to working on that art project that you were feeling so inspired by? In times like these, sometimes it helps to get creative – and other times, it helps to practice relaxing.
Holistic activities, such as yoga and meditation, can have profound effects on a person’s mindset and approach to life. Recovery isn’t about perfecting the way you respond to bad days or difficult circumstances, but rather discovering what works and what doesn’t over time. If you’re ready to surround yourself with a compassionate team who will help you become stronger in recovery, speak with a professional from Avalon Malibu today.
Avalon Malibu is a world-renowned, California state-licensed mental health and substance abuse recovery center. If you are ready to seek treatment to develop the tools you need to overcome life’s obstacles and be on the road towards happiness, health, and well-being, call us today at 844-857-5992 for a consultation. It’s never too late, and there are people here ready to help you – it’s never too late to begin taking steps towards a happier, healthier life.
