Making Relaxation Part of Your Recovery

Learning to relax and let go of tension is an essential recovery skill for several reasons. Most notably, stress is a key relapse trigger for many people. When you allow stress to take over your life, it may tempt you to throw away all the progress you’ve made in your sobriety.

Due to the way addiction hijacks your brain chemistry to the point where you associate substance use as your only way to alleviate stress, it’s natural to have cravings when you feel overwhelmed. If you don’t take daily steps to recharge and relax, you can jeopardize your physical, mental and emotional health. With that in mind, here are five ways to relax in your recovery.

1. Exercise

Bringing exercise into a conversation about relaxation may seem counterintuitive. After all, vigorous physical activity is the opposite of being calm. However, regular exercise is one of the best ways you can bring relaxation into your life. Exercising helps release feel-good chemicals that regulate your emotions. It also encourages deeper and more restorative sleep, which gives your body and mind the opportunity to bounce back from the challenges of the day.

2. Meditate

Meditation is one of the most valuable practices you can learn in recovery. This ancient technique teaches practitioners to be more present in the moment, lending both a focus and a renewed sense of purpose to your life. Meditation is also a way to explore your emotions without fear of anyone judging you or detracting from your experience. When you make time to practice meditation regularly, you will learn how to recognize negative or self-destructive thoughts as they arise, then let them go when they threaten your well-being.

3. Practice Progressive Relaxation

Many people tend to unconsciously hold tension in major muscle groups such as their lower back, shoulders, neck and jawline. Progressive muscle relaxation can help you not only learn where you store tension in your body, but also to release it. With this technique, you focus on relaxing one body part at a time, only moving on after you have allowed it to release completely. Progressive muscle relaxation can be helpful if you are struggling with insomnia, or if you are having a difficult day and need to make time to de-stress.

4. Breathe Deeply

Your breath is linked to many other components of your body. By slowing your breathing, you are sending your brain a clear message to calm down. Your brain, in turn, can slow your heart rate. Whenever you need to relax, even if you only have a few minutes, slow and regular breathing can help you regain control of your emotions and rein in the tension. You can even try a visualization alongside your breathing, such as telling yourself you are inhaling positivity and exhaling negativity.

5. Go Outside

Spending time in nature is an excellent way to relax. The sights, sounds and smells of the great outdoors are not only a feast for the senses, but there’s something about being in the fresh air and sunshine that helps bring a heightened sense of clarity to any day. Whether you’re planning to go on a hike to get your blood pumping, or are merely spending a few minutes reading in a patch of sunlight, you are bringing yourself some serious stress-busting benefits.

Reward Yourself for the Progress You’ve Made

Maintaining your sobriety can be a daily challenge, but you should recognize how to incorporate your recovery goals into your lifestyle. The first step begins with enrolling in a treatment center that recognizes your needs and helps you regain your health with a holistic approach.

At Complete Harmony, we put success within your reach with our range of innovative treatment modalities that allow you to reestablish healthy patterns and become a well-rounded individual. Contact our admissions team to learn more about what we offer.

National Recovery Month: Get Involved

September is National Recovery Month and there are a number of ways that you can get involved – and, why not, the goal is to celebrate those who are recovering and embracing a new, healthy sober life. Just like you!   

Recovery Month began in 1989 as Treatment Works! Month, which honored the work of substance use treatment professionals in the field. The observance evolved into National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month in 1998, celebrating the accomplishment of individuals in recovery from substance use disorders. In 2011, Recovery Month included all aspects of behavioral health.

Today, more than 200 different organizations host recovery events every September. This year’s theme, “Join the Voices for Recovery: Strengthen Families and Communities,” highlights the value of family and community support throughout recovery and invites individuals in recovery as well as their family members to share their stories and successes to encourage others. 

Here's how you can get involved: 

• Find a local in-person or online event. Recoverymonth.gov keeps a running list of events that take place around the country. You can visit the site to find an event near you, or you can organize your own event and add it to the list to get more exposure. Recovery Month activities range from a “proclamation signing” to a walk, run or rally to cookouts and picnics. There are a variety of online activities, too, including webinars, online chats and live Tweeting. 
• Promote it on social media. Post your recovery date on social media or update your Facebook photo to represent something you’re proud of because of recovery. You can also use the Recovery Month tools, graphics and resources designed to help anyone spread the positive message that behavioral health is essential to overall health, that prevention works, treatment is effective and people can and do recover.
• Give hope to others by sharing your story. Simply talking about your recovery to a family member, friend, neighbor or coworker is perhaps the best thing you can do to spread awareness. You can also share your story on Recoverymonth.gov under the “Voices for Recovery” section. Another idea: Create a blog. Writing about your recovery experience will be therapeutic for you and may just help someone else to imagine themselves in recovery.

Celebrate With Complete Harmony
National Recovery Month is a positive way to celebrate the importance of recovery. It can also serve as a wake up call for you or someone you love, so reach out to us today if you need addiction help. To learn about our cutting edge addiction treatments, call: 866-930-4673.