Getting the help you need is the first step toward recovering from addiction. Many people suffering from addiction put this step off for years, and some indefinitely. You should therefore be grateful for getting the help you required, or for the people in your life who got you help for your addiction. Regardless of how you got to where you are, you are here now, on the pathway to recovery. Addiction can rule a person’s life, as getting and using the drug or drink of choice can dictates actions large and small. Many addicts experience loss of time, as they are not as present when they are using.
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Making an effort to practice gratitude regularly can have an incredibly positive impact on your mental health. It forces you to appreciate the progress you’ve made, enjoy even the minor things in life and acknowledge everything in life that helps you — such as people, your body, medication and more. Countless studies have found that people who actively practice gratitude report higher levels of happiness and are less likely to suffer from depression. Being grateful is shown to be helpful for people with mental health disorders like addiction.
Myth 4: Gratitude is hard to practice
It’s no secret that a positive outlook directly correlates to better physical and mental health. Research shows that gratitude can lead to lower stress and anxiety levels, improved sleep quality, and a boost in your overall immune system. Sobriety does not mean being miserable and merely coping with day-to-day life. If this were the case, few people would https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/what-to-do-if-you-cant-sleep-without-alcohol/ continue a lifelong commitment to being sober. Most find that a better life awaits them after recovery, but many of these people have learned how to be grateful for their journey. Gratitude can help you find consistent happiness and contentment, making you feel more optimistic, enthusiastic and joyful while reducing feelings of depression and anxiety.
- We’ll also delve into how expressing gratitude can help alleviate the stress and anxiety that often accompany addiction recovery.
- It is easy to understand why these traits would be important in long-term recovery.
- Gratitude isn’t just a nice thing to do — it’s a key component to long-term recovery.
- By focusing on gratitude, you can train your mind to overcome negative thinking.
- Entitlement is bred out of convenience that you fail to appreciate and start to expect instead.
Activities to Help Practice Gratitude
Addiction can isolate you from your loved ones and make you feel lonely and misunderstood. But gratitude can help you reconnect with them and express your appreciation for their presence and help. According to the American Psychological why is gratitude important in recovery Association, gratitude is a sense of happiness and thankfulness when to receiving a gift or experiencing a fortunate event. Negative thinking can become so pervasive that it begins to impact all parts of your life.
- But if you do, you will see the benefits in your recovery and in your overall well-being.
- As a recovering addict, developing a sense of gratitude about the things you appreciate may help you break free from the darkness of addiction.
- Others choose to meditate on gratitude or say a thank-you prayer before bedtime.
- The quickest way to appreciate the life you live is by sending out words of appreciation.
- A positive outlook is important because addiction itself fosters a host of negative emotions and ways of seeing the world.
Gratitude Helps Recovery
