Recovery is a lifelong process that can be difficult, but not impossible. In recovery, old habits of using drugs or alcohol are replaced with healthy new ones. Gradually, you will begin to experience the full joy of everything in life. Living substance free will help you to discover more about yourself such as your interests, hobbies, skills, and potential.
Robert Weiss, LCSW, CSAT-S wrote about happiness in recovery for I Love Recovery Cafe, which describes the feeling as, “an internal sense of happiness that persists no matter what happens in your life. It’s there when things go well; it’s there when things don’t go well. When you have this type of happiness, your need for escape through addictive substances and behaviors essentially goes away.” Recovering alcoholics and people with substance use disorders are encouraged to move away from establishing identity in negativity, anxiety and the pain of their past, and move toward a positive identity of self-love.
A new substance-free life will allow you to have fun and explore your strengths and ambitions. Recovery can be difficult, but there are ways to experience an enduring sense of happiness in the process:
- Be grateful. Being grateful for what you have can reveal a true sense of happiness. If you are feeling depressed or anxious, write down a list of people, places, and things for which you are grateful. This will quickly improve your mood.
- Stay connected. People who get sober and stay sober are happier when they are connected to others in the same situation. In general, people usually are happier when they feel emotionally and psychologically connected to others.
- Forgive. When you forgive others, you let go of unnecessary resentment that would otherwise interfere with your happiness in sobriety. Let go of resentful feelings and understand that nobody is perfect.
- Be kind. Grow in recovery by being kind. When you feel comfortable, help a newcomer in recovery who is fighting for their life. Say hello and smile. Share your experience with them and encourage their sobriety.
- Self-acceptance. Something you will learn throughout your journey is self-acceptance. People who are not battling addiction struggle with accepting themselves the way they are.
If you or a loved one is suffering from addiction, do not wait. Get help today. Take back control of your life in sobriety and discover true happiness throughout recovery.
Cypress Lake Recovery offers treatment for addiction in a peaceful, remote, oxygen-rich environment. The program encompasses holistic addiction therapy for the mind, body, and soul. The focus is on physical, mental, and emotional well-being by generating the balance of life-enriching treatment, wellness, and healthy, sober, sustainable relationships. Call us to get started: 409-331-2204
