Recovering from a drug dependency is a challenging process that generates a great deal of emotion. People experience the thrill of making progress but also the frustration of temporary setbacks. And too often those emotions are kept bottled up inside, where they can have a negative impact on a person’s emotional health and their commitment to their treatment. At our Sacramento detox we counsel clients to take advantage of healthy ways to release those emotions so they don’t interfere with progress toward recovery.
It’s Very Important to Vent
While it may not feel natural at first, safely venting pent-up feelings is critical to recovery. Without a healthy outlet, those emotions can lead to the use of damaging coping mechanisms and ultimately a relapse. Here are five things you can do to keep your recovery on track:
- Talk about your feelings. Simply letting a counselor or trusted friend or family member know what you are feeling is a great way to stay on top of your emotional health. It will likely take some effort to make your first revelations, but the more you do it, the more natural it will become.
- Have a healthy cry. Our culture tends to think of crying as a sign of weakness. However, studies have shown that shedding some tears periodically is great for our mental and emotional health. While you don’t want to wallow in your stress or sadness, expressing it honestly and openly periodically can be very helpful.
- Play. It may seem counter-intuitive to deal with the very adult issue of drug dependency by acting like a kid. However, allowing yourself to relax and unwind by skipping rope, flying a kite, or building a sand castle is a very healthy way to achieve an emotional reset that gives you the energy and the focus to continue with your treatment.
- Journal. While writing down the things that are bothering you doesn’t resolve them, somehow getting them on paper provides welcome relief. Many people find that it not only makes them feel less stressed during the day, it also helps them sleep better at night.
- Create. You don’t have to be artistic to enjoy the very positive benefits of expressing yourself creatively. Compose a poem, sketch a picture, make something out of clay. Anything you do to temporarily take a break from analyzing your situation can be good for your mind and your heart.
The Beauty of Balance
When you’re ready to commit to private drug detox, there will, of course, be work involved. Balancing that effort with time when you are focused on simply letting go of pent-up emotions will be critical to your success. We’re here to help. Call us at (800) 205-6107 to learn more about our programs.
Content reviewed by Vicky Magobet, PMHNP-BC, on July 23rd, 2017.
