One of the hardest parts of dealing with addiction and trauma is not only addressing them at the root but fighting through the effects they can have on your life. From bad memories and regrettable experiences to relapse and other destructive decisions, the consequences spawned by these deep-rooted issues make it that much harder a situation to wade through. Because working through these problems can be a struggle, it’s important to have awareness of how you can more effectively deal with addiction or trauma at the root.
Get Back to a Stable Place
It can be overwhelming to try to tackle addiction or trauma head-on, especially when their effects can come on suddenly and make it hard for you to focus. You may benefit from adopting calming techniques like deep breathing, stretching, and meditating, and by finding ways to release built-up physical and mental tensions to help get you centered. The purpose of calming techniques is to bring you back to a stable mental place, allowing you to better address any problems that you may be facing from a level-headed standpoint.
Preparation is Key
Your ultimate goal should be to not let the stress of the moment sway you into making decisions that will have a negative impact on your life. Make it a habit to sit down, take the time to look ahead, and think about how your next decision will affect your life. Become proactive in trying to avoid problems ahead of time wherever possible. Thinking about the outcomes of the choice ahead of you before you make will give you the chance to put a plan in place. Following a plan you’ve set in advance allows you to know what to do if you feel close to relapsing, or if you begin to feel the effects of trauma, and can help you to be better prepared for the steps you take next.
Become the Person You Want to Be
Putting in the work to cultivate and embody positive traits can be very helpful in overcoming the struggles of addiction and trauma. Some of the most common useful traits that you can develop include self-awareness, self-awareness, confidence, strength, and resilience, all of which will only add to who you are in positive ways. Don’t ever worry if you feel you lack any of these traits. This is something that you can build upon and develop over time, starting with any trait that you would like to make a part of who you are. Building positive traits will help build the foundation for better coping skills, letting you be better prepared when you need to be.
Remember What Really Matters
Many people find it especially difficult to deal with the pain that comes from addiction and trauma. It may not be easy, but taking a step back from this pain and focusing on the things that are most important to you can put things into perspective, and help you to get back on track towards making decisions according to your highest priorities. Focusing on what’s important can be a powerful tool in recovering from addiction. Whether it’s family, friends, loved ones, your health, or inner peace and happiness, keeping your eye on the prize can act as a guiding light towards breaking free of your temporary struggles and achieving the life you want to live.
Visualize a Better Life
When you are going through critical times, it may be helpful to picture the better life you know you can live, and imagine what that life will be like in vivid detail. Visualization can help you to lift your mind out of the negative thoughts and feelings that come from a difficult situation. Try to clearly see the images of you achieving your most important goals. See yourself smiling and being happy, living the life that you deserve. Make a connection between these good feelings and images and the good actions that you take to stay on the right path. Internalize the knowledge that good actions will lead to a better life.
The Importance of Consistency
Practicing consistency can lead you to see a tangible difference in how you manage and cope with difficult problems within your life. The key to consistency is sticking to a plan and making it a habit to practice it as often as possible. Whether it is making good decisions more often, focusing on positive thoughts and visualizations, making it a priority to regularly build and strengthen your coping mechanisms can make a significant change over time. Building coping skills will take time, so it’s important to keep trying, even when you’re bogged down by a difficult situation and getting through seems impossible. That’s when sticking to your plan counts the most.
Developing coping skills for dealing with addiction or trauma can be a useful tool for breaking out of the way they’ve held you down in the past. If you are having trouble managing or coping with your problems, it might be time for you to get the guidance you need to address them in a way that works. Promising Outlook is a rehab facility that provides outpatient services for those in need. At Promising Outlook, we help you find and stick to valuable solutions for reaching your goals. We specialize in problems related to addiction, sobriety, anger management, and relapse prevention. We can also assist you with creating a plan to overcome your problems on any scale. Promising Outlook believes in offering a safe place for those in need to turn when they are struggling to piece their lives together. If you would like to discover how you can take life-changing action, call us at (951) 783-2487. We look forward to helping you make lasting change.
