Tips for Women in Recovery
Many women face unique experiences and challenges when it comes to addiction and recovery. One of them being feelings of shame and/or guilt due to the stigma surrounding addiction in women. To provide further insight and support on this topic, we’ve put together some tips to help women on their journey to recovery. Take a look below.
Be open and honest about your recovery
It’s important to be open and honest with yourself, and with others, about your recovery. The more you are open about your battles with addiction and your recovery journey, the more you will inspire others to be open as well. It reduces the stigma surrounding addiction and helps others realize that they do not need to suffer in silence. This will also show those who may be struggling that healing is possible.
Turn your struggle into triumph
The recovery journey isn’t easy. There will be days when you are motivated to succeed, but also days when you feel as though you are struggling. It is hard work to overcome an addiction, but healing is possible. It’s important to take time to celebrate the little accomplishments, especially on days that feel challenging. There are many triumphs in even the smallest steps on your recovery journey.
Live in the present moment
While in recovery, it can be easy to use another activity as an “escape,” thus becoming another form of addiction. This is why it’s extremely important to cultivate a healthy sense of balance and boundaries while living in the present moment. This is called “emotional sobriety.” This means that you are comfortable being present with all of your feelings, without any one of them defining or controlling you. It involves processing all of the emotional ups and downs as they happen.
Make self-care a priority
Substance use disorder and mental health conditions can often be co-occurring. This being said, it’s important to make time for self-care. Even if you don’t have a mental health condition, it’s critical to make time for yourself while in recovery. Get outside and get some exercise, go camping, read a good book, practice meditation, get together with family or friends, or try something new. There are so many things you can do to take care of your overall well-being.
Embrace the recovery journey
Last but not least, embrace your recovery journey. Often, by using drugs and/or alcohol, people try to run from their pain and numb their emotions. While in recovery, it is a time to face these painful emotions, learn from them, and move forward. It’s been revealed that from a young age people are taught that pain is bad and we should not feel it, but there is power in the healing process.
Are you or a loved one battling addiction? Our team at Feinberg Consulting can help guide you on the path to recovery. Contact us today at 877.538.5425.
