Addiction Issues
Addiction Recovery Tools: Adding Activities and Hobbies to Your Treatment Toolbox
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Sep 25, 2015 - 8:55:17 AM
(HealthNewsDigest.com) - Part of the recovery process is seeking new ways to live differently than you had before. By adding new enjoyable activities and hobbies to your recovery time, you can enhance your life in both the short and long terms. Moreover, boredom can compromise your recovery with its temptations and negative thoughts. The following ideas are perfect for recovering addicts who are looking for new ways to enjoy their clean and sober lives and keep negative feelings or cravings at bay. Research has demonstrated that picking up new habits or revisiting old healthy habits can help prevent relapse, so don't underestimate the therapeutic value of fun activities and hobbies.
Dance
The arts can form a powerful aspect of self-treatment when it comes to keeping substance cravings at bay. Any form of dance is a physical discipline that can complement a recovering addict's goal for self control. In addition to being an enjoyable activity, dance is a great way to enhance your physical health. Because it often involves other people, it's a great way to connect with new people and it could lead to new friendships in your life.
Gym
Reshaping your sober life can be enhanced by routine physical exercise. Setting fitness goals will mirror the goals you set in association with sober living. One of the best reasons to exercise regularly during and even after your recovery process is that it helps cleanse the mind of stress. If negative emotions contributed to your substance abuse problem, exercise is an ideal way to get rid of these unwanted triggers that are associated with high rates of relapse.
Gardening
While eliminating the toxins from your personal life, why not enhance your curb appeal while you're at it? Gardening enthusiasts swear by its ability to relieve stress and enhance their fitness level. If you don't have a front or backyard where you can garden, try to volunteer at your nearest community garden. If there isn't a community garden, see how you can start one.
Restorative Yoga
Like other forms of physical exercise, yoga definitely boasts a physical component, but its focus on mindfulness is something that can benefit recovering addicts who need to be mindful and vigilant when it comes to their emotions, triggers, and ability to recognize the stages or relapse. Yoga is something that you can do at home when you feel stressed, but it's also enjoyable to practice with others in a group setting.
Get Cooking
Focusing on a new hobby is a surefire way to keep your mind off your substance abuse problems. Embrace a new style of cooking or commit to learning how to cook healthier. Maybe you enjoy baking; why not focus on improving your baking skills? Who knows! Your hobby could lead you to a brand new career.
Travel
When you feel like your world is becoming oppressive, try to leave it behind for a bit. Travel is a great way to get outside of your world temporarily. While you are away, you'll uncover new prospective about your life back home. These new insights can impact your recovery in a positive light. Go camping for a weekend or book a stay at an affordable bed and breakfast a few hours away. Travel can help alleviate stress and enhance your new outlook.
Take a Class
Check with your local community college or community center about classes you could take. Learning something new like sketching, photography, or woodworking can help fill the void that drugs or alcohol left behind. You can meet new people who are interested in similar pursuits and benefit from the newfound knowledge you obtain.
Start a Blog
If you've found that writing helps sooth your soul, consider starting on a blogging journey that may even inspire other addicts and recovering addicts to help you create an online community where you can talk about sober living and share strategies for warding off the triggers of relapse. You don't have to be a phenomenal writer either. You just have to try. The more you write the better writer you will become. Being able to communicate and share your challenges can be incredibly therapeutic.
These ideas and hobbies can help you stick to your recovery path so you can live the sober life you deserve. If you feel you are in danger of relapse in spite of your new hobbies and lifestyle, be sure to contact a treatment center like https://arcproject.org.uk/alcohol-detox/ for help preventing a relapse.
Judy Matthews has worked in adult counseling for a number of years and appreciates the chance to share her insights online. She has posted her thoughts across a number of relevant websites previously
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