Every September is National Recovery Month – an observation of recovery in all its forms, and the providers, practices and principles that make it possible. Whether you are working on sustaining lifelong sobriety or are looking for a treatment program to help you accomplish your goals, this month represents an ideal opportunity for you to reevaluate your coping strategies or create new ones. Here are some ideas to help you get started.
1. Connect With Others
Reclaiming your life from the cycle of addiction can be one of the most rewarding decisions you ever make, but nobody ever promised it would be easy. Facing challenges can be a lonely road or make you believe you don’t have what it takes to succeed.
If you find your enthusiasm waning, now’s the time for you to reach out to your recovery sponsor or friends you made in treatment. Remind them that it’s National Recovery Month, and ask them to share their best advice and lessons learned on their journey. You’re sure to feel better after this conversation.
2. Educate Others
Despite the progress we have made in destigmatizing addiction and promoting sobriety, many people still don’t believe the myth that substance use and co-occurring disorders such as trauma are moral failings instead of treatable illnesses.
This National Recovery Month, you can do your part by serving as an informational resource to friends, colleagues, family members, and anyone else who may benefit from the message of hope you have to provide. Hearing your story and learning how they can gain the coping strategies necessary to manage their symptoms and prevent a relapse may be the inspiration they need to seek counseling and support for themselves.
3. Practice Self-Care
Sometimes, you might lose sight of how far you’ve come or berate yourself for not progressing as far as you’d like. In alcohol recovery, you can and should celebrate your successes, no matter how small they may seem. Self-care isn’t selfish; it’s a way to reward yourself for staying dedicated to your sobriety and continuing to make choices that help you achieve your goals.
Keep a list of healthy activities that help relieve your stress, such as yoga and massage therapy, and return to it regularly to ensure you’re taking the appropriate steps to cope with stress and anxiety. To observe National Recovery Month, you may even decide to do a different self-care activity each day of September.
Is It Time for You to Change Your Life?
At Canyon Crossing, we are always proud to play a role in helping women recover from addiction and co-occurring mental health disorders, but National Recovery Month makes us reflect on the lives we’ve helped save and feel even more united with the nationwide recovery community.
If you’re feeling trapped and looking for a place to turn, remember that you are never alone. To learn more about reclaiming your life in our women’s-only program or verify your insurance coverage, please reach out to us today.