When you are navigating recovery on your own after treatment, you may begin to find that not all coping mechanisms are equal. What may work for one person may not work for you, and that’s okay. Recovery is about adapting to the circumstances and finding ways to keep you happy, healthy, and on track to sobriety. One coping method that is often taught in treatment is positive affirmations. It is believed that practicing these can help reduce stress, improve your self-esteem, and boost your overall recovery. However, positive affirmations don’t always work for everyone. You may find yourself not believing what you are saying, so you don’t get to reap the benefits of this practice. However, there are ways to benefit from this practice without giving up on trying. If the everyday positive affirmations do not work for you, consider these alternatives to get you started.
Waking up and starting your morning with this affirmation is believed to give you a positive outlook on your day. However, you may be struggling with other aspects of life and are uneasy about going through another day. Feeling this way is normal in recovery and shouldn’t bring you down. Sometimes positive affirmations don’t work if you are going through something else. Instead of saying that today will be a great day, consider:
“No matter what happens today, I know I can get through it and accept what life throws my way. The ups and downs are a part of life, and I can manage them.”
While it would be nice to believe your past no longer affects you, the reality is that some days will be more challenging than others. There will be days where you feel swallowed by past memories, but you shouldn’t let that stop you. Instead of trying to avoid those memories, acknowledge them and allow yourself to feel the emotions associated with them. Let them pass and go on with your day. Instead of tricking yourself into believing your past is powerless, consider telling yourself:
“My past does not define me. It is a part of me, and I can accept what happened, but I will not let it consume me.”
It is important to remember that pain is a part of life. Healing from addiction does not mean you will no longer have cravings or not experience its consequences in your recovery, but rather that you can cope with the obstacles in stride. You are a strong individual, but you will stumble sometimes. It means you’re human and is entirely normal. Don’t beat yourself up if you struggle. Instead of telling yourself that you can overcome absolutely anything, consider:
“Even though I may struggle sometimes, I am strong enough to acknowledge and cope with the pain without letting it take control of my life.”
Recovery can be scary at times, especially when you first leave treatment and begin navigating sobriety on your own. Even when you are equipped with healthy coping methods to get you through tough times, that does not mean that you will not be afraid of slipping up from time to time. Everyone is scared of something, but it is about facing those fears when you are ready and overcoming them in a healthy way. Instead of claiming to be fearless, consider:
“I recognize the fears I have and know that I am brave enough to overcome them, but that does not mean I must force myself into fearful situations. I will face them when I am ready.”
Practicing self-love is crucial to maintaining sobriety for the long-term. However, not everyone s fully accepts themselves, especially right after leaving treatment. You will most likely find that self-love is a journey, not a destination, as time goes on. There will be days when you are happy with who you are and where you are in your recovery, but there will also be days when you wish you could be better. Both are okay, and it is crucial to recognize how you feel about yourself and why it occurs. Instead of saying you love yourself all the time, consider:
“I may not experience self-love every day of my life, but I can take care of myself and my recovery even on the days I do not like myself.”
Positive affirmations can be beneficial when it comes to addiction recovery. However, it is essential to note that they do not work for everyone; this is why it is important to have alternate affirmations for those still working their way up in recovery and working on accepting their new way of life. Recovery is not only the happy days where you feel on top of the world. Even after years of sobriety, you will sometimes stumble. It is essential to accept and understand yourself through alternative affirmations rather than trying to stay positive all the time. At NorthStar Transitions, we believe in helping our clients navigate real-life recovery. We aim to address each person’s unique challenges and needs in a non-confrontational and non-judgmental way. We understand that you will not always be feeling your best, but we want you to know that you are capable of healing even on the bad days. Call us today to learn more at (303) 558-6400.
