A critical part of recovery is practicing gratitude. Gratitude is a skill you may need even more than you ever realize. Without it, you may struggle with ego or dissatisfaction, which can lead to relapse. Some people cultivate gratitude through mindfulness-based practices or other well-known methods. However, there are many different ways you can practice it, prevent relapse, and maintain long-term sobriety today.
If you struggle to practice gratitude in recovery, know you are not alone. Many people have trouble incorporating it into their recovery. This is not because they are not thankful but because it can be challenging to express.
Before you focus on gratitude in your recovery, you must achieve recovery. To learn about our treatment programs, inquire with NorthStar Transitions today!
As mentioned, the first step to practicing gratitude is achieving recovery through treatment. The process of seeking treatment requires many steps. In some cases, an intervention may be necessary. These are beneficial when a person is unaware or in denial that they are struggling with substance use disorder (SUD).
Regardless of whether an intervention is necessary, another part of seeking treatment is finding the right facility or program. There are many factors to consider during this process. Such factors include:
These are just a few questions you may need to consider when seeking addiction treatment. It can also help you to know which treatments and therapies are available to you upon entering treatment.
Addiction treatment options vary from facility to facility. For example, some facilities may focus on natural, alternative, and holistic approaches to addiction treatment. Others may concentrate on evidence-based modalities and implement other practices, like medication-assisted treatment (MAT). Both are appropriate treatment avenues, but you may be more receptive to one than another.
Addiction treatment is most effective when it is tailored to your needs. That means, in addition to navigating available treatment options, you should feel empowered to make decisions regarding your treatment.
Some potential treatment options you may experiment with include MAT, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and holistic options.
MAT uses medications and behavioral therapies to offer a whole-person approach to addiction treatment.
CBT is a talk therapy often implemented in addiction and mental health treatment. This treatment method focuses on changing harmful thinking patterns that influence dysfunctional behaviors. Most facilities also use other behavioral therapies in their care plans.
Holistic practices include a range of other therapeutic options for a whole-person approach to treatment. They focus on the connection between mind, body, and spirit and are usually implemented alongside evidence-based modalities such as CBT. These practices vary but often include yoga, meditation, nature therapy, and mindfulness-based practices.
Holistic practices, in particular, may aid you in your journey to practicing more gratitude, specifically through mindfulness-based techniques.
Practices rooted in mindfulness can offer individuals a holistic approach to care. For example, meditation, mindful movement, and breathing exercises can help those struggling with mental illnesses or psychiatric conditions.
In addition to practices like these, gratitude is another way individuals practice mindfulness. Practicing gratitude requires you to truly focus and observe everything you have and all the good that happens to you. It can be easy to let life get in the way of appreciating the good, but there are things you can do to begin practicing gratitude today.
Some of the ways you can begin practicing gratitude today are:
You will encounter many small blessings as you embark on your recovery journey. You may soon see that every day sober is a blessing in itself. Practicing gratitude will help you see the small blessings every day. That makes maintaining sobriety and avoiding relapse that much sweeter.
Everyone can benefit from learning to practice more gratitude in everyday life. So many of us often focus on what we do not have instead of what we do. That is human nature, but for those in recovery, practicing gratitude is essential to maintaining long-term sobriety. Every day we wake up sober is something to be thankful for. Our friends, family, and support group members are also blessings to have gratitude for. Even though it can be hard to see the blessings from within the darkness, reminding ourselves of them is vital. Learning to practice gratitude may take time, but we can help. Call NorthStar Transitions at (303) 558-6400 to learn more or seek treatment today.
