You have made it through addiction treatment and worked diligently to remove the substance use from your life. After treatment, you provided motivation and inspiration to others who struggle with substance use and continued to push yourself forward, making yourself better every day. However, there are two days where when nothing can be done. How can you utilize those two days as you continue down the path of recovery?
The two days when nothing can change are yesterday and tomorrow. Today, however, is a bright day where you can do anything. You can live your best life and be the best person you can be. Remember, you can’t change yesterday's events, nor know what tomorrow holds. Focusing on today can remind us how important the present is. The present is not called just a present for no reason: it is a gift, and your life is a gift.
After you have undergone addiction treatment, you can make use of each day as a gift because you've chosen to better yourself. Now, after addiction treatment, one of the things that may come up is worry. You might worry about previous experiences and situations, or you may be worried about future situations.
Many people who undergo treatment for substance use find that after they leave treatment, their anxiety continues to impact their mental state because of worry. They worry about everything that could go wrong, whether that could happen tomorrow or next year. However, if you learn to focus on your worry and refine it into a positive reaction, you can address it and reply accordingly.
Remaining in the present is of vital importance on your recovery journey; don’t let the worry consume you. Sometimes worry can lead to relapse, and worrying about things increases your anxiety. Worry takes up a lot of your time, and some of the scenarios you find yourself worrying about may not ever happen.
You may be worried about something in the past, but you can't change that situation, and worrying about it can make its impact on you worse. Instead of stressing about the worries of yesterday or tomorrow, consider what you're doing now and today. There's no need to worry about the two days you can't change. By doing so, you're taking away from your own joy and happiness.
You need to focus solely on today and the situations that are right in front of you. Each day is unique, and some new or different scenarios are going to happen. If you prepare yourself for some of the random situations that may arise, you can start looking at today as the gift it is designed to be.
Recovering from an addiction is not always going to be easy. There are going to be times, even after you leave treatment, where you're nervous, scared, or anxious about previous experiences or future experiences. However, remember that you can only change how you act today. This strategy works to lessen your stress and worry.
Once you understand those two days are not changeable, what can you do to keep yourself focused on today? There are a few tips and tricks that you can use.
One is to have a plan or make a daily routine that you can follow. Your routine should be flexible, in case something needs to be altered. Maybe you spend today learning about how you can help others who are struggling with addiction, or you can reach out to someone who can help mentally or physically motivate you or inspire you to continue throughout your day. If you set a routine and stick to it, you can use that routine to create a focus-driven mindset that manages most of your worries.
After you make your plans, remember to be patient. Focus more on the positives and the progress you've already made. When you sit back and you're patient about the process of healing, you'll be focused on what is happening today and how you're living right now. You need to prepare your mindset to redirect negative thinking. You've already faced some of the most difficult situations. If you're positive about your process and you're kind to yourself, you eliminate the worry that may come with future situations or past mistakes.
Lastly, you can find ways to avoids your stress and find the means to take care of yourself on a day-to-day basis through support, health, and rest. This means eating healthier, getting more rest and daily exercise, avoiding substances, making time for your meditation, relaxing, or taking a nature walk.
If staying in the present moment is difficult for you, even after you have gone through addiction treatment, then it is important that you reach out to an addiction recovery facility for continued help. You can find help in therapy groups or alumni groups full of your peers. At NorthStar Transitions, we are here to help you before, during, and after your treatment with any aspect of your addiction recovery journey. If you need help, or you know someone that needs help, reach out to NorthStar Transitions today to learn coping mechanisms and find the motivation to keep you moving forward. NorthStar Transitions believes that living in the present may seem challenging, but after practicing the techniques and implementing focus in your life, your recovery path is further enhanced with joy and happiness. However, if you still struggle or need a helping hand to get you through your worries and anxieties, contact us at (303) 558-6400.
