Substance use and addiction arise from many things that vary from person to person. However, one predominant characteristic of addiction is that it originated in part from a person’s attempt to cope with some aspect of their life.
As a person becomes overwhelmed with life’s struggles—the loss of a job, a failing marriage, physical health concerns, increasing amounts of stress, emotional instability, or co-occurring mental health conditions such as anxiety or depression, they may begin self-medicating with substance.
This pattern of substance use can accelerate, and addiction is borne. However, there are many coping skills for addiction, as well as substance abuse treatment programs, that can make a difference.
Why You Should Use a Multi-Faceted Approach to Coping with Addiction
Coping skills for drug use and alcoholism can empower you to take control of your life, health, and happiness. You don’t need to practice all of these techniques simultaneously. Recovery is a unique journey, so finding a combination of coping skills that work for you is crucial.
While it’s beneficial to familiarize yourself with these skills, keep in mind that effective coping methods may change over time. You can’t predict every scenario, but being proactive can be your best defense.
Different Coping Skills for Substance Abuse
Instead of becoming overwhelmed by these many coping skills for addiction, look at them as if they are a toolkit—finely tuned instruments you carry around—should the need arise to use them, you’ll be prepared to implement them to ward off temptation and doubt:
Creating a Social Support Network
When struggling with addiction, it’s common to withdraw from healthy relationships and seek out those who share self-destructive habits. But on the path to sobriety, rebuilding your social network is crucial. Meaningful and supportive relationships foster a sense of belonging and aid in self-acceptance during recovery.
Rekindling old connections or making new friends plays a vital role. These relationships combat loneliness and serve as a sounding board, offering encouragement and keeping you focused on your journey of self-discovery and growth.
Becoming a Member of a Support Group
Engaging in various support groups—whether faith-based or secular, 12-step or non-12-step—can be a positive way to cope with addiction. These groups can offer the benefit of shared experiences through peer-to-peer support. These interactions also provide greater accountability, encouragement, and access to various other addiction coping skills.
Spiritual Practices
Spirituality or religiousness has been shown to benefit those who practice these elements both during and after substance use treatment. Not only is spirituality an important source of hope, inspiration, and empowerment, but it also allows you a means by which to keep yourself accountable.
Another beneficial aspect is that, in many cases, these practices will help you find support, such as with a church group, a Bible study, or a faith-based support meeting.
Mindfulness Practices
Mindfulness is an important way to cope with drug addiction. It helps people stay present, dealing with things as they come without dwelling on the past or stressing about the future. By practicing mindfulness, you can better accept your situation and focus on developing coping skills.
It also enhances self-control and reduces impulsivity, which is beneficial when facing drug triggers. Mindfulness often involves yoga, meditation, breathing exercises, and spending time outdoors to clear the mind.
Evaluating Your Decisions
Bringing attention to your actions, observing, anticipating, and evaluating potential outcomes of specific choices is an important coping technique for substance use disorders. Instead of mindlessly making choices, take a step back and assess if they have the potential for self-harm or triggering cues.
By doing so, you can avoid negative consequences. For example, choose an alternative route to the grocery store to avoid passing your old drug dealer’s house and the temptation it may bring.
Strategizing Your Behaviors
To protect yourself from drug triggers, it’s essential to steer clear of high-risk situations. In recovery, remember the acronym “H.A.L.T.,” which represents the common mindsets that may lead to substance use or relapse: Hungry, Lonely, Angry, and Tired.
These feelings can be triggering. If you can’t avoid a situation that evokes these emotions, be mindful and control what you can. For example, plan to spend time with a good friend on a day when you know you’ll feel drained and lonely. They can help uplift your mood and strengthen your commitment to sobriety.
Practicing Your Refusal Skills
This may seem obvious to some. However, it’s a powerful way to cope with addiction in recovery. You cannot always shield yourself from cues and temptations. Because of this, you need to develop the confidence to be able to assert yourself and articulate the answer “no.” Practicing different ways of saying “no” to drugs or alcohol, out loud and even in the mirror, may be helpful.
Emotional Regulation Skills
Negative emotions can wreak havoc on a person, creating an imbalanced state that makes them more susceptible to drugs or alcohol. Emotional reactions are present in most situations and are something you cannot avoid; due to this, you must learn to moderate and control your reactions, being mindful to squash the negative and cultivate positive ones.
When negative emotions do arise, you need to learn how to process them and let them go so you can move forward. These skills are a critical part of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), a progressive modality that is used at our facility.
Anger Management
Anger is a powerful emotion that affects both your mind and body. It can raise your blood pressure, heart rate, and body temperature, making you feel out of control. This may lead you to consider using substances to manage your anger.
However, anger management techniques can help you express your anger more assertively and non-aggressively. You can also find healthier outlets, like taking a break or engaging in physical activity, to calm your mind and release tension.
Stress Management Skills
Stress plays a significant role in addiction. At the same time, it’s a normal part of life—some struggle to handle it or face excessively stressful situations. By effectively managing stress, you can reduce the chances of relapse and maintain emotional balance.
Effective stress management may involve counseling, exercise, family support, and directly addressing issues instead of allowing them to escalate.
Engaging In Enjoyable Activities
When someone has an addiction, they often neglect activities they once enjoyed. They devote more time and energy to drugs or alcohol. Now is the time to reconnect with those interests or find new hobbies that bring fulfillment and well-being. Consider gardening, crafting, sports, reading, playing an instrument, listening to music, cooking, or volunteering to care for others.
Develop Healthy Habits as an Outlet
As addiction takes hold, self-care often falls by the wayside. Neglecting grooming, healthy eating, and exercise contributes to feeling unwell. To counter this, developing better habits is crucial. Nurturing your body and mind through good dietary choices, nutrition, and exercise can aid in the repair and release of feel-good endorphins.
How to Implement Coping Skills in Addiction
There are countless coping skills for addiction, but it’s important to remember that not all methods work the same for everyone. Finding what works best for you takes time and experimentation, so don’t be discouraged if some don’t seem effective at first.
Here are a few tips on how to implement coping skills in recovery:
- Start small – Begin by practicing one or two techniques consistently before adding more.
- Be patient with yourself – Recovery is a process, and it takes time and effort to develop new habits and skills.
- Seek support – Don’t be afraid to contact loved ones or professionals for help and guidance. Support is an essential part of the recovery process.
- Be consistent – Just like with any other habit, consistency is key. Make a plan and stick to it.
Coping skills for addiction are powerful tools that can aid in maintaining sobriety and improving overall well-being. By incorporating a multi-faceted approach and seeking support, you can develop the necessary skills to cope with life’s challenges in healthier ways. Remember, recovery is a journey, not a destination. Keep working at it, and you will see progress and growth along the way.
Call Woodland Recovery Center to Start Healing with Our Substance Use Treatment Programs
Your journey to sobriety is unique to you, and the tools that work best for you will be unique as well. If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, don’t hesitate to reach out for help. Woodland Recovery Center offers comprehensive substance abuse treatment programs that can provide you with the support and resources you need to overcome addiction and live a fulfilling life in recovery. Call us today at 662.222.2989 or contact us online to learn more about our personalized treatment options.
