10 Healthy Ways How to Deal with Stress in Recovery

Learn How To Deal With Stress In Discovery

Individuals in recovery face many stressful challenges on a daily basis. How to deal with stress in recovery is dealt with during rehab and therapy. When you leave rehab and return to the reality of your life, it’s essential to have an arsenal of healthy stress-management tips.

10 Healthy Ways How To Deal With Stress In Recovery

For many people, returning to their old neighborhood is one of his or her triggers. It’s impossible to remove yourself from every possible trigger you might face, and that is why what you learn in relapse prevention sessions is vitally important. Stress contributes to anxiety and depression, which can tempt you to turn back to drugs or alcohol for relief. There are several healthy tips that teach you how to deal with stress in recovery.

  1. You cannot solves the world’s problems, so don’t let them be a source of stress. Drastically reduce the amount of time you spend watching, listening, or reading the news.
  2. You have a support group for just those times when something seems overwhelming. If you have a job interview coming up and are nervous, call your sponsor or someone else in your support group to talk out your concerns.
  3. When stress hits, walk or run it off. Any kind of exercise will help relieve your stress and make you feel better.
  4. Start your day with a healthy breakfast and continue to eat nutritious meals for lunch and dinner.
  5. Humor eases stress. Watch some old slapstick comedy films, Carol Burnett show reruns, or your favorite YouTube comedian that makes you literally laugh out loud.
  6. Be sure you are getting good sleep every night. Lack of sleep increases stress.
  7. Keep a journal and write down your negative thoughts and what you do to turn them into positive ones.
  8. Take up yoga and meditation or attend a church.
  9. Attend group meetings several times a week when you are first in recovery. Sharing your concerns with others who understand helps relieve your stress.
  10. Remember the acronym HALT, and avoid these situations. H = Hungry, A = Angry, L = Lonely, and T = Tired. Avoiding these emotions will reduce greatly stress.

Coping With Stress In Recovery

There are many ways for coping with stress in recovery including taking up new interests or starting a hobby. Keeping your spare time occupied is important. Consider one or more of the following activities:

  • Keep a daily journal.
  • Take up a hobby, such as painting, ceramics, or restoring an old car.
  • Learn to play an instrument.
  • Learn a new language.
  • Write an e-book. You can publish it for free through Create Space.
  • Create a scrapbook of your journey through recovery.
  • Cooking, sewing, knitting, wood-burning, and jewelry-making are all crafts both women and men enjoy that keep the mind occupied and are emotionally rewarding.

Relapse Prevention Techniques

WhiteSands Addiction Treatment Centers in Tampa and Fort Myers FL, provide their rehab patients with a host of relapse prevention techniques. From the intake interview through your last day of rehab, the goal of the staff is to prepare you with all you need to be successful in your recovery. Individual, group, and alternative therapies provide you the strongest weapons you can have to reduce the risk of relapse. Relapse has three stages, which are emotional, mental, and physical. WhiteSands patients are helped to create a plan to enable them to face and deal with the stresses of everyday life, and how to remold their former behavior into a positive lifestyle.

Contact WhiteSands at (877) 855-3470 and speak to a trained addiction specialist who can help you make the decisions that can save your life.

If you or a loved one needs help with abuse and/or treatment, please call the WhiteSands Treatment at (877) 855-3470. Our addiction specialists can assess your recovery needs and help you get the addiction treatment that provides the best chance for your long-term recovery.

About the Author

is a proud alumni member of WhiteSands Treatment. After living a life of chaos, destruction and constant let downs, Mark was able to make a complete turnaround that sparked a new way of life. He is serious about his recovery along with helping others. At WhiteSands Treatment, we offer support to you in your homes or when you are out living in your daily lives.