Gratitude in Recovery Overcoming Substance Abuse with Gratitude

Gratitude, as a practice, can significantly enhance social health by strengthening relationships and fostering a sense of connection and community. Let’s explore how gratitude can positively impact social connections in the recovery process. It can be easy to think that once you finish addiction treatment, everything will be “fixed.” Unfortunately, that is far from the truth. Instead, recovery is a lifelong commitment that requires a great deal of time and effort, and well, practicing gratitude in recovery is a critical aspect of the entire process. Recovery from addiction, as well as from a wide variety of health issues and traumas, naturally fosters feelings of gratitude. But even deep gratitude tends to fade as we turn to the mundane tasks of daily life.

Substance Use Treatment

• One way is to begin journaling about the things in your life that you are grateful for right now.
• There are several simple ways that you can practice gratitude daily.

If gratitude doesn’t come easily during your recovery, there are practices you can follow to retrain your mind toward this more positive outlook. Take time to look at yourself and your life and be grateful to yourself. If you are in recovery, you have accomplished so much just by being sober or trying to get sober. Thank yourself for showing up each day to try again, to grow, to face challenges, and to work on being the best version of yourself.

Focus on What you Have

When you think or talk about your addiction, always follow up with where you are now. Your addiction may have led you down a destructive path, but now you’re choosing to live a better life. Practicing gratitude in recovery is not always easy, but it is always worth it. Gratitude can help you heal from the past, enjoy the present, and look forward to the future. It can also help you connect with yourself and others in a deeper and more meaningful way. You can also create your affirmations based on what you are grateful for in your life.

Five Easy Ways to Cultivate Gratitude and Appreciation

When that muscle grows strong enough, we will reflexively notice the good, and we will see something’s benefits before its real or imaginary drawbacks and limitations. In active addiction, we struggled with the concept of having enough. Moments of quiet contentment were few and far between because our brain was often demanding alcohol or other drugs, and our addiction gave us little choice in the matter. Throughout each day, be mindful of your interactions and observations of others. Be mindful of sharing your gratitude for others as they cross your path or as you observe good deeds on behalf of strangers.

How To: Practicing Gratitude in Recovery

• Gratitude will help you seek out these connections and communities, find and feel value in them, and share positive, connecting sentiments with people who have earned your trust.
• After 10 weeks of study, those who wrote about gratitude were more optimistic and felt better about their lives.
• They saw that actively practicing gratitude could provide a healthier coping strategy and a substitute for drinking as a way to cope.
• Through the recovery process, he attempted to put on some weight to diminish the likelihood of re-injuring his ACL.
• Keeping your focus on these and other positives in your life can help you develop thankfulness.

This perspective is especially important when we find ourselves asking, “Why am I not happy? If you’re not able to practice gratitude in social settings or in your communication with people, practice gratitude introspectively by journaling or creating a gratitude list. Gratitude lists are a helpful tool for people battling addiction, depression, and other afflictions that impact the inclination and willingness to experience gratitude.

If you or a loved one is struggling with a substance use disorder, The Recovery Village is here to help. Contact us today to learn more about treatment plans and programs that can help you begin the path toward a better future. Relationships often suffer because of addiction, but gratitude is gratitude in recovery a tool that can help you strengthen old bonds and also create new ones. Many of these people are also the ones who stood by your side while your addiction was active. You can feel grateful that these people care about you, and your recovery journey can reflect the impact they had for you.

Gratitude Works for Everyone—Not Just Sober Folks

• This applies whether you’re volunteering to help others, doing things that make your friends and family happy, or working in a way that contributes to your community and surroundings.
• With gratitude on your side, you can be a positive force in the world.
• As you practice gratitude in recovery, it’s also important to remember the bad times.
• Reach out to someone you like and trust, and ask to exchange gratitude.
• Research has shown how important it is to express gratitude (if you want to be happy).
• This will not only help you calm your mind but also find things to be grateful for you may overlook.

Taking time out from your busy life will give you perspective, time to take stock and see what you have, and room to enjoy your life. Being grateful is shown to be helpful for people with mental health disorders like addiction. Gratitude encompasses many things, but it’s rooted in an appreciation for what you have.