Substance abuse can be difficult to overcome. Going to a rehabilitation center is a step toward your recovery, but it’s not a particularly easy thing to do. During your time away from family and friends, you might feel out of sorts and even lost. And yet, with the support of professionals at places such as the rehab centers, you can learn healthy ways to deal with past and current struggles and even start to concentrate on returning to a beloved hobby, going back to school, or starting something exciting and new. Whatever you choose, centering yourself can be an important part of your healing process. Here are three beneficial things for you to do while on the road to recovery.
Yoga
The body and mind connection found in yoga practice can help you in a variety of ways. Physically, yoga is a great workout, giving you upper body strength, balance, and strong back support. Over 30 million Americans suffer from back issues, however, a daily yoga practice may help alleviate aches, pain, and improve your posture naturally. Yoga teaches you pranayama or a series of breathing techniques giving you a better grasp on the body and mind connection. It can assist you in getting through stressful situations. Slowing down your breath can also help to check your emotions and allow better focus, lowering your anxiety. Yoga can be a great stress reliever and has also been shown to decrease depression and energize you without prescription medications. Meditation during your yoga practice can bring attention to any triggers you may want to discuss with your therapist. A place to quiet your mind can be found outdoors or in your room with some gentle music playing.
Journaling
Keeping a journal or diary allows you the freedom to let go of your deepest emotions in a safe space. A journal can be comprised of lists of goals you wish to reach during your rehabilitation. Writing things down also lets you go back and discover parts of your journey you want to confront. You may want to write a letter to yourself or loved ones, giving you a chance to say everything that’s on your mind. For those in programs that follow the 12 steps, journaling is a private time of reflection to deal with past wrongs. You may not be ready to discuss it with someone else, however, you need to let it out. A therapist may wish for you to keep a journal for your writing therapy in conjunction with cognitive behavior therapy or CBT. There are plenty of different ways to journal. You can get creative with a DIY project by using photos, markers, or fun doodles. Another way is to establish an online blog that others may find inspiring, or simply using a computer writing program.
Art
Expressing yourself through art allows healing to come through creativity. You don’t need to have any artistic experience to try your hand at this form of recovery. Rehabilitation centers aren’t just a place to detox from substance abuse. They can help you face issues which caused you to turn to drugs or alcohol. Art therapy can be useful for all ages. Painting, for example, can channel emotions or a pleasant memory you enjoy thinking about through the use of bold colors on a canvas. Other materials you can use can be clay, pencils, or finding your inner kid with the use of crayons. A therapist can encourage you to dig inside your subconscious to tap into unnoticed feelings which can be translated through your art.