Improve Your Health and Overcome Addiction
By Sierra Powell
Addiction is a tough challenge to deal with. You’ll have to be highly motivated to change your lifestyle if you want to conquer it. You will have to take many steps to become a healthier person overall and beat any addictive tendencies you might have.
The following are some ways that you can improve your health and overcome addiction:
Cease All Unhealthy Activities
Your first step toward recovery is going to be your willingness to cease addictive behavior. You should also take steps to end other unhealthy behaviors. For example, cease your involvement in overeating, smoking, harmful relationships and the like.
The goal should be for you to live a completely positive lifestyle from here on. Think of a quit date, and make sure you do it at a time that will not be too stressful for you.
You can use apps to help you with your process. Also, try to employ a family member or close friend who can help you hold yourself accountable if you should falter.
Change Your Circle of Friends
You’ll also need to make some serious changes in the people you allow yourself to associate with. Your circle of friends, for example, will have a huge impact on your goals and aspirations.
You will have a greater chance of continuing drug or alcohol-seeking activities if you keep the same circle of friends than you will if you make some changes. For that reason, you should put forth some effort into separating yourself from people who don’t affect your life positively.
Enter a Rehabilitation Center
A luxury rehab center can provide you with the tools you need to recover from addiction and addictive behaviors. All you need to do is to contact a facility and talk to one of the representatives about their available treatment plans.
A rehab center will provide you with a friendly and helpful group of providers as well as a positive environmental change. You may also be able to get counseling services in a one-on-one or group format. Both forms of counseling can help you before and after your ordeal.
Consider Post-Recovery Counseling
It’s important to engage in activities that will help you to continue the fight against addiction long after you stop using. A post-recovery counseling program might be just what you need.
You’ll have the opportunity to speak with a counselor or specialist who will help you identify the problem’s roots. You’ll develop relapse prevention strategies and healthy ways to soothe your stresses and strains. You’ll also have a support person in your corner who you can talk to whenever life gets difficult.
Involve Yourself in Hobbies and Interests
It’s important for you to be involved in meaningful activities to continue to fight the urge of addictive behaviors. Throw yourself into something you really love when you find yourself getting urges to return to your old lifestyle.
Many people have success using different forms of art.
For example, you may want to create music or paint when the urges overwhelm you. Perhaps, you’d rather write poetry or sculpt something. It will work for you as long as it’s something healthy.
Exercise Regularly
Exercising regularly can keep you healthy, both mentally and physically. You may want to involve yourself in a regular routine of cardiovascular muscle-strengthening activities.
Try to take yourself to the fitness center at least once every other day and perform 30 minutes of exercise. You’ll notice that your body and mind feel well all the way around.
Meditate or Pray
Prayer and mediation can give you that spiritual fortification you need to be healthy. This might be the perfect time to join a church or find some other people who engage in prayerful activities.
Meditation is something you can do alone. All you need is a quiet place and a thirst for peace and serenity. You can meditate at any time of the day or night, and you can do it anywhere you desire.
Now you know of some iron-clad ways to better your life as a whole. Start these processes today and be a happier and more successful person in the end.
Author Bio
Sierra Powell is a freelance content writer who graduated from the University of Oaklahoma with a major in Mass Communications and a minor in Writing. When she’s not writing, she loves to cook, sew, and go hiking with her dogs
The views and opinions expressed in this post are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect all or some of our beliefs and policy. Any links on this page do not necessarily mean they have been endorsed by Defying Mental Illness.