Victory Recovery Partners is a network of eight addiction/recovery centers on Long Island, New York. We provide complete care under one roof, consisting of behavioral health, medication-assisted treatment, psychiatric, and wellness services. Often, many of our patients who are in the recovery process are also battling mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression. There are some important steps that patients can take to help manage these issues without using substances to cope.
Ask Yourself Why You Became Sober
When you’re battling through an episode of depression or anxiety, it may feel tempting to slip into old habits. You may feel an increased need to use again, and your motivation to stay sober may feel decreased. If this happens, it is important to remind yourself why you chose to become sober. Maybe you wanted to become sober to improve your mental and physical health. Or, you could have a family that relies on you, and you recognized that overcoming your addiction would benefit not only you, but your family, too. Reminding yourself why you chose to enter the recovery process will help you to avoid slipping back into old habits.
Stay Active – Keep Moving
If you’re feeling down and depressed, or irritable and anxious, a good solution to help improve your mood is to get active. You don’t need to do any extreme exercises. Simply putting on those workout shoes and going for a long walk can significantly improve your mood. You will get a boost of endorphins and serotonin, in a natural and healthy way. Keeping active is a simple solution, and highly effective, too.
Understand What Triggers You
If you’re suffering with anxiety and depression while in recovery, it is important that you understand and recognize what may trigger you to use again. For example, are there people, places, or certain memories that cause your anxiety and depression to increase? Recognizing this may take some effort, as you may not know exactly what your triggers are. Through counseling, such as through Victory Recovery Partners’ outpatient counseling, we can help you to understand your triggers. Keep in mind that recovery is not simply about avoiding triggers – rather, it is about how to handle them in a healthy and positive way.
Don’t Forget to Give Yourself Credit
As you navigate through your recovery journey, it is crucial that you take some time (whether it be daily or even weekly), to remind yourself just how far you’ve come. Think about all of the changes that have occurred since you started your recovery journey. You are making so much progress, and you should be reminded of that. Overcoming an addiction, and fighting through a substance use disorder is not easy. If you’re feeling anxious or depressed, take some time to reflect on what you’ve achieved over the last few weeks, months, or even years.
If you or a loved one are suffering with an addiction or substance use disorder, Victory Recovery Partners would like to help. We have provided treatment and support to thousands of patients, providing the tools, resources, and care to put them in the best-possible position to overcome their addictions. For more information on Victory, please visit our website.