One of the most important factors for a positive addiction recovery experience is removing and reducing negative influences. Simply put, you need to create a new you, and doing so should involve the cultivation of more positive influences than may have existed before. This is necessary for the recovery process.
Examples of Negative Influences in Recovery
Negative influences in recovery refer to people, environments, or situations that can hinder or jeopardize an individual’s progress towards sobriety and well-being. After completing an addiction treatment program, you may need to remove negative influences from your life in order to manage your sobriety and prevent relapse.
Here are some that you might need to eliminate or reduce.
How we talk to ourselves inside of our minds is of utmost importance to our recovery. As a result, this can also end up being amongst our most negative influences. Are you berating yourself? Are you telling yourself that you will never recover? Gently but consistently turn those thoughts around. You can learn how to think more positively during motivational interviewing therapy sessions or in cognitive-behavior therapy.
Fully believing in more positive self-sayings may take time, but it will happen if you are consistent with this change. This can also have a tremendous impact on how you handle the rest of these negative influences, particularly those that you may not be able to avoid completely and need to instead adjust to as best as you can.
It is crucial to prioritize your well-being and make conscious decisions regarding the company you keep during your recovery journey. While it may be challenging, it’s essential to distance yourself from friends who continue to use drugs or alcohol, regardless of any positive aspects they may bring to your life. The negative consequences outweigh any potential benefits.
This change in your social circle is often a pivotal step in recovery. Many individuals who have struggled with addiction tend to surround themselves with others who engage in similar substance use. Breaking free from this cycle necessitates avoiding such individuals.
Additionally, it is important to create distance from friends who may negatively influence your recovery. If someone consistently undermines your progress and doubts your ability to heal, it may be necessary to reconsider maintaining that friendship. By prioritizing a supportive and healthy environment, you can cultivate the optimal conditions for your recovery and growth. Surrounding yourself with individuals who genuinely support your journey and believe in your ability to overcome challenges will contribute to your sustained progress and a brighter future.
Family members should be treated similarly as friends as far as creating space if they are negative influences in your recovery. However, it is understandable if this is not as easy to do as it may be with friends. Although you should still consider removing access to these family members if doing so is possible, sometimes you must accept them in your life and focus on reducing, not removing.
Co-workers can be like family members in that it can be difficult to remove their influences from your life. As a result, you may want to consider them like you do family members as they relate to your recovery.
With that said, do consider changing your job if it creates a significant amount of stress of any kind in your life. Many underestimate just how much of an influence our work experiences have on our lives as a whole.
Some places can serve as triggers for those who are in recovery. These can include a bar where you spent a lot of time drinking or a house where you used drugs. You should aim to completely avoid those types of locations.
If you’re able to do so, you may want to secure a new living arrangement as well. This can be helpful if the home is also a location that is triggering.
Some situations should be avoided or, if that is not possible, reduced. For example, if your workplace regularly has an after-hours gathering at a local pub, you should probably not go to that, particularly while you are early in your recovery process.
Why Should You Avoid These Types of Influences?
Negative influences in recovery only make it more difficult to stay sober. Those connected with the past self that you want to get away from tend to pull you back toward it. You want to focus on positive influences that had existed before, on keeping those around, instead of focusing on replacing negative ones. Doing so is essential to the creation of a new life.
Do not underestimate how much focus this can require. In fact, some say that this is a more difficult step than removing drug or alcohol-related toxins from the body. Also, note that avoiding all negative influences possible will do so much to help you handle the unavoidable ones.
How To Reduce Negativity in Your Life
Replacing negative influences with positive ones is crucial for successful recovery. Instead of clinging to the past, focus on new experiences. For instance, try attending a play instead of going to a bar.
Ending toxic relationships can be difficult, but it’s essential for your well-being. Consider having a conversation with those closest to you about why you’re moving on. Don’t be afraid to communicate what you need from them to maintain a healthy relationship.
Be patient with yourself and others as you go through the recovery process. Some people may need time to understand the changes you’re making. Stay focused on your own goals and beliefs, and don’t let anyone derail your progress.
Alternatives: Positive Influences
Shift your focus from worrying about what to avoid and start concentrating on the positive steps to take in your recovery journey. Emphasis on positive aspects of your future enables you to remain productive and motivated.
It’s vital to consider healthier alternatives as they provide you with practical ways to manage stressful situations. Most addicts resort to drugs or alcohol to cope with the pressures of life. However, learning positive ways to manage stress is paramount in the recovery process.
Regardless of your situation, stress is an inevitable part of life. One of the most crucial elements of your recovery is how you handle these situations without relying on drugs or alcohol. Try this activities to encourage positive influences in recovery:
You can incorporate more physical activity into your routine to help stay positive during recovery and avoid negative influences. Take advantage of outdoor spaces, even if you’re in a city center, by visiting nearby natural settings. Joining a nature-focused club allows you to regularly enjoy the outdoors with others. These social and physical activities will also encourage you to use your coping skills.
Another option is to join a gym, which many individuals in recovery find beneficial for refocusing their lives. This is especially useful when the weather doesn’t permit outdoor activities. Participating in classes and activities at the gym can enhance your social life, providing a separate and positive focus from the addiction you’re leaving behind.
Your diet plays a significant role in your mental well-being and can have an impact on cravings and addiction. It’s important to consider the connection between what you consume and your journey towards recovery. By prioritizing a healthier diet, you can support your body in breaking free from addiction.
Incorporating more vegetables and lean meats while reducing the consumption of high-fat and preservative-laden foods can improve your overall health and wellness. Additionally, replacing sugary soft drinks with healthier options like juice or water can have transformative effects on your body. Being mindful of the substances you consume and making conscious choices about your diet can rejuvenate your life and contribute to your recovery journey.
By incorporating meditation and mindfulness practices into your daily routine, you can cultivate a deeper awareness of your thoughts, emotions, and triggers, allowing for greater control over cravings and impulses. Harnessing the power of meditation and mindfulness supports long-term recovery by promoting inner calm, self-reflection, and a strengthened sense of resilience. Embrace these powerful tools and experience the profound impact they can have on your journey towards lasting sobriety.
Getting an animal can help you turn your focus away from an addiction and toward another being. Pets have also been shown to reduce anxiety and depression. Both of those mental states are not only common in individuals who suffer from addiction but are also, in many cases, exacerbated during the recovery process.
Contact Crestview Recovery for Addiction Treatment
Crestview provides a comprehensive range of addiction treatment programs, ensuring that individuals have access to tailored solutions for their recovery journey. The ability to customize a program that suits each individual’s needs fosters the establishment of a strong foundation for lasting recovery. With a full continuum of care, Crestview serves as a one-stop destination for all recovery requirements. Whether it’s outpatient, residential, dual diagnosis, partial hospitalization, or sober living, Crestview offers diverse addiction programs to address various aspects of the recovery process.
By choosing Crestview, individuals can embark on a transformative path toward healing, growth, and a brighter future. If you or a loved one are looking for addiction treatment and to start creating that new life, contact us, and we will provide you with information on how we can help that become a reality.
Since 2016, Dr. Merle Williamson, a graduate of Oregon Health Sciences University, has been the Medical Director at Crestview Recovery, bringing a rich background in addiction medicine from his time at Hazelden Treatment Center. He oversees outpatient drug and alcohol treatments, providing medical care, setting policies, detox protocols, and quality assurance measures. Before specializing in addiction medicine, he spent 25 years in anesthesiology, serving as Chair of Hospital Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and Chief of Anesthesia at Kaiser Permanente. This experience gives him a unique perspective on treating prescription drug addiction.
