How Are You Dealing With Stress In Recovery Life?

There are several ways I am handling stress in my recovery life. Overall, by incorporating these strategies into my daily life, I have been able to better handle and manage stress in my recovery journey.

1. Developing a routine: I have found that having a structured daily routine helps me stay on track and feel less overwhelmed. For me, this includes setting aside time for self-care activities and relaxation. Time for exercise is a must and I make sure that I always have this planned into my day or week,  especially when I know that other stressors are coming be it travel,  busy times in my office or a difficult patient or family situation.
2. Practicing mindfulness and staying in the present: I have been practicing mindfulness techniques to help me stay present and focused on the present moment. This has helped me to significantly alleviate stress by trying to be accepting in the face of things that come up in my daily life. Being present allows me to fully experience and appreciate the current moment, rather than worrying about the past or future. It helps me to reduce stress, increase mindfulness, and improve overall well-being. Being mindful has helped me manage stress and anxiety more effectively.
3. Seeking support: I have surrounded myself with a supportive network of friends, family, and folks in recovery. My therapist is key in this network and I continue to meet with her on a regular basis. Having supportive friends and family allows me to lean on others when I am feeling overwhelmed or stressed.
4. Engaging in healthy coping mechanisms: Instead of turning to substances or other harmful behaviors to cope with stress, I have been focusing on healthy alternatives such as exercise, cooking, reading, this could be anything that you like in your life that helps you deal with stress on a daily basis.
5. Prioritizing self-care: I have been placing a greater emphasis on self-care activities that help me relax and recharge, such as  watching a show on. TV, reading a good book (or audiobook!), or listening to music. No matter what I do, I try to make self-care a priority and not allow myself to feel guilty for making time for me- time.
6. Being grateful every day: Gratitude is a powerful practice that helps me stay positive and focused on the possibilities and good things in my life  By expressing gratitude for I have, I feel that I’m welcoming more good to manifest in my life. Who doesn’t need more good in their life? In my recovery I believe that gratitude has helped me overcome challenges and obstacles and will lead to a rewarding future.

— A Grateful Recovering Alcoholic/Addict/Dentist/Dental Hygienist —