The road to recovery is a long one, and the journey is not always easy or clear. There are not clearly defined mile markers that tell you how far you have come or how much longer you have to go. However, there are benchmarks you can use to compare your state of being to prior ones. In this blog we will discuss the five ways to know if you have achieved emotional sobriety.
Even if you have received total physical sobriety, mental sobriety takes more time to develop. New habits have to be formed, and new ways of thinking have to be implemented. Rerouting neurological patterns can be challenging but not impossible. The first sign of emotional healing is that you can apply control to your negative feelings. Just as you are aware of the things that trigger your addiction, you can also identify the onset of negative thought patterns.
The second way you can tell if your mental state is improving is that you can live in the present. Many times we can find ourselves reminiscing, which is a normal human behavior. But for those who suffer from addiction, ruminating on the past can become an obsessive and toxic behavior for healing. That’s why if you are able to take the current moment for face value it can be extremely comforting, and encourage further healing. It creates a sense of empowerment and gratitude; you are thankful for this moment you are spending sober!
The third clue you are making mental recovery progress is the ability to say no to temptation. Even if you have come a very long way, the sneaky voice to “just do it one more time” will find its way back in. Being able to turn down an offer or think about the consequences and its impact on your treatment is an indicator that you are very close to the finish line in your rehabilitation.
The fourth gauge of mental progress is the ability to go with the flow. It is common to feel defensive over certain things and refuse to step out of your comfort zone during treatment, but by acknowledging how letting go can be beneficial to your mindset you are setting yourself up for success. This does not mean you will never feel stressed during your sobriety journey, but you have new skills with how to cope with the anxious feelings that come with it.
The fifth and final sign that you have made advancements in your mental health is your capacity to form and maintain deep and meaningful bonds with new people. While seeking treatment, some of your addicted friends or acquaintances may be lost as there was only a common thread holding you together. It is during this time you can achieve a lot of introspection and learn about who you really are when you remove the addiction.
As you go through your personal rehabilitation process, you will discover the full spectrum of human emotion as you will go through many stages of detox, introspection, and learn a lot about your tolerance level and mental patterns. Here at Asana Recovery we aim to provide a multifaceted treatment plan which is tailored to your needs and incorporates education and attentive medical care to guide you through all of these phases. We value cognitive behavioral therapy to change your way of thinking, and equip you with lifelong resistance skills. If you are interested in starting your path towards a healthy recovery today, reach us at (949) 438-4504. We can be the helping hand you need to reclaim your life!
