Gratitude in Early Addiction Recovery

Gratitude isn’t just a nice thing to practice — it’s essential for long-term recovery. Being grateful reminds us that even when things go wrong, there are still plenty of things to be thankful for. Having a grateful mindset allows to take on challenges https://ecosoberhouse.com/ with a positive mindset and instead of seeing relapse as a failure, we can see it as an opportunity to improve. Practicing gratitude also teaches us how to love and respect ourselves, which enables us to love and respect others as well.

Gratitude can be a major asset in overcoming mental health issues, especially depression and anxiety disorders, which are by far the most common. A number of studies have found that gratitude both increases the number of positive emotions people feel as well as reducing the number of negative emotions. For example, one study of new college students found that participants why is gratitude important in recovery who scored higher in dispositional gratitude had higher levels of perceived social support and lower levels of stress and depression. If you are feeling grateful for a person in your life, letting that person know that you are grateful is a powerful expression of gratitude. Some people express gratitude to a power greater than themselves through prayer.

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Furthermore, focusing on the positive aspects of the present moment and future outlook helps those working through trauma by reorienting away from negative thoughts or memories. Lastly, gratitude can increase a sense of connection with others and with ourselves, which makes commitments to sobriety easier in the long run. Gratitude is best experienced and expressed in the present moment, rather than as a distant concept. To truly enjoy gratitude, try to be present in each moment when you’re with someone or doing something you love. When the moment has passed, reflect on the people and experiences that have had a positive impact on your recovery journey.

For example, Robert Emmons, a professor at the University of California, Davis, is one of the leading researchers in gratitude studies. He and his colleagues conducted multiple research studies regarding the impact of gratitude on physical health, psychological well-being, and our relationships with others. They tested whether the simple incorporation of gratitude journaling for 3-weeks would positively affect these areas of participants’ lives. Keeping a gratitude journal can be an excellent practice for those in addiction recovery, as it allows them to reflect on their progress and acknowledge the support they’ve received along the way. By focusing on the positive aspects of their lives, individuals in recovery can begin to reframe their mindset and build resilience.

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When we begin thinking negative thoughts or finding something wrong with a person or situation, these thoughts grow. Have you ever become annoyed or frustrated by a person or something they’ve done? But what happens for most is when we start to think those judgemental and negative thoughts we think of more things about the person or situation we don’t like. The thoughts can snowball until we’ve worked ourselves into a state of restlessness and discontent. Gratitude allows an individual to celebrate the present and be an active participant in their life.

• This follows the principle that most people spend about 47% of their time worrying, resulting in anxiety, depression, and less enjoyment of what they are actually doing.
• Practicing gratitude will help you see the small blessings every day.
• The things that bring you joy may not be seemingly special in any sort of way.
• There are so many things in the recovered life for which we can be grateful.
• This suggests that a gratitude practice can be a valuable addition to your treatment plan.

Whether you have a lot going on in your life or almost nothing, you can likely find even something to be grateful for. Taking stock of what you’re grateful for should be about stepping back and taking stock of what you appreciate, what has gone right, and how things have gone better than they could have. Again, if you are just starting your recovery journey, this all may be easier said than done. In early recovery, it can be hard to find things to be thankful for when you are simultaneously battling withdrawal symptoms and the consequences or realities of your drug problem. As we’ve written previously, gratitude goes hand-in-hand with healing.

Recovery for life.

Firstly, it helps to shift our focus away from negative thoughts and emotions towards positive ones. This means that even if we’re going through a tough time, we can still find things to be grateful for – whether it’s our health, our relationships, or the beauty of nature. Gratitude is a concept that has gained traction in recent years for its potential impact on mental health. Defining gratitude and understanding how it works requires considering both the cognitive and emotional components of the experience.

That’s clearly not a complication you want while recovering from a substance use disorder, or really at any time. Another study looked at the effects of gratitude in a group of nearly 300 participants, mostly college students, who were seeking counseling for various issues, mostly related to depression and anxiety. In addition to receiving regular counseling, the participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups. One group wrote gratitude letters–which are discussed below–one group wrote about their thoughts and feelings, and the last group didn’t write anything. The group that wrote gratitude letters reported better mental health at four weeks and 12 weeks after the writing assignment ended, compared to the other two groups. This suggests that a gratitude practice can be a valuable addition to your treatment plan.

Gratitude improves your mental health.

Most people with substance use disorder are likely to suffer from mental health conditions. If you also have a dual diagnosis, you must follow a collaborative treatment plan that can simultaneously address both disorders. One group was asked to write about things they were grateful for that had occurred during the past week. The second group was asked to write about things that annoyed them that week. The third group was asked to write about important things that had happened that week but whether those things should be good or bad wasn’t specified.

Another study looked at participants in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), all in recovery. Those who practiced more gratitude were more likely to participate in AA, to make the AA promises, and to have good social support. They were also less likely to experience stress and other negative health symptoms.

So, commit yourself to practice gratitude daily; soon, it will become a natural part of your recovery journey. Expressing gratitude can also encourage you to strive for improvement, as it reminds you of what you have already achieved and demonstrates how much more you can accomplish. By practicing gratitude during recovery, you not only boost your resilience in times of hardship but also lay the foundation for long-term success in all areas of life. Gratitude can show others that you do not take your second chance at life for granted. By expressing thankfulness for everything you have in your life, you can shift your mindset from focusing on what you lack to appreciating all the wonderful things you have going for you.

Reach out to someone you like and trust, and ask to exchange gratitude. When you hear their perspective, when you see where they look for meaning, your mind will respond in kind. You’ll notice more things to feel grateful for, and you’ll open yourself up to new definitions of goodness and beauty. There are many sources of inspiration one can draw on when recovering from substance abuse, and gratitude is the key that unlocks them. Inspiration and motivation work together to support a focus on recovery.

Showing Gratitude to Yourself

Although different for everyone, SUD recovery tends to be a challenging portion of one’s life. Many individuals report feeling hopeless, depressed, and angry towards themselves during addiction recovery [2]. These negative emotions can drastically affect one’s outlook on life, shifting to a perspective that cannot appreciate small joys, successes, or blessings. Daily Practices for Gratitude, including Journaling, are essential for those on the path of addiction recovery. Cultivating a thankful mindset can help people in addiction recovery to overcome negative thoughts and emotions, combat stress and depression, and find meaning and purpose in their lives.