Handling Emotions in Early Recovery

Learning to live life on its own terms is not always easy to the newly sober. You see, in active we stuff our feelings and dull any pain or worry with drugs and alcohol. So, it's not surprising when we become sober and emotions pop-up we may feel helpless. Someone once said “the good news is you have feelings, and the bad news is you have feelings’” that said, shutting off our emotions is no longer an option, but rather dealing with them in a healthy way. This takes time and is a learned skill and not inherent in folks who have spent years in active addiction.

What to do?

One of the keys to this task is interpersonal support. This can be achieved by participating in AA, other recovery programs, a spiritual community or in a relationship with a therapist. As hard as it is for some people to accept, developing a sober support system has been shown to be central to achieving and maintaining recovery. As a matter of fact, working with an AA/NA sponsor, in tandem with therapy has shown to be the most effective manner

There are numerous specific strategies for coping with the emotional rollercoaster. Awareness of the impact of post-acute withdrawal symptoms can help normalize this difficult period. Sharing your feelings with others and having them validated is a part of this process. Having concrete coping strategies for stress (imagery, mindfulness, distraction, etc.) are keys to affect stability and relapse prevention. Cognitive behavioral therapies can help you develop a healthy relationship with your feelings—rather than shutting them off, it is essential to learn to tolerate them, long enough to survive them, and ultimately get better at handling through self-awareness.

Continuing Treatment

Many people have the notion that going to an addiction treatment center is a stand-alone event. Whereby, going to detox and attending treatment for 30 days means they have completed their addiction rehabilitation. Nothing could be farther from the truth, and any who has put together any meaningful amount of sobriety will tell you it’s a commencement; a beginning. While one size does not fit all, most would agree that continued Intensive outpatient or outpatient programs are essential to creating a strong foundation for lasting addiction recovery. Bottom line – You didn’t get into addiction overnight and cannot come out of it overnight. It takes time, patience, along with personal and professional support.

Developing positive activities to replace addictive behaviors takes practice (and some trial and error). In the long run, having a healthy lifestyle is more important than fear of relapse (which can be a potent motivator in the short run). Developing hope is one of the core factors in effective change processes. The most important message is that recovery is possible!

Safe Haven Recovery is a boutique Florida Drug & Alcohol Treatment Center located in Miami, FL. We specialize in Suboxone Maintenance & Detox, along with, Couples Addiction Treatment. Call us today at 866-447-4650.

About the Author

Matthew Koenig is a freelance writer and principal of Last Call Marketing which devotes their efforts to Digital Marketing, SEO and Social Engagement. Concentrated in addiction recovery, Mr. Koenig is based out of South Florida. His sober date is June 10, 2013.

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