Many people who have suffered from addiction or have seen anyone around suffering from this disease know how bad it can be. What starts as a fun activity to drink and consume drugs to feel the euphoric effects, end up being a disorder that has the potential to even last a lifetime. The reason why treatment for addiction starts at the rehabilitation centers, however, the road to achieving long-term sobriety and full recovery can continue for years to come. Many factors contribute to a good possibility of complete recovery including the support from friends and family and having a disciplined schedule. However, there is one thing that can improve the recovery process and keep an addict from a possible relapse – hobbies.
While it may sound weird at first as to how the following hobbies and interests can help alleviate addiction and promote recovery, if you look closely, you’d understand. It is during the treatment process that most patients fall prey to the withdrawal symptoms and other cravings, and eventually consume the substance they have tried so hard to leave. This not only puts them to a more severe risk of developing a substance abuse disorder again but also makes their months or even years of hard work worthless.
How Hobbies and Interests Help
There are many benefits of having a hobby or interest to focus on during recovery. These activities keep you distracted and away from the thoughts of using substances again. Also, they are productive so you know that you are investing your time in something that actually matters. Here’s how having hobbies during recovery can help further:
Learn new skills
If you have ever dreamt of learning something new, recovery time is the best period to do so. As they say, it is never too late to learn something new. If you choose anything that you really want to get yourself skilled in, you can do so while in recovery. It will not only keep your mind engaged, but will also keep your interest intact as you progress your way through long-term sobriety.
Rediscover Old Hobbies
Don’t want to learn something new? Well, maybe it is time to think a little back and find that something you did in your high school or college still interests you. If it does, that’s great! You can channel the same energy and reconnect with your old hobby to hone your existing skills.
Get Confident
The joy being good at something is incomparable. Doesn’t matter if you are learning something new or are improving on your existing skill sets. Once you start noticing the progress you have made, there will be a spike in self-confidence you will observe that would be incomparable to anything else. This feeling will definitely restrain you from turning to drugs again.
Meet New People
Hobbies are not always group activities. However, if they are, you are in for an unforgettable time that you will crave every day. Maybe you are into playing musical instruments and you meet new people to jam with you. The session would be amazing, there’s no doubt about that, but you will be meeting people who have similar interests as you. This is a good distraction that you must incorporate in your life.
Use Time Effectively
After a day full of household chores, responsibilities, or anything that occupies your time, you need something to distract your mind and feel at ease. Passing these idle hours effectively is very crucial as this is the time when you are most likely to feel the urge to consume. Having a hobby or something you can work upon can be extremely helpful here. You can not only utilize your time but also ease your mind the right way.
Sense of Accomplishment
Every activity helps you progress as an individual. For instance, if you choose to learn guitar you could be overwhelmed by that song you just played perfectly. Or if you take up cooking, you’d be happy to see the meal you have just cooked. The end result of any hobby can provide a sense of accomplishment, which is a good way to keep up with the same activity and keep your mind engaged.
Managing Emotions
Addiction is a game of emotions. Sometimes you’d feel extremely happy and then consume substances, or sometimes you’d be happy enough to drink or do drugs. Everything is connected to emotions. And while learning something new, you feel the exact same highs and lows of emotions. When you start learning, you will feel frustrated and confused. Then at the same time, it can make you feel elated and happy. You must enjoy these moments and let the high tides of emotions to pass. Hobbies can let you manage your emotions which is extremely helpful during recovery.
Observe and Adapt
Certain activities make us as human beings feel happy and content. Nature, for instance, has the power to connect with our soul and induce a refreshing effect. Nature can also provide a sense of spiritual healing while also making you realize your true worth and the things that matter more than drugs, alcohol, other substances in your life.
Trusting Yourself
Certain outdoor activities require you to have trust in yourself. Risky endeavors such as hiking, mountain climbing, or anything that keeps the adrenaline rushing through your veins can only be completed by you if you believe in yourself. Also, this skill is imperative during recovery since self-confidence and self-trust elevates your chances of achieving long-term sobriety.
Conclusion
Addiction recovery is often known as the most difficult phase of the addiction treatment process. With relapsing being a common element of the recovery phase, it is possible to avoid this if you have a well-planned approach to how you would be tackling your downtime during recovery. Incorporating hobbies and outdoor activities in your life can elevate your chances of achieving a long-term recovery without even experiencing a possible relapse. So, if you are currently in addiction recovery, or your loved one is battling their way out of addiction, it is advisable to include some sort of healthy mind-distracting activities to ease your brain during recovery.
