Addiction is a disease that feeds on low self-esteem. When you struggle with addiction, your brain convinces you that you don’t deserve better than your current situation. This facet of addiction can make it challenging to find the strength to recover. For these reasons, maintaining healthy self-esteem is crucial for recovery; ultimately helping you avoid relapse by forming a well-balanced perspective of yourself, and others.
The Dangers of Low Self-Esteem
Frequently, individuals begin using drugs and/or alcohol as a means to cope with negative emotions. No matter the source of these emotions, drugs and alcohol help the person numb their feelings. However, over time the person becomes reliant on these substances to help them feel better in all situations. As the person descends into active addiction, their self-esteem may diminish further, exacerbating an already tumultuous situation.
How to Build Self-Esteem in Recovery
There are numerous ways to increase your self-confidence in recovery. While it may seem challenging at first, it is crucial to take baby steps as you move in the right direction. You will not become confident overnight, but there are things you can do to increase your confidence little by little.
Practicing self-care is one of the best ways to increase self-confidence because it teaches you that you are worth good things that improve your well-being. You can also focus on making good choices, not even necessarily related to recovery. For example, holding the door for others, helping someone with a personal problem, or even ensuring you follow the necessary steps in recovery can help you feel better about yourself.
Easier said than done, but one of the best ways to boost self-confidence is by forgiving yourself. You are not your mistakes or the things you did in your past. Recognizing this and focusing on bettering your future will help you move past the mistakes in your past.
Self-esteem is an integral part of addiction recovery because it boosts the healing process and helps you avoid relapse in the future. However, it is crucial to remember that self-esteem is not built overnight, and you should take baby steps towards it. If you need recovery support, Alta Loma Transformational Services is here to help. We work with men of all ages to build healthy habits to facilitate lifelong recovery. At our Texas-based facility, you are sure to find the healing you long for. Call us today at (866) 457-3843.
