This is a stressful time of year during a stressful year. COVID-19 is on the rise and the holidays and seasonal depression are here. As a recovering addict, you might be searching for the best way to manage your stress and maybe even let off some steam. It is important to acknowledge that you are feeling stressed because pushing down these emotions will only make them worse. Here are a couple of tips to help you to release your emotional stress and frustrations in healthy ways.
Do Something Physical
Stress can often bundle into a ball of emotional energy. Sometimes it can boil over into anger or fill you with anxiety. Since your mind has an excess amount of energy, it helps to do something physical to relieve mental and physical stress. The best way to release this energy is to do something physical, like working out. Go for a jog outside or follow a sweat breaking exercise video. Not only does exercise allow you to relieve some pent up energy, but it also sends endorphins to your brain which make you feel better mentally. You don’t necessarily have to complete a full workout to relieve your stress. You can do a few jumping jacks or crunches. If you are in a situation where you can’t just stop and do a workout, here are other healthy ways to relieve your stress. For instance, you can try squeezing a stress ball, punching a pillow, or screaming into a closet. It might also help to write down your feelings or say them out loud. Everyone deals with stress differently and it will be up to you to find a way that will help you release your frustrations without harming yourself or others.
Reset Your Brain
When stress becomes so overwhelming that you can’t think clearly because you have too many thoughts at once, try clearing your brain and starting over. You can accomplish this through various relaxation techniques. Try some yoga or meditations that will help you clear your mind and ground you in reality. Distract yourself with a movie or TV show that requires your attention to be able to follow the story. You could take a hot shower or a nap, or you can drink some tea and do some breathing exercises. Just be sure not to let relaxing turn into wallowing or procrastination. This can be prevented by putting a limit on your relaxation time. Limit yourself to only doing a relaxing activity for twenty minutes or an hour, whatever works best with your schedule. Have a plan for what you’re going to do after you relax so that you can move forward with your day.
Stress can be debilitating and lead to bad decision making. However, pushing down stress will only build it up and make it harder to manage. Managing stress will help you stay focused on your goals for the day and help your recovery. Having a plan to deal with your stress will make it easier for you to make healthy decisions. Alta Loma can help you manage your stress by making a plan that is tailored to your unique needs. If you need help with stress management during your addiction recovery, call us at (866) 457-3843 today.
