From the very beginning, when we initially struggled with substance abuse and then developed an addiction, our mind, body, and spirit became used to alcohol or other drugs flooding our system. For many people, the addiction helped to numb themselves from the pain and agony they felt about previous traumas, accidents, relationship failures, career blunders, and other negative memories.
Addiction consumes us and causes us to lose and forget about many things we once cared about – and while it may have “helped” us not to feel emotions that were painful to experience, it also made it harder for us to work through the emotional damage caused by these events in our lives.
Defining Emotional Sobriety
For most people, emotional sobriety is about managing emotions in healthy ways by using healthy coping mechanisms. It’s about making the effort to truly understand what we’re feeling inside and how it affects our perceptions and our actions. It takes some time to develop a sense of emotional sobriety, but it’s absolutely worth it.
For anyone who has struggled with addiction, emotional sobriety is not an easy task – especially at the beginning stages of recovery, when you have not learned healthy coping mechanisms yet. The reality is that when a person is emotionally sober, they’re able to sit with whatever discomfort they’re experiencing. They are no longer tied to negative emotions in a way that makes them want to run away – instead, they walk towards those emotions to gain some incredible insights.
Learn How to Stop Using Substances as a Crutch
Substances tend to serve as a great distraction from life’s problems – but before we know it, we become “sucked in” with no apparent way out. What initially began as experimentation or a quick coping mechanism later becomes this intense crutch that we can’t seem to shake. We become entangled with the substances we’ve been taking, and no matter how badly we’d like to seek recovery, the mind and body may continue screaming for more of that “high.”
Those who’ve been in recovery for some time can attest to the fact that emotional sobriety requires slowly and steadily reminding oneself of the people, places, things, and situations that could set them back, and then taking appropriate actions to prevent them. By taking a look at our own lived experiences, we come up with appropriate solutions, coping mechanisms, and guidelines for how we can best carry out recovery.
If you’re ready to seek help, speak with a professional at Alta Loma today.
Alta Loma is here to help you accomplish your goals in a setting that places your psychological, emotional, and physical needs at the forefront. Your healthy independence is our primary goal, so you will receive as much or as little assistance as you need to achieve your ideal outcome – and always the right help at the right time. Call us today at (866) 457-3843.
