How To Use Healthy Distractions in Recovery

“Don’t let your emotions distract you from doing what needs to be done. Control your emotions, or your emotions will control you.”

Distraction, whether healthy or unhealthy, has a phenomenal impact on people. Most addicted individuals choose drugs or alcohol to distract their minds from the ups and downs of life. That's an unhealthy distraction. We can apply healthy distractions to reverse the harmful effects of addiction.

So, how do we apply healthy distractions? There are a few ways. But firstly, you need to mark the events for which you’ll need healthy distractions.

  • Cravings when you are home:
    People struggling with substance use tend to use at specific times of the day. And, chances are, when you’re home, you’ll have cravings at those times. If you make a daily routine where you assign yourself to do exercise, or walk your dog, or help with the chores at that particular hour of the day, you’ll be able to beat the cravings to an extent.

  • Possible relapse during social events:
    The most challenging situation for a recovering individual is to avoid having a drink at a social gathering because it’ll only lead to having ten more probably. For those times, healthy distractions could be talking to your sober companion or going to a meeting.

  • Negative emotions:
    It’s pretty natural for a recovering person to have negative emotions clouding the head now and then. Battling the thoughts is tough. Practicing mindfulness and replacing negative thoughts with affirmations will help at those times.

Affirmation:
I have complete control over my emotions. I can and will guide myself to be a better person.

Samantha Penn