The Importance of Healthy Coping Mechanisms in Addiction Treatment

Life is full of twists and turns, and you rarely get to be in the driver’s seat controlling when they happen. Because of this, people face daily situations and experiences that can cause fear, stress, and trauma. In order to cope with stress and anxiety, you must learn to possess certain skills to find healthy outlets so that you don’t turn to damaging behavior, such as substance abuse. These skills are known as healthy coping strategies. Managing challenging moments, such as losing loved ones, financial difficulties, relationship breakups, and substance abuse, is very possible with the help of these skills – but you’ve got to put in the work.

When you learn how to cope well with difficult situations, you can avoid being debilitated by anxiety or depression. Addiction can be a challenging and complicated condition to overcome, and while addiction treatment can help individuals achieve sobriety, it’s also important to develop healthy coping mechanisms to prevent relapse and maintain long-term recovery. 

Once you’re aware that you may be using unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as abusing substances, you can learn how to adapt and create beneficial ones that serve as a helpful crutch to lean on rather than choosing ones that enable your life to continue spiraling. This is why choosing a treatment program with coping skills training is so important. Re-learning how to deal with tough times without drugs and alcohol is critical for long-term sobriety. 

Healthy Coping Skills Have Many Benefits

A coping skill is any characteristic or behavior that enhances your ability to adapt to changes. As a result, coping skills enable you to regulate your emotions, thoughts, and behaviors during stressful times. A coping mechanism can help soothe or distract you from the frustration, help you face the situation and take action, or help you be flexible and motivated to solve the problem.

People use a variety of coping mechanisms, but they aren’t always healthy. Substances are often used as primary coping mechanisms to self-medicate mental health issues like anxiety or trauma. Drugs and alcohol activate the brain’s “pleasure circuit” which releases dopamine, creating feelings of euphoria. As a result of using substances to cope with or escape difficult emotions, you can eventually become dependent on them to function and feel “better.” 

Unfortunately, many addictions begin in this way. While these coping mechanisms may provide short-term relief from stress and anxiety, they can have negative, life-derailing consequences. In fact, 7.7 million American adults have co-occurring mental and substance use disorders, often making it challenging to process difficult emotions. 

Addiction often co-occurs with mental health conditions such as:

• Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Depression
• Bipolar disorder
• Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Borderline personality disorder

Life is full of stressful situations beyond your control. What you can control, however, is your response to these situations. When life’s ups and downs get tough, the right coping strategies can help you get through and avoid major setbacks. One of the keys to breaking the addiction cycle is developing healthy coping mechanisms.Professional support and addiction treatment can help you channel your energy into more productive outlets.

Here are some amazing benefits of finding coping skills to help you:

1. It helps prevent relapse. Developing healthy coping mechanisms is crucial for preventing relapse. Without healthy coping mechanisms, you may return to drugs or alcohol to manage stress and difficult emotions. There are various challenges and triggers that individuals in recovery may face along the way as they continue on their journey toward sobriety. As you develop healthy coping mechanisms, you will learn to manage these challenges and reduce the likelihood of turning to drugs or alcohol in difficult times. An individual with healthy coping mechanisms may also feel a sense of purpose and fulfillment due to their coping mechanisms, which can assist in maintaining sobriety over the long term.
2. You can manage strong impulses and emotions. Once you’ve learned, and practiced using coping skills that help you with your triggers, you’ll begin to notice a better overall understanding of your emotions and impulses. You’ll be able to focus on the emotion you may be experiencing and face it calmly and thoughtfully rather than immediately reacting to a trigger. You’ll feel much more in control. 
3. It will improve your overall emotional and physical health. Engaging in self-care practices, such as exercise and healthy eating, can improve physical health and reduce stress. Coping mechanisms like mindfulness and cognitive-behavioral therapy can help you manage anxiety and depression, improving emotional well-being. Substance use can harm the body and mind, and developing healthy coping mechanisms can help you improve your overall well-being so that you can focus on working through your triggers rather than finding a way to distract yourself from them.
4.  It will begin to build your self-esteem and self-worth. Developing healthy coping mechanisms can also help you build self-esteem and self-worth. By managing stress and difficult emotions healthily, you can feel more confident handling challenges and making positive life choices. Plenty of coping skills will get you thinking outside of your addiction, where you’ll be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel and continue to work toward it – loving yourself all the way through it, even in tough times. 
5.  It will aid in improving meaningful relationships.  By managing stress and difficult emotions healthily, you can develop stronger and more positive relationships with others. Rather than pushing people away, isolating yourself, or having a damaging dialogue with the people around you, you’ll be able to be patient with yourself and learn how to reply or act based on sound reasoning rather than emotion alone. 

You can live the life you’ve always imagined by developing healthy coping mechanisms because they will enable you to remain grounded, focused, and motivated to stay sober. Instead of reaching for the drink or drug of your choice, you’ll reach for peace and understanding. 

How We Help You Develop Healthy Coping Skills

Negative coping strategies may feel good in the moment but can negatively affect your mental and physical health, relationships, and career. Although healthy coping strategies take time and effort, they can deliver long-term results.

Discovery Point Retreat can help you develop healthy coping mechanisms to increase your chances of long-lasting recovery. By taking a personalized approach to recovery, we help you avoid relapse and improve your overall health. Strengthening and practicing coping skills takes place within the structure and stability of a treatment program, which allows individuals in recovery to take small steps toward managing outside stress without the pressure of reentering the real world.

Our treatment program incorporates coping skills training into our process. We also provide a strong community-based component to our 12-step-based treatment program, whether through Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous meetings or simply through other program participants. You can find strength and support in numbers by coping with others on a similar recovery journey.

Through multiple therapy techniques, you’ll discover how and why coping skills help you create the life you’ve always wanted, even if it may seem trivial at times. One of these modalities is cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps you identify unhealthy thoughts (cognitive distortions) and constructively respond to them. It is usually conducted by a mental health counselor, therapist, or psychotherapist and is designed to teach you life skills to deal with cognitive distortions.

Not only will our therapists and recovery coaches be able to model using healthy coping skills, but you’ll also begin to see your peers using them. While in recovery, you’ll become immersed in a healing, private world where your only focus is to get to the bottom of your substance use problem and consider trusting the process when it comes to coping skills. 

Coping mechanisms are not one-size-fits-all, and what works for one person may not work for another. It is important to try different coping mechanisms and find the ones that work best for you. Some people may find that mindfulness and meditation help them manage stress and anxiety, while others may prefer creative activities or exercise. Some individuals may benefit from therapy, while others may find support groups more helpful. It is important to experiment with different techniques to find the most effective and fulfilling for you.

Here are some of our coping strategies you’ll become familiar with when in treatment: 

1. Identifying triggers. The first step in creating healthy coping mechanisms is identifying triggers that may lead to drug or alcohol use. Triggers can be internal, such as stress or anxiety, or external, such as social situations or specific environments. Understanding what triggers the urge to use drugs or alcohol can help individuals develop coping mechanisms to address those triggers. 
2. Developing self-care habits. Self-care practices, such as getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, and practicing good hygiene, can help you feel better physically and emotionally. By taking care of yourself, you can reduce stress and improve your overall well-being, which can be beneficial for maintaining sobriety. These habits help you manage stress and improve overall well-being, reducing the likelihood of relapse. 
3. Practicing gratitude. Gratitude is a powerful tool in maintaining long-term recovery. Practicing gratitude can help you focus on the positive aspects of your life, reducing the likelihood of turning to drugs or alcohol during difficult times. Gratitude can be practiced through daily journaling or by simply taking time to appreciate the good things in life.
4. Practicing mindfulness and meditation. Mindfulness and meditation help you focus on the present moment and reduce stress and anxiety. Practicing mindfulness and meditation regularly, you can learn to manage your emotions and reduce the likelihood of turning to drugs or alcohol during difficult times.
5. Trying exercise. Regular exercise can help you manage stress, improve your mood, and boost overall physical and emotional health. Exercise can also help develop a sense of discipline and self-control, which can be beneficial for maintaining sobriety.
6. Engaging in creative activities. Engaging in creative activities like art or music can help you express your emotions and reduce stress. Creative activities can also provide a sense of purpose and fulfillment, which can help maintain sobriety.
7. Participating in support groups. Joining a support group, such as a 12-step program or group therapy, can provide you with community and support. Support groups can also offer guidance and encouragement during difficult times and help you feel less alone in your recovery journey.
8. Writing and journaling. Keeping a journal can be a helpful way for you to process your thoughts and emotions. By writing down your feelings and experiences, you can gain insight into your triggers and develop healthier ways of coping with stress and anxiety.

It is important to keep in mind that coping mechanisms may need to be modified over time; you may have different coping needs as you progress through various stages of recovery. A variety of coping techniques should be explored and existing ones adapted. Finding healthy coping mechanisms that work for you may take time, and it takes time to develop them. Until you find what works for you, be patient with yourself and try new things. 

Build Healthy Coping Skills at Discovery Point Retreat

Developing healthy coping mechanisms requires commitment and effort – and recovery is just that: a journey. While addiction can feel isolating, remind yourself that you are not alone in experiencing triggers; these new skills can help you healthily confront and overcome the triggers that may have led to your substance use. Discovery Point Retreat’s experienced and compassionate team is here for you. 

We can help you build new coping skills post-treatment. Maintaining positive relationships and having people on your side can help you stay sober, and we can provide support groups, behavioral therapies, and counseling to keep you on track. Additionally, you can learn stress and anxiety management, communication skills, and relapse prevention tools.

Preventing relapse requires knowing yourself, your emotions, and your triggers. The more practice you have, the easier it will become to recognize signs that lead to relapse. Remind yourself that this process will have ups and downs, but in the end, it will be worthwhile.