When it comes to overcoming an addiction, it takes various methods. Of course, an addiction recovery facility is one of the most vital aspects, but it also helps to have other coping methods for when you return back to a normal life.
Having healthy habits, hobbies and alternatives are key to maintaining your addiction recovery once you come home. Exercising, eating healthy, and learning new hobbies such as painting or sewing is a great way to help yourself stick to your recovery. But there is also another great addition to your new life that you might consider – massages.
Massages are a great way to relax from a stressful day, which is something that you will often find yourself needing an alternative option to once you are clean.
A massage offers several benefits including:
- Reducing anger, anxiety, and depression
- Aiding in the ability to sleep – therefore, easing sleep problems
- Providing an alternative, natural healing and outlet for stress that does not include the use of drugs or alcohol
- Releases “feel good” hormones which can help give off the same satisfaction as the dopamine released when partaking in drugs or alcohol
- Building trust. This might seem simple, but it takes trust to allow someone to massage you when you don’t know them – to trust them not to hurt you and to trust that they know what they are doing. This might be a simple thing, but rebuilding trust is important for recovering addicts and it is best when done in small, simple settings such as this.
- Helps alleviate pain symptoms, which can also be a trigger for recovering addicts.
When you are recovering from addiction, and even after you have recovered, it is important that you find healthy alternatives to treating pain, relieving stress, and curing boredom.
Getting a massage is one of those healthy alternatives to consider. It is also a great thing to ask for as a gift from people – so you always have something to add to your birthday or Christmas wishlist.
Have you found other healthy alternatives that have helped you with, or even after, your recovery? Share those with us below. It might help give other people ideas of things that might work for them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zm-3Mj5BPUg
Addiction recovery is a group effort. Don’t be afraid to talk about your journey and to discuss things with others who have been through the same situation or one similar. It helps to have peers supporting you.