There’s a lot of talk about coping skills in the rehab setting. Many believe that this skill set has to do with aftercare. Although it factors into relapse prevention, it’s more far-reaching than that. In fact, it’s a talking point in one-on-one and group therapy sessions.
Who Needs Coping Skills?
Each day, you’re dealing with stressors. Some people may upset you in one way or another. Disappointment and discouragement are natural facts of life. You try hard, but you fail sometimes.
How you deal with these negative aspects determines, to some degree, your susceptibility to chemical dependency. For example, if stress at work leads you to justify having a few drinks, you’re equating stress relief with alcohol. Does crippling depression make it difficult to get out of bed in the morning? Taking stimulant drugs is your way of dealing with the problem.
However, there are other ways of dealing with the realities of life. These methods don’t involve drugs or alcohol. But if you never learned alternatives, it’s hard to imagine that they could work. That’s where addiction treatment programs can make a huge difference.
Overcome Dependency and Learn Coping Mechanisms That Work
When you work with an addiction therapist, s/he’ll customize a treatment protocol for you. Part of it will include behavioral therapy, which introduces you to alternative coping mechanisms. Experts agree that developing a catalog of positive coping tactics can help you undo dysfunction in your actions. Examples of treatments include:
- Ecotherapy in NC such as wilderness outings that emphasize healthy exercise and the development of self-esteem
- Nutritional counseling that teaches you to recognize hunger signs, which often become triggers themselves
- Holistic treatments such as meditation to assist with mindfulness training and breathing exercises for stress relief
- Family counseling, which helps with building and maintaining healthy communication styles and relationship boundaries
- Support groups and 12 Step meetings as means for inviting personal support and validation of your decision to quit using
- Experiential therapies such as journaling or art that offer new ways of expressing yourself and reflecting on what you’re learning
- Structured daily activities, which help you redefine your days without using drugs or alcohol
You work privately with a therapist to build up to group interactions. Depending on your substance use patterns, it may take a little while. Moreover, you may have traumatic situations to work through first. In doing so, you ready yourself for taking the next steps in your journey to sobriety.
Why Simple Distractions Don’t Work
You probably tried distracting yourself with drugs or alcohol from the negativity that was going on in your life. It didn’t work. Distraction didn’t fix the problems. Substance use added a new issue to the mix.
That’s why coping skills make a significant impact on your ability to stay sober. You work with your strengths to deal with stressors rather than ignore them. The addiction therapy services at Red Oak Recovery can prepare you for this step. Call 828.382.9699 today to find out how this treatment model could help you.
