The Power Of Gratitude In Addiction Recovery

The 12 steps emphasize the importance of a searching moral inventory, as well as making amends, finding social connection, and volunteering. There are are also more personal practices, such as journaling and meditation that can help you heal spiritually. This is a practice that has roots in every major spiritual tradition and it’s also one that modern research shows to be good for your mental and physical health. If you are recovering from a substance use disorder, here’s what gratitude can do for you. The science behind gratitude letters is simple; expressing gratitude leads to an increase in dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin levels which further triggers the feelings of happiness and pleasure.

Finally, we’ll explore how cultivating a thankful mindset can serve as a powerful force for positive change, inspiring us to take action towards our recovery goals. As someone who has personally experienced addiction recovery, I can attest to the transformative power that gratitude can have on the journey towards sobriety. It’s not just a feel-good emotion; gratitude has been scientifically proven to have a significant impact on mental health.

Gratitude Helps You Focus on What Really Matters

If you also have a dual diagnosis, you must follow a collaborative treatment plan that can simultaneously address both disorders. The world of mental healthcare and counseling uses various terminologies to describe treatments, mental health conditions‌, and more. One such common phrase is ‘level of care,’ which signifies the extent of services a patient needs. Gratitude can also strengthen your relationships and your sense of social connection.

• However, in recovery, it is important to follow through with such actions and actually express thankfulness.
• By expressing thankfulness for everything you have in your life, you can begin to see the glass as half full rather than half empty.
• As a core principle of many recovery programs, the word gratitude gets thrown around a lot.
• In studies, those individuals who were considered optimistic had better overall health and in some cases aged better too.
• A handful of research studies attest to how practicing gratitude positively affects one’s well-being, which then influences a more optimistic recovery journey.

One study of more than 400 people between the ages of 18 and 68 found that people who felt more gratitude experienced better sleep quality and they slept longer. The results suggest that the primary reason for this is that more grateful people tend to experience more positive thoughts and fewer negative thoughts prior to sleep. This creates a virtuous cycle, since a well rested brain is more resilient and better at regulating emotions. Another study looked at the effects of gratitude in a group of nearly 300 participants, mostly college students, who were seeking counseling for various issues, mostly related to depression and anxiety. In addition to receiving regular counseling, the participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups.

Increase Feelings of Security and Connectedness

We all like to feel appreciated and expressing your gratitude to the people closest to you makes them feel appreciated. A number of studies have investigated the role of gratitude in relationships in different situations. Three related studies found a strong correlation–and one study importance of gratitude in recovery found evidence of causation–between frequent and regular expressions of gratitude and greater communal strength. Communal strength is how much responsibility you feel for a partner’s welfare. In these studies, a partner could be either a romantic partner or a close friend.

We stand side-by-side with our guests as they do the hard work of looking at unhealthy patterns and behaviors and help them build the tools and skills they need for a sustainable and healthy recovery. Below are some practical tips for developing gratitude while in recovery. Gratitude is an effective tool for building resilience in ourselves.

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To truly enjoy gratitude, try to be present in each moment when you’re with someone or doing something you love. When the moment has passed, reflect on the people and experiences that have had a positive impact on your recovery journey. Take the time to express thoughts of thankfulness in your head or with another person when possible. At Lifeskills South Florida, we’re here for those seeking help with a drug https://ecosoberhouse.com/ or alcohol addiction. Entering treatment is the first step to recovery, and we focus on equipping clients with coping and self-care skills for reintegration back into life once out of treatment. Our holistic approach to treatment incorporates elements of mindfulness, meditation, yoga therapy, and integrated primary care, where we teach nutrition, meal planning, and cooking with a certified nutritionist.

• By focusing on the positive aspects of their lives, individuals in recovery can begin to reframe their mindset and build resilience.
• Explore new foods, or learn to cook – but take specific steps to give your body the energy it needs to work on recovery.
• The good news is that gratitude is contagious, and you can practice gratitude with others to help teach yourself to find positivity naturally.
• Gratitude can help you cope with challenges, reduce stress, and improve your mood.
• In studies where participants wrote letters of thanks to people who had positively impacted their lives, they reported feeling happier for up to a month after completing this task.