Addiction recovery skills can take many different forms. For example, communication skills, coping skills, and problem-solving skills can all benefit those overcoming drug and alcohol abuse. At Four Seasons Detox, we focus on helping clients build a toolkit of skills that support whole-person healing.
3 Recovery Skills for Addiction to Learn
When building your toolkit of skills, it can be tough to know where to start. Here are 3 recovery skills for addiction to learn.
Positive Self-Talk
Positive self-talk is the practice of paying attention to your inner voice and making an active effort to speak to yourself in kind and encouraging ways. Positive self-talk can help you:
- See the nuance. For example, instead of saying, “I screw everything up,” which is an “all or nothing” thought, you might remind yourself, “I can learn from this.”
- Work through triggers. Positive self-talk can boost your confidence and help you talk yourself through triggers like drug and alcohol cravings.
- Get through a slip-up. If you engage in a behavior you are not proud of, positive self-talk can help you get through it and boost your motivation to move forward productively rather than returning to the addiction cycle.
These are just some examples. How you talk to yourself matters and can impact all areas of life, including your capacity to work through things like challenges at work or in interpersonal relationships.
Urge Surfing
When it comes to addiction recovery, impulsivity can be a significant challenge. Urge surfing is just one of the many techniques addiction treatment professionals might teach to help you avoid impulsive reactions. It’s commonly used in dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), one of the therapies used at our center. Here’s how to urge surf:
- Identify the urge.
- Acknowledge your thoughts and feelings without judging or repressing them (radical acceptance).
- Remind yourself that feeling the urge does not mean that you need to act on it.
Many people visualize a “wave” while urge surfing, including the peak where the urge to use a behavior they want to avoid is the strongest. Thinking about how a wave peaks and then passes can be a metaphor for your desire to use substances (and how to acknowledge and get through it without acting on it).
Be Honest With Yourself and Others
Self-awareness and vulnerability can be major in addiction recovery. Many people lie to avoid others noticing their drug and alcohol consumption during active addiction. In recovery, it’s important to be honest with yourself and others. This may involve being honest with your treatment team about your triggers, behaviors, thoughts, and emotions. It can also look like being honest with yourself about how you feel, your thoughts, and whether you need support.
Our Programs Emphasize Skills for Addiction Recovery
At Four Seasons Detox, we address the underlying causes of substance use disorders and provide the tools necessary for sustainable addiction recovery. That’s why our programs emphasize skills for addiction recovery.
Luxury Detox in Ventura County
Detox is a precursor to our other addiction treatment programs. At our Luxury Detox in Ventura County, you will have a compassionate team of professionals by your side who will help you get through withdrawal symptoms that may occur during the acute withdrawal stage. Once you are physically stable and through the initial withdrawal phase, you can transition into our residential program, where you will focus on learning skills for addiction recovery.
Inpatient Drug Rehab in Ventura County
Our Inpatient Drug Rehab in Ventura County teaches a full spectrum of addiction recovery skills. We provide individualized care, with life skills, communication skills, relapse prevention, and other skills all included in our programs. You’ll engage in individual therapy sessions, where you can hone in on your most personal concerns. Groups and group therapy sessions are held daily, which will help you learn life, mindfulness skills, and health and wellness skills. Other activities, like family therapy, recreation, holistic practices, and specialized services for people who are a part of specific groups, are also a part of the program.
Dual Diagnosis Treatment in Ventura County
Many people with substance use disorders also have a mental health condition, like anxiety, depression, or a trauma disorder. We offer Dual Diagnosis Treatment in Ventura County, which is a type of treatment that addresses addiction and co-occurring disorders simultaneously. In this program, you’ll learn skills that help you manage co-occurring disorders as well as substance abuse to promote the best possible treatment outcomes.
Call Four Seasons Detox for Comprehensive Addiction Recovery Skills
Four Seasons Detox is a premier drug and alcohol addiction treatment center in California. Our experienced team is here to help you gain the tools you need to overcome substance abuse and cope with challenges that may arise in your day-to-day life after treatment. Call Four Seasons Detox for comprehensive addiction recovery skills today at (805) 991-5111.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Addiction Recovery Skills
Why are addiction recovery skills important?
Recovery is about more than being abstinent from substances. Addiction tends to serve a purpose, and finding other ways to get your needs met is vital, which is where addiction recovery skills factor in. Having the tools necessary to sustain sobriety and take care of your overall health, including your emotional, physical, and social health, means that you will be in the strongest possible place to combat urges and move forward in life with confidence.
What are some lifestyle-related addiction recovery skills?
Lifestyle can be a crucial part of recovery and relapse prevention. Examples of lifestyle-related addiction recovery skills may include:
Using sleep hygiene practices to promote adequate, high-quality sleep.
Building self-care routines (e.g., bathing, physical activity).
Eating balanced meals and snacks.
Four Seasons Detox emphasizes lifestyle, including nutrition, sleep, and physical activity, as integral to the recovery process.
What are some relapse prevention skills for addiction recovery?
Recovery is an ongoing process, and relapse prevention is a part of it. Relapse prevention involves the use of strategies and resources that help you get through urges to use drugs or alcohol and get back on track if needed. Examples of relapse prevention skills for addiction recovery include but aren’t limited to:
Maintaining healthy routines. This can include lifestyle-related factors but might also involve going to support groups regularly and other routines that support your recovery.
Identifying your support system. Acknowledging who is in your support system and turning to them when you need help is a skill.
Stress management. Managing stress through yoga, distractions like hiking or listening to music, journaling, maintaining healthy social connections, grounding exercises, and other strategies is critical for mental and physical health.
These are just some examples of the tools that can help you in reducing relapse risk. Everyone is different. Our center will help you discover the skills for addiction recovery that best suit you and your needs.
