You may find it challenging to categorize certain emotions during aftercare and ongoing recovery. Cultivating emotional intelligence can help you recognize your feelings and how they may impact your behaviors or choices. Finding healthy ways to maintain emotional stability improves overall mental health and reduces the risk of relapse. The Guest House offers ongoing services, including yoga and meditation, to help you address your emotional health.
Achieving Emotional Stability in Recovery
Chronic substance abuse affects areas of the brain responsible for emotion regulation. According to Addiction, “Individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs) have been shown to have higher levels of negative emotionality, with some evidence suggesting impairment in emotion regulation compared with individuals without SUDs.” Recovering from substance use and mental health disorders does not mean constantly experiencing only positive emotions. Instead, healing involves developing ways to manage emotions.
You can achieve emotional stability in recovery by doing the following:
- Maintaining a solid support system
- Utilizing support resources, including self-help groups and individual therapy
- Practicing regular self-care and maintaining healthy lifestyle changes
Recovery from substance abuse and mental health disorders takes time. Emotions may change over time, and you may experience new emotional responses as you navigate long-term recovery. A positive outlook on life can help you stay healthy and feel more in control of your recovery.
Experts at The Guest House work with alumni to ensure they continue to find beneficial ways to manage emotions during aftercare. You can continue to seek out support and guidance from the dedicated care team, working with them to find healthy ways to address stressors and triggers that cause emotional distress.
The Health Benefits of Maintaining Positive Emotional Health
Everyone experiences days when they feel sad, overwhelmed, anxious, and negative. If those days happen frequently, you may begin to feel disheartened or ambivalent about making necessary lifestyle changes that support sobriety. The best way to stop yourself from backsliding into maladaptive behaviors is by learning to identify and address the root causes of negativity.
You can experience many health benefits from maintaining positive mental health, including the following:
- Stronger interpersonal relationships
- Reduced stress levels
- Less severe mental health symptoms
- Reduced risk of developing additional mental health disorders
- Better overall physical health
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), “Emotional wellness is the ability to successfully handle life’s stresses and adapt to change and difficult times.” Physical health is directly linked to emotional wellness. People who feel more positive about themselves and their lives often practice healthier behaviors, including staying physically active and eating balanced meals. The Guest House ensures that alumni have the tools and resources to develop positive routines and behaviors, which reduces the risk of relapse or other adverse outcomes.
Quick Ways to Check Your Emotional Health
You may find it challenging to identify emotion dysregulation. Check in with yourself regularly to determine if you feel more stressed or anxious than normal. These check-ins can increase self-awareness and promote personal growth. Staying aware of your emotional state can help you avoid potential complications during aftercare or ongoing recovery.
A few quick ways to check your emotional health status include the following:
- Keeping a mood journal to track emotional and mood shifts over time
- Speaking with loved ones to see if they have noticed a difference in your mood, emotions, or behavior
- Taking the time to meditate on your emotions and identify your feelings
- Using an emotion wheel or other therapeutic tools to identify your emotions and determine the potential cause
Emotions naturally change over time, and it is normal not to always understand your feelings. However, being mindful and remaining aware of your emotions and how they affect your behavior reduces stress and helps you maintain emotional stability.
How The Guest House Supports the Emotional Health of Alumni
Alumni can access a range of support services and community events, gaining valuable social and therapeutic support. The Guest House encourages alumni to follow up with clinicians if they experience unexpected or unusual emotional outbursts and mood swings. In some cases, these may be an indication that you need some temporary professional treatment to work through stressful or traumatic events impacting your mental health. Use alumni services to reduce your risk of relapse by addressing challenges and setbacks as they occur.
The Role of Aftercare Support and Self-Help Groups
Aftercare services provide vital emotional and social support. Therapy, self-help groups, and other aftercare services can help you maintain positive mental health and cope with stressors in your everyday life. Emotion regulation is easier when you have a community of individuals at your side, uplifting and empowering you.
Aftercare and self-help groups provide you with the following:
- Ongoing accountability
- Mutual encouragement of personal growth
- A sense of belonging
- Reinforcement of essential coping skills
- Access to additional recovery resources
- A nonjudgmental space for self-expression
The Guest House provides alumni and their families with various supportive services to help them continue healing. Take advantage of these services to avoid experiencing setbacks related to emotion dysregulation. With the right support, you can learn to manage your emotional responses effectively.
Your emotional health is directly tied to your sobriety and physical wellness. Maintaining emotional health through routines and behaviors allows you to continue progressing in your recovery journey. Emotion regulation is a vital part of treatment for most people. You can use the skills and techniques you learned during treatment to address any stressors affecting your emotional wellness. Often, identifying the cause of emotional distress can help you determine how to manage it effectively. The Guest House offers a variety of alumni support services to ensure that you have the resources to address any issues affecting your emotional health. To learn more about our services, call our office today at (855) 483-7800.