Redefining Happiness After Heroin Rehab
Happiness is often elusive to those living with addiction. It’s not uncommon for many patients in recovery to report that they first began abusing drugs and alcohol due to struggles with depression or anxiety, issues that kept them from feeling relaxed and comfortable in their bodies and in their lives. The answer, they thought, was to get loaded or to get drunk – they quickly figured out that living life as an addict was none too pleasant and meant an even deeper sadness or anger. During drug and alcohol addiction treatment, then, one of the many priorities becomes learning how to make your own happiness or to redefine what exactly happiness is in order to avoid relapse and find peace in your life.
What is Happiness in Recovery?
Everyone defines happiness differently, but most say that if they were able to get one specific missing thing in their lives, then everything would be great. Unfortunately, even if that wish were granted, happiness still eludes many who were unhappy before they got what they wanted.
For example, money is one of the most common things that people say they need for happiness. Bills, debt, rent, the state of the economy – it seems like having it would make everything easier. Interestingly, researchers have taken a look at the effects of the lottery on its winners. Did lottery winners report that they were happy once they had enough money to get out of debt and buy everything they wanted? The surprising result was a resounding no.
Redefining happiness to include what you have now and the positive parts of your life and identifying attainable goals to increase what you have is the best way to find a sustainable happiness in recovery.
How Do You Redefine Happiness in Recovery?
If you’re mad about things that happened to you in the past or view that you have been unfairly treated and allow that anger or depression to carry over into your day-to-day life, it’s important to work through those specific issues as much as possible – and ultimately, to let them go. Finding happiness means not dwelling on the wrongs of the past, yours or anyone else’s. Instead, it means looking at the good things you have in your life right now and maximizing it to the best of your ability.
A single friend or supportive family member, a good 12-step meeting, a good cup of coffee, one day clean and sober – even five minutes clean and sober, these should be the things that provide you with happiness. If you want more for yourself, make a goal. For example, if you feel that a better job would make you happier, take the steps to get the education you need or get your resume in order. If you’d like to get in better shape, create a workout plan and start eating right. Happiness is in the little things in recovery, and it starts with begin grateful for the good things you already have.
