September is National Recovery Month. What does this mean? It is the month where everyone should take the time the support and celebrate sobriety and recovery. There are also professionals and others who will be working to improve and spread awareness regarding addiction recovery tips, treatments and resources. 

Many people who are in recovery from a drug and//or alcohol addiction continue to overcome obstacles and challenges that threaten their sobriety. Since 2020, with the COVID-19 pandemic, things have been extremely tough. The times of isolation, fear of getting sick, having loved ones pass away and just the daily stressors of not knowing what is happening can take a toll on anyone – especially someone recovering from addiction. 

With all this being said, our Southeast Addiction Center TN team wants you to know that our team is here to help. We are ready to help you get or stay sober. You don’t have to keep going through these trials and struggles all on your own. You can get help starting today. Learn more about National Recovery Month and get going into a recovering lifestyle today. 

Defining National Recovery Month

National Recovery Month is meant to increase the awareness regarding substance use disorders and addictions. It is also meant to help people celebrate their recovery – whether they are struggling from day to day or not. It is for those who are ready to start their recovery, who just began their treatment program, for those who have been sober for years and for all others who are in recovery, too. 

National Recovery Month is the best month to promote treatment and education options regarding mental health and substance abuse services. September is the beginning of fall and end of summer. It is new beginning and a perfect time to admit you need help and to get into a treatment program. 

There are a few other objectives for National Recovery Month, as well, including:

• Promoting relapse prevention
• Talking about various treatment options
• Discussing recovery concerns
• Talking about co-occurring disorders (mental health disorder and substance use disorder together)
• Celebrating everything regarding recovery
• Discussing the 12-step programs
• Appreciating all those who help to make addiction treatments possible
• Spreading the message about addiction recovery
• Sharing behavioral health and treatment ideas and techniques 
• Talking to people about the benefits and effectiveness of addiction treatment

Now that you know more about what National Recovery Month is for, let’s take a look at how you can get involved in recovery for yourself or for others. 

Top Ways to Get Involved in National Recovery Month

There are so many great ways that you can get involved in National Recovery Month – whether that be for yourself, a loved one or for the community. 

Hosting Events

On the National Recovery Month website, there are many event ideas that you can take a look at. You can create and host your own event for this month, as well. If you are going to host a National Recovery Month event, it would be a good idea to post it online, so more people can find and see it. Your social media profile would be a great place to promote this event. 

Going to an Event 

If you aren’t up for hosting a recovery month even, that is alright. You may still want to be a part of National Recovery Month and if that is the case, you could always go to someone else’s event. There are various lists of these events online. You can also check with your local rehab centers or organizations to see what they know about the events in your area. 

In addition to community-based National Recovery Month events, you should be able to find some virtual-based events, too. You can do a quick search online to find a list of these options if you would prefer. 

In these events, you are going to learn more about:

• Treatment options
• Recovery benefits
• Treatment techniques
• Holistic approaches to recovery
• Struggles and/or obstacles in recovery
• Detox process
• Family involvement 
• And so much more…

Don’t let September pass you by without hosting or attending a recovery month event. You wil be glad you were involved. 

Promotion of Recovery Month Information

Do you know someone in your life who is struggling with addiction to drugs and/or alcohol? If so, you probably want to do everything you can to help them find the treatment they need. You probably just want to see them live a life that is healthy, joyful and good for them. 

If this is the case, one of the things you can do is to promote recovery month information on your social media profiles. You don’t have to tag this person or point them out in any way. Just by putting the information out there, it could reach the person you meant to reach and others you know, too. If you profile is public, it could even reach strangers who are just looking for the bit of hope before they dive into recovery.

If you have an addiction, you can check social media profiles for National Recovery Month, addiction treatment centers and other recovery organizations. In these profiles, you should be able to find the information you need to start your recovery. 

Bring Attention to Issues Relating to Addiction

Are you passionate about helping people to stop drinking and driving? Do you want to talk to the community about relevant issues regarding the drug epidemic? Are you concerned about opioid use and addiction risk? 

If you have any of these concerns, take the time to encourage others to learn about these issues, as well. You can have a community-wide picnic and share resources, statistics and other information regarding these issues. You can talk to your family members and friends. 

There truly are amazing ways you can bring attention to issues relating to addiction. If you want more information about how to do this or if you are the one that needs addiction treatment, don’t be afraid to contact our team here at Southeast Addiction Center TN today. We can bring you the knowledge to share with others or to turn your own life around, as well. 

Get the Addiction Treatment Help You Need Right Away

Do you struggle with an addiction to alcohol or drugs? Maybe, you have an addiction to both these substances. It could be someone in your life that you are concerned about. No matter who it is, September (National Recovery Month) is a great time to get addiction treatment.
Contact us today, here at Southeast Addiction Center TN, to get the addiction treatment help you need right away.

Many times in life, things don’t turn out the way we planned. We don’t get to choose our parents, or what kind of home life we’re born into. Life doesn’t guarantee that we’ll learn coping skills. Thankfully, treatment centers offer ways to learn coping skills in recovery. Learning coping skills in recovery can change your entire life.

Some of the factors that contribute to substance abuse disorders include:

● Stress
● Anxiety
● Depression
● Anger

It’s not enough just to get sober. That’s just a starting point. But sobriety helps you think more clearly. You need to think clearly in order to implement stress management in recovery. To learn anger management in recovery also requires a clear head.

The purpose of recovery is building something new, becoming a new person. Creating a new life. How can you do that? What are some of the coping skills in recovery that you can learn? How can you take them with you after treatment?

Why Should Someone Learn Coping Skills In Recovery?

People develop substance use disorders for a variety of reasons. They might be dealing with adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). They might lack a proper network of support. Perhaps they deal with an abusive domestic partner. Some might use drugs because they learned it from a parent.

Underlying many of these problems is a lack of boundaries. Learning coping skills in recovery helps a person understand boundaries. Coping skills help determine when to say “no.” Coping skills distinguish between what to let in, and what to keep out. Furthermore, coping skills in recovery help a person communicate.

Kelly E. Green’s new book Relationships in Recovery: Repairing Damage and Building Healthy Connections While Overcoming Addiction emphasizes the importance of setting boundaries in relationships. In a recent interview for the book, Green noted that people in recovery must strategically change how they relate with others.

But how does a person do that? What are some specific coping skills in recovery?

Stress Management In Recovery

For many people, the word stress has only negative connotations. According to Richard Swenson, people experience stress when their load is greater than their power. A person’s load means their responsibilities and obligations. Power refers to the person’s ability to carry those responsibilities and obligations.

Swenson’s concept of margin details two ways that people can feel less stress:

● Decrease load – reduce their amount of responsibilities, obligations, and roles
● Increase power – become more competent, efficient, or robust in how to carry the load

4 helpful tactics to decrease your load and increase your power are:

● Learn what’s in your control – and what isn’t
● Understand the power of “no”
● Regard yourself as a person worthy of care
● Journaling about your experiences

Learn What’s In Your Control – And What Isn’t

Some things in life are in your control. Others aren’t. Learning the difference may take a lifetime. Thus, it’s important to learn that skill. In truth, very few things in life are in your control. Your most fundamental attribute is what (and how) you think.

To determine what’s actually in your control, ask yourself: what action can I take right now to affect this? If nothing comes to mind, then you cannot effect a meaningful change. Put this particular problem aside, and keep doing so. When you arrive at a problem you can control, take action.

The Power Of “No”

No. Such a powerful word. “No” is integral to proper boundary setting. Without “no,” your life becomes full. Without boundaries, you keep nothing out. So, everything creeps in. Learning to say “no” gives you agency. It gives you control. Your utterance of the word “no” isn’t just for the outside world. It’s for you. “No” means that you have worth and dignity. “No” connotes that your life deserves freedom from encroachment.

When learning coping skills in recovery, here are a few instances where “no” can be helpful.

● Saying “no” to yourself helps liberate you from old habits.
● Saying “no” helps improve (or maybe even end) toxic relationships.
● Saying “no” helps you shoulder your own responsibilities.
● Saying “no” frees you from the need to blame yourself.

Regard Yourself As Someone Worthy Of Care

To develop proper stress and anger management in recovery, you must treat yourself with worth. Think of someone you care about. Imagine that they are dependent on you for their wellbeing.

Their health is totally up to you. You decide what and when they eat. You determine when they go to bed and when they get up. You schedule their day and plan for their activities. With that in mind, imagine doing the same for yourself.

You must regard yourself as someone worthy of care. Doing so will help you adjust your priorities to improve your health. With an improved sense of self-worth, your health will flourish. With better physical and mental health, you’ll have more energy and strength.

Journaling About Your Experiences

Journaling has helped United States military veterans cope with the trauma of war. Research also indicates that journaling helps compulsive gamblers. If you’re just getting started, you might try C.W.V. Straaten’s The Addiction Recovery Journal.

Journaling helps put abstract thought into concrete reality. It offers clarity and focus. It helps you reflect on where you’ve been, where you are, and where you’re headed. Knowledge of this kind empowers you to plan and implement effective solutions.

Coping Skills In Recovery Involve Change

The root of coping skills in recovery is change. Coping means dealing with problems in a way that promotes flourishing. Figuring out coping skills in recovery means setting boundaries. It means discerning what supports your new path from what opposes it.

Stress and management in recovery translates into learning what’s in your control. And also disregarding what isn’t. It involves learning when and how to say “no” to some things. Even good things in your life are not ultimate things. For you to completely recover, some of those good things will have to go. Journaling your experience during recovery will give you a tangible place to start. With your journal in hand, you can articulate problems and solutions in an actionable way.
If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, don’t wait any longer. If you’d like to learn more about coping skills in recovery call Southeast Addiction Center Tennessee now at (615) 326-6449.