Hiding from the world takes effort; hiding also ruins our lives. When we hide from our reality, we often find ourselves engaging in behaviors that destroy our resilience and our ability to avoid relapse. Avoiding relapse is most difficult when we avoid facing the reality of our lives.
Reality Happens, Recovery Helps
The Surgeon General’s report on substance use and treatment explains that substance use changes our brain function and behavior. Our method of focusing on recovery must vary based on our needs and changing experiences. Focusing on recovery requires admitting our present reality and switching our focus for recovery based on our experiences.
Focusing on and changing our recovery goals as needed allows us to face reality and better tackle recovery. Recovery is a battle only won when we are willing to face our current circumstances. So, reality happens, but recovery helps.
The Importance of Resilience
According to Merriam-Webster’s dictionary, resilience is “an ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change.” Resilience is imperative when focusing on recovery. As we find ourselves battling the day-to-day of our lives, we may find ourselves stressed. We will probably deal with triggers every day. We will experience arguments with friends and loved ones. We will face people, places, and things from our past. Our ability to face and cope with these triggers requires resilience.
Building resilience requires an understanding of our weaknesses and strengths. We all have weaknesses; however, each of us has inner strength upon which we can rely to cope with triggers. Building these strengths requires focus and a keen understanding of who we are as a person.
We were not created to flounder in our recovery but to experience success and keep a focus on who we are meant to be. Our Higher Power and working the steps can ensure our ability to stay focused on our recovery and build our resilience.
Building Resilience Requires Facing Reality
Reality is the experience we find ourselves facing every day. As stated earlier, we will face triggers every day. Our recovery does not occur in a vacuum, and our healing occurs in the real world in real-time. While help is available and support can be found in treatment and meetings, the real work occurs within your ability to face reality.
Resilience is built when you face reality. Your sponsor and relying on your higher power will help, but you must be willing to change your approach to life.
Focusing on strengthening your weaknesses and enhancing your strengths can help you build resilience. As part of recovery, you need to change the people, places, and things that are triggering you to use. While change is difficult, creating a lasting recovery takes time and effort. You cannot expect recovery to happen without making changes to your life.
Asking for help is paramount. At Renaissance Ranch, we offer various treatments to help you at every stage of recovery. We even provide a sober living home for those facing the real world who need extra support. Relying on and asking for additional support does not indicate weakness; instead, admitting you need help is a part of building resilience and becoming strong.
You Cannot Hide From the Truth of Your Life
The first step to facing reality is admitting you are struggling in your recovery. Reworking the beginning steps and asking for help does not indicate weakness. Your willingness to face the reality of your life is building strength. Remember: You are worth recovery. Facing triggers and various stressors is a part of everyone’s life. However, you have to face the reality of not giving in to what your triggers are making you want to do. You do not want to use alcohol and/or other substances again. There is a saying: “One is too much, and a thousand is never enough.”
Using just once puts you at risk of continued relapse, and you know relapse is not what you want. Knowing this and asking for help means avoiding relapse.
Facing reality is one of the most challenging aspects of recovery. When leaving treatment or even just facing life while working on recovery, the yearning to relapse may occur. However, you can overcome. Relapse does not have to happen to you. A critical component of avoiding relapse is building resilience.
Resilience is developed when you are willing to face the reality of your triggers and begin focusing on how to withstand the pressure of your reality. You can overcome; asking for help is not indicative of weakness. Instead, asking for help is operating with great strength and resilience. You are facing the reality of your struggle when you ask for help.
Facing reality is required for building resilience in your recovery. Recovery does not occur in a vacuum but requires you face the truth of what is occurring in your life. At Renaissance Ranch, we understand how complicated recovery can be. However, we know you are able to withstand the pressures of life and experience true healing. If you or someone you know is struggling with recovery and/or addiction to alcohol and/or other substances, help is available. You can experience the hope of healing. We offer clinically-driven and gospel-centered treatment for every step of the recovery process, whether you are beginning with detoxification or need support through a sober living home or outpatient therapy. At Renaissance Ranch, we know recovery is difficult, but believe in and offer support for your pursuit of recovery. Contact us at Renaissance Ranch by calling (801) 308-8898 today to speak to a member of our compassionate staff and learn how we can help.