Research supports that individuals who struggle with addiction experience lower self-esteem than non-addicts. However, addiction recovery offers individuals the opportunity to not just overcome their addiction, but rebuild their self-esteem and confidence so you can improve your health and happiness for the better. Keep reading to learn how you can build your self-esteem and confidence in recovery so you can lead a healthier, happier life.
Pathways Recovery offers top-rated addiction treatment centers for men and women to overcome their addictions and heal their minds, bodies, and spirits. We understand that no two recovery journeys are ever the same. That’s why we offer a comprehensive range of addiction treatment programs to help as many patients as possible safely and effectively achieve sobriety. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you break free of addiction.
How to Build Self Esteem and Confidence in Recovery
Rebuilding your self esteem and confidence is an important part of your addiction recovery journey. Below are several ways in which you can build healthy self esteem and confidence in recovery.
- Make Healthy Changes
First, consistently make healthy changes and new habits in your life. From improving your diet to exercising more consistently, all these healthy changes not only help you progress along your road to recovery, but they can also boost your self esteem and confidence. This is because by making healthy changes and sticking with them builds a healthy sense of commitment and purpose in your life.
- Forgive Yourself & Others
Some recovering addicts feel ashamed and embarrassed about their addiction. However, you shouldn’t have to carry this shame and guilt with you. Not only will it slow down your recovery journey, but it will also inevitably reduce your self esteem and confidence in recovery. Therefore, actively forgive yourself for your past behaviors so you can progress and pave a healthier, happier future. Also, forgive others who may have hurt you in the past. Whether it be individuals who may have pressured you to abuse drugs or physically or mentally harmed you, forgive others so you can positively progress in your recovery.
- Set Goals
Goals are another important factor in building self esteem and confidence in recovery. Goals not only give you something to strive for but allow you to push your limits to achieve your greatest potential. When making goals for your recovery journey, make sure they are simple, achievable goals, rather than setting vague goals. For example, a great specific goal can be attending weekly support group meetings rather than having a vague goal that simply states you want to quit abusing drugs.
- Practice Self Care
Self care is another important factor for building confidence in recovery. Self care is showing yourself compassion and self-love by practicing certain activities that light you up and give you joy. Examples of self care can be physical activities like working out or yoga to more mental activities like journaling or reading.
- Practice Positive Self Talk
Last but not least, the thoughts you tell yourself matter. It’s critical you practice positive self talk to boost your self confidence and progress along your recovery journey. Otherwise, negative self talk can not only lower your self esteem, but increase your risk of relapsing and falling back into old habits. Therefore, try to acknowledge what you tell yourself, and whenever you notice yourself thinking negative, discouraging thoughts about yourself, change your thinking and try to compliment yourself on something you are proud of or grateful for.
Leading Addiction Treatment Centers for Men and Women
Although addiction can negatively impact your self-confidence, there are several healthy ways to rebuild your self esteem and confidence to lead a happier, healthier life. From forgiving yourself for your past to consistently practicing self care, the above ways are simple yet highly effective solutions to support you on your recovery journey.
At Pathways Recovery, we offer leading addiction treatment in Northern California. We help treat a wide range of different substance use disorders so you can receive the exact care you need to best support you on your road to recovery. You should never feel too afraid or ashamed to ask for help in beating your addiction. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help your recovery journey.
