Everyone has dealt with low self-esteem at some point. Maybe it was because of your performance in something, bad influences from friends, mood disorders, trauma, or unsupportive parents. People dealing with an addiction often struggle with a wide range of emotions that can lead to low self-esteem. These emotions include shame, worry, guilt, fear, self-judgment, and remorse. Most of the time, someone will continue to use substances to mask these feelings. In return, this only makes the situation worse. If you are in recovery, you do not have to keep struggling with these emotions as they can trigger a relapse. Here are some of the ways you can build your self-esteem.
Accept The Good Happening in Your Life
Patients in a recovery center always question good things happening in their life. You are ashamed of how you behaved while you were an addict, and so subconsciously, you feel like you deserve some form of punishment. So when something good happens to you, you question it and ask why you deserve good things. When you question good things, your self-esteem will never improve. Instead, accept these things happening to you. Whether it is your loved one forgiving you, or getting your job back, tell yourself that you are deserving of them all.
Accept Your Strengths and Weaknesses
Even someone that has not dealt with addiction has strengths and weaknesses. It is part of life. But when you are constantly focusing on your weaknesses, you are likely to feel miserable, which can trigger a relapse. Instead, accept this fact of life. You also need to identify what your weaknesses are. That way, when you are faced with a difficult task, you will not have to pretend to know how to do it. You can ask for help from friends or colleagues. Plus, admitting what your weaknesses are is a strength in a way.
Continue With Treatment
Your recovery journey will still continue even after you are done with inpatient treatment at Pinnacle Recovery Center. As experts say, recovering from an addiction is a lifelong journey. And for you to see progress or growth, you will have to continue taking care of yourself. Therefore, even when at home, continue practicing what you have learned. Your self-esteem will continue to grow the more you see the progress you are making.
Practice Self Care
One of the major ways to build your self-esteem as you are in recovery is through self-care. Taking care of yourself will improve your self-confidence. Also, when people hear of self-care, what comes to mind is going to the spa, taking trips, etc. However, never overlook the most important forms of self-care, which are exercising and eating a healthy diet. During active addiction, most people do not eat healthily, which can result in other health issues. When you take care of yourself, you feel good about yourself.
Do Not Compare Yourself to Other People
It is commonly said that comparison is the thief of joy. The statement is true because comparison will injure your self-esteem. When you compare yourself with others, you will not appreciate the progress you are making in your life. Plus, in life, there will always be someone doing better than you. For instance, you may attend an AA meeting and then compare your progress with someone that has been sober for five years. That will not do you any good. Everyone has their own journey to take. The only thing you can do is to ensure you do better today than what you did yesterday.
Self-esteem is very important in recovery. How you see yourself goes a long way in preventing you from relapsing. Work with the tips mentioned above to improve your self-esteem for a successful recovery journey.
