Tips for Happiness in Recovery

Happiness is something that everyone is after in one way or another. For addicts in recovery, happiness is not only a destination they want to reach but an important way to approach their recovery as a whole. With between 40 and 60 percent of addicts returning to previous drug abuse after stopping, according to JAMA, finding happiness in your life without drugs and alcohol can help you to stay clean. Happiness in recovery can be something as simple as being of service to others starting out their recovery or adopting a new elements in your lifestyle.

6 Minute Read | Published Sep 28 2023 | Updated Jan 22 2024

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Tips for Happiness in Recovery to Achieve Long-Term Sobriety

In this article, we will look at tips on how to stay sober from drugs through finding happiness in your life.

Intimacy and Close Relationships

As human beings, we are naturally social. People who rate themselves as being happy tend to have very close relationships with others. Prioritizing meaningful friendship and strong connections with other people, and making time to spend with them can bring you happiness in recovery.

Giving Back

One of the key steps in the 12-step program is helping others. The idea is that by helping other people with their recovery, it strengthens your own recovery. Just giving back and helping others, even if it isn’t with a drug problem, can provide happiness in a person’s life. From walking dogs at an animal shelter to helping those in need, being of service to others can bring profound happiness in recovery.

Proper Nutrition and Exercise

One of the recovery aspects that people are taught is the benefits of being healthy. Exercise can be a great way to lose unwanted stress and to improve your mood. Coupled with a healthy eating plan, positive thinking in addiction recovery can be brought about through how you treat your body.

Hobbies and Goals

Regardless of who you are or what you are going through, it’s hard to be happy with what you are doing if you don’t set yourself goals. Small goals that you set yourself can not only help you to sort out areas of your life, but it can give you a sense of accomplishment and happiness as you achieve your goals.

Similarly, hobbies can give meaning to a person’s life. It can give them something that they enjoy doing on a regular basis. If you are wondering how to stay sober from drugs, hobbies can be a great solution.

Religion and Spirituality

Millions of people around the world find their happiness through religion or a higher power. Studies show that religious people are among the happiest people. As with the 12-step program, introducing spirituality and religion can help to a person get rid of stress by sharing their burden and finding peace and happiness within themselves.

Gratitude and Positive Thinking in Addiction Recovery

Happiness in recovery for some people comes through gratitude of where they are now compared to the dark places they were in their life before. Along with gratitude for the things you do have such as the support and love of others, positive thinking is important. Optimism is about accepting the difficult times but believing that just around the corner, happiness awaits you.

With these tips for the drug recovery process, you can begin to find happiness in many areas of your life. Happiness can be the difference between a lifelong struggle with addiction and finding peace and acceptance.

If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, get help right away. Make a phone call that will connect you to a professional drug treatment center. The call you make may save your life or the life of someone you love. Call us today at (800) 429-7690.