The recovery process is highly influenced by an individual's mindset and comprehension of the journey ahead. It is not an easy route, but all in all, through various interventions recovery can be achieved. It is prudent to note that if one cultivates a wrong mindset when starting, he or she will have a journey that is harder than it needs to be (Kelly & White, 2011). A positive growth mindset allows one to gain vital mindsets into a problem and eventual unlocking of hidden solutions that were unknown to self.
Acquiring a positive mindset takes some effort. It requires an individual to pay attention to prevailing thoughts and thus take the appropriate measures to discern helpful or harmful thoughts. Changing one's mindset begins with the admission of a problem and the need to solve it. By admitting, one takes a positive step into laying the ground for viable solutions. Self-efficacy is further achieved where a party enjoys high levels of self-belief and trust in instituting recovery. It is a common fact that every positive outcome is traced back to the thoughts by an individual. This is because “thoughts generated from our beliefs about ourselves, and they later come to influence our actions" (Casey, 2016). A person must, therefore, begin by reaffirming positive thoughts on a daily basis. He or she must focus on constantly reminding himself that the path taken is for the better. In turn, this will institute a change in attitude and beliefs towards self "to reflect the truth that you are a unique individual that is destined for better outcomes in the long run.
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Patience is critical while trying to change one's mindset. It is through the art of self-tolerance that one can sift through his behavioral patterns. Additionally, one can rely on the aid of a therapist to pinpoint these elements or patterns. A therapist is well-equipped to aid one's navigation in the mental constructs with the intent of achieving clarity in thought and understanding. One may also take up lessons in mindfulness or mediation. These are useful tools in the management of one's mental process and overall mindset which then guarantees long-lasting recovery.
Values are critical in the recovery process. This is because they are the principles or qualities that one considers integral enough to be personified. As an individual, your value represents what you perceive as most important in life. They often 'translate to the standards of behavior a person wants to demonstrate to him-or herself as well as to others"(Casey, 2016). They define what kind of a person one wants to be as well as what kind of life he or she wants to pursue. In a nutshell, when you choose to live by them, the values influence your thinking, your priorities, your choices, your actions, and your decision-making process.
In the recovery process, there are common values that are core. Honesty is the first value that one must embrace. You have to be honest with yourself, family, friends, therapist, partner, employer et cetera. By being honest, one can forge a clear psyche that is important in encouraging the necessary conversations moving forward on the best way to live one's life (Wanberg & Milkman, 1998). Additionally, it hinders room for guilty conscience which in turn may lead to relapse or withdrawal. Responsibility is another value which is fundamental for recovery to take place. One must take responsibility for his or her actions in cognizance of consequences or outcomes. One must value his or her wellbeing and health. This is because the end-goal of the recovery journey is to have a healthy life that is productive and positive.
There are some obstacles that affect the recovery journey. Firstly, toxic attitudes have been known to affect most of the recovering individuals. Toxic attitudes are "a blanket term for some negative beliefs and emotions" such as impatience, resentment, self-delusion, self-pity. It covers anything that promotes a false self (Casey, 2016). For instance, an impatient individual may struggle from the onset with the long journey to achieving full recovery. Self-pity, on the other hand, may prompt self-preservation and hopelessness with the recovery put in place. The next obstacle is unrealistic expectations. This occurs when an individual's mindset is tied to the notion of "should." Such notions are not founded on reality and may distort how an individual sees self and thus may undermine "the recovery efforts."
Fear is another major challenge which may bring about inaction on the part of a recovering individual. It also hinders one's ability to think with clarity. An unclear mind creates a breeding ground for self-doubt and thereby making one overwhelmed with stress. At the very end, fear gives a recovering person an excuse to relapse (Melemis, 2015). Avoidance is another obstacle which sees individuals ignore problems or challenges hoping that they will go away. It creates a laxity which may see a person veer off from the recovery process (Wanberg & Milkman, 1998). This is closely followed by passivity which sees individuals refuse to take action or do what it has to take to recover. A passive recovering individual may relapse as he or she is not wholly committed to set out the program.
To avoid anxiety and fear in the recovery process, an individual must take the initiative of doing away with avoidance. The only way to fight fear and anxiety is to face it head-on. Avoiding strategies employed by many people are usually easy to fall for; however, with the help of therapy, this can be undone (Kelly & White, 2011). A therapist facilitates a safe environment especially if one has undergone a traumatic event. Such a safe environment allows an individual to unpack his fear and anxiety as well as reconstruct memories.
It is prudent that an individual develops a healthy sense of personal control. This will be important in creating room for management of any arising pressures or unwanted thoughts. People are encouraged to focus their energies on elements and things that they feel they can wield control rather than situations that are out of their influence or reach (Melemis, 2015). Anxiety and fear force one to remember or process negative thoughts and experiences. A recovering person can circumvent this by learning how to notice and appreciate what positivity is. Positivity boils down to one’s perspective. Positivity builds a resilience which can be used to fight fear and anxiety.
As an individual, you can face fear and anxiety in some ways. As aforementioned, meditation is a viable way which may give you an opportunity to interrogate your thoughts. This demands clarity as well as a stable environment. Meditation can be made possible through exercises such as yoga which is meant to promote oneness in body, mind, and spirit. The meditation exercises involve control of one's breathing and other body processes. With time, an individual gains control and eventual sense of balance even in anxious scenarios. Additionally, one must find the meaning of life. By having a sense of direction and purpose, individuals can take effectively any depressing moments. It keeps one in focus and objective despite the probable existence of harmful underlying elements.
Women are far more anxious and fearful than men. This boils down to gender disparities both in hormonal fluctuations and brain chemistry. “The reproductive events across a woman's life are linked to hormonal changes which have been associated with anxiety" (Wanberg & Milkman, 1998). For instance, the surge in progesterone and estrogen that occurs during pregnancy can lead to an obsessive-compulsive disorder which is associated with severe episodes of obsessions and impulses. Additionally, many women are wired to be emotive about issues affecting them. They are likely to ruminate about life stressors in comparison to their male counterparts who "engage in active problem-focused coping mechanisms" (Wanberg & Milkman, 1998).Women are more susceptible to mental and physical abuse which usually leads to the development of anxiety disorders.
Obstacles of fear and anxiety boil to how one becomes incapacitated by the aforementioned conditions. Anxiety leads one to have self-doubt. The self-doubt manifests in ones continued questioning of his ability to withstand the recovery program. An individual may have high expectations which he or she may fall short of achieving in an expected timeline (Kelly & White, 2011). The expectations create mental barriers that may affect the recovery process in the long run.
Mindset myths are several and may affect how individuals view the recovery process. The first myth is that mindset equals positive thinking. Everyone has a mindset which he or she constructs through thoughts and behavioral patterns. Another myth is that a mindset is conclusive. This is a fallacy since a mindset is a dynamic element subject to new experiences and shift in thinking. The dynamism makes it an uncontrollable element for individuals particularly those in the recovery process. The third myth is that it is tasking to change. There is a common misconception that individuals have to institute mindset changes through an "emotionally painful and difficult” (Melemis, 2015). However, the changes are instituted by "our belief systems at the most fundamental level are specific patterns of energy and information within the body."
References
Casey, K. (2016). Change your mind and your life will follow: 12 simple principles . Newburyport, MA: Conari Press.
Kelly, J. F., & White, W. L. (2011). Addiction recovery management: Theory, research, and practice . New York: Humana.
Melemis, S. (2015). Relapse Prevention and the Five Rules of Recovery. Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine , 88 (3), 325-332.
Wanberg, K. W., & Milkman, H. B. (1998). Criminal conduct and substance abuse treatment: Strategies for self-improvement and change: the provider's guide . Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications.
