Changing Your Mindset in Addiction Recovery

Changing Your Mindset in Addiction Recovery

Recovering from an addiction is a challenging process. It takes humility, honesty, and strength. Learning new behaviors and coping mechanisms to alter your life also play an important role. The recovery process for addiction of any kind can be complicated, especially if you have the same mindset that you had going into the program. Altering your mindset in addiction recovery can be the key to success for many people as they navigate the steep terrain of overcoming their addictions.

Breaking Down the Mindset Types

When we say “mindset,” what do we mean? A mindset is your way of thinking and your attitude about your everyday life. Have you ever met anyone who always looked at the negative side of things? Imagine the “Debbie Downer” character from Saturday Night Live. No matter what happened, her mind was focused on the downside and never looking towards the positive.

Getting through the challenge of recovery involves changing your mindset in addiction recovery. Instead of focusing on the downfalls that got you to where you are, or the life events that you can’t seem to let go of, you instead make the choice to become laser-focused on your goal. You want to have a mindset of growth versus a fixed mindset.

According to Dr. Julie Smith, a growth mindset and a fixed mindset are the two most common frames of mind.[1] Either a person is growing, or they are remaining stagnant. Dr. Smith breaks down these two states of consciousness like this:

1. Fixed Mindset

A fixed mindset is a perception that nothing changes. Everyone is born a certain way, with specific traits and abilities that are unable to be altered.

2. Growth Mindset

This type of thinking involves believing that everyone can change and grow, as long as they put in the effort.

Mindset Matters – Especially in Recovery

Why is a mindset shift so important when it comes to addiction recovery?

Elevating your way of thinking is vital to recovery from addiction. Moving to a mindset of growth versus stagnation can make all the difference in your sobriety. A growth mindset will motivate you beyond your addiction recovery as you learn to continually evolve and grow through change. Those who are focused on achieving daily milestones and working towards becoming their best selves will have more success than those who don’t.

Expecting that nothing will ever change does not bode well for someone who is in recovery or working toward recovery. Anyone who is working through addiction cannot do so if they are not willing to accept change and face fears to strive for their goals. If they have a fixed mindset, they will see altering their life as nearly impossible.

Those who have the understanding and the belief that an individual can elevate their life through goal-setting are more likely to achieve the goals that they are striving to achieve. They are less likely to give up, and they are more likely to believe in themselves. This is something that is vital to their health, well-being, and success in any recovery program.

Key Ways to Change Your Mindset in Addiction Recovery

If you are focused on elevating your frame of mind and daily way of thinking, these steps can help you get there.

• When you falter or make a misstep and are hearing negative self-talk, Dr. Julie Smith recommends adding “YET” to the end of your sentence.[2] Instead of “I can’t do this.” Think to yourself, “I can’t do this, YET.”
• Smith also suggests using compassion when responding to yourself and working through your challenges. If you “fail,” ask yourself, “What have I learned?” “How can I do things differently next time?”[2]
• Using another person’s success as inspiration, instead of jealousy, is another suggestion from Dr. Smith.[2]
• Catch yourself when you begin to have doubts and give yourself a pep talk.
• Aim to stop seeking approval for other people or validation from outside sources.
• Strive towards always being your authentic self. When you are trying to be someone you’re not, you aren’t true to yourself.

These tricks can help you begin to build and elevate your way of thinking to a growth mindset. Doing so can help anyone achieve success in their goals.

Addiction Recovery In Arizona

If you or someone you love is facing addiction and wants to break the cycle, Modern Recovery in Arizona is here for you. According to Help.org, “159,000 people use hard drugs like cocaine and heroin, over 700,000 use marijuana, and another 370,000 abuse alcohol in Arizona every year.”[3]

At Modern Recovery, we’re here to help anyone who is battling an addiction with every aspect of recovery. We offer supervised detox referrals, group and individual counseling, outpatient counseling, dual diagnosis, holistic care, and diet and nutrition assistance. Our comprehensive program involves changing mindsets to a growth point of view.

We’re here to help you become your best self. Contact us today to start on the path towards a healthier mindset focused on growth.

Sources:

• Help.org: https://www.help.org/drug-and-alcohol-rehab-centers-in-arizona/
• National Institute on Drug Abuse: https://www.webmd.com/cancer/qa/what-does-holistic-care-mean
• Verywell mind: https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-a-mindset-2795025
• Brain Pickings: https://www.brainpickings.org/2014/01/29/carol-dweck-mindset/
• Harvard Business Review: https://hbr.org/2016/01/what-having-a-growth-mindset-actually-means
• Verywell mind: https://www.verywellmind.com/tips-for-staying-clean-and-sober-67900
• James Clear: https://jamesclear.com/fixed-mindset-vs-growth-mindset
• WebMD: https://www.webmd.com/cancer/qa/what-does-holistic-care-mean