Getting help can be a very difficult process. It takes a lot of strength to recognize that you need help, and even more courage to reach out and accept support. Still, admitting that you have a problem is one of the bravest things you can do for yourself and your recovery.
Accepting help requires you to reprioritize your life by putting your health and well-being first. As you navigate these major life changes, you may encounter resistance from the people who are in your life. This is why it is essential to set reasonable boundaries and to learn the rules of recovery.
You have made an important choice to learn to live a sober life. It can be beneficial to recognize some tips to help you along the way.
Why It Matters: Healthy Goals and Healthy Limits
You may be wondering why setting limits matters for your recovery. After all, you got here because you knew you had a problem and you wanted to learn how to fix it. After all, it was your own choice to seek treatment and get well.
It is no secret that you are influenced by the people around you. Many times, this influence is positive. Eating fresh-baked cookies at grandma’s house, friendly smiles from coworkers, hugs and greetings with friends, and the spark of romance with your partner are all positive connections you make with other people.
Sometimes the connections you have with other people can become toxic in your life. Not all influences are positive influences. In treatment and recovery, it is important to identify bad influences in both existing and potential relationships and to set reasonable boundaries to keep these influences from interfering with your life moving forward.
After all, the goal of recovery is to achieve and maintain lifelong sobriety. In doing so, you can experience the wonderful world around you and sustain the happiness and contentment you dream about.
Setting Boundaries: Rules to Live By
Being able to set reasonable limits may seem like a hard task, but it is easier than you might think. Perhaps a parental figure in your life told you not to spoil your dinner. At the time, you may not have liked it, but as an adult, you can see the value in setting that boundary.
Just as your parental figure cared about you, now is the time to care about yourself. Setting boundaries is about respecting yourself and putting yourself first. Remember, this is not about limiting other people, but rather exploring your ability to create a healthier life.
Try writing your boundaries down on paper and explain why you feel you need to set that limit. When you read it back to yourself, you will begin to understand that you are being completely reasonable. Share your goals and your limits with the people you care about and be upfront about it. Your loved ones will understand.
Finding Confidence in Better Choices
Setting boundaries is a healthy choice you can make in recovery because it encourages you to honor your needs. It is important to recognize boundary-setting as a practice of self-love.
When you care about yourself and your health, you prioritize a healthier attitude and lifestyle. It is a form of honesty with yourself, as boundaries address your personal limits. Setting boundaries is like giving yourself a positive affirmation — you are worthy of love, health, and happiness.
Living by the Five Rules of Recovery
The best thing that you can ever do for yourself is to choose to prioritize your health and well-being. When you do, the people who love you and care for you will understand and support your decisions.
As you continue on the road to recovery, there are a few more skills to remember. These can be summed up in the five rules of recovery:
#1 Change your life. Reaching recovery is not just about substance use. It is also about choosing a more positive mindset and cleansing your mind, body, and spirit in the process. Changing your life means removing the factors that led you to substance use in the first place. Now that you have made yourself a priority, you don’t need those things anymore.
#2 Be completely honest. Be honest with yourself and with everyone around you, too. The people who love and care about you will be by your side no matter what.
#3 Ask for help. Do not be afraid to admit when you need help. In recovery, you may have to ask for help from your support team, but know that they will be happy to provide it. There is no shame in getting well.
#4 Remember that recovery means caring for yourself and practicing self-love. Remember that you are the strongest person you know. This is because you admitted you needed help, and sought treatment. Do not forget to stop and smell the roses, clear your mind, practice mindfulness and meditation, and focus on keeping your spirit well, too.
#5 Do not break the rules. Do not sabotage your recovery by choosing to follow the rules that work for you. The rules are there to help you get well. Do not let others make you feel like you should bend the rules for them, either. That is where boundaries come in. Set reasonable limits and keep them, and you will find calmer waters as you sail through this period of recovery.
Once you recognize that you have a problem and need help to seek treatment, your whole life will change. It can be hard to change the way you think and realize that it is important to make yourself a priority. But once you do, you will realize that you can change your life for the better by embracing self-care as a part of your mindfulness routine. The people around you who love and care for you want you to succeed and achieve lifelong sobriety. Setting limits and boundaries about what you are able to do is an important step in the healing process. To truly leave substance use behind, you have to separate yourself from the influences that led you there and make living healthy and sober your top priority. At Lighthouse Recovery, our goal is to help you every step along the way. Call us at (214) 717-5884 today.
