Much of the stigma of addiction is external.
Therefore it's challenging to overcome.
However, you can control how you react to this stigma.
Whether you hear or feel people around you trying to drag you down, there are some steps that you can take to overcome these things.
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with these things so that you can work on building yourself up.
Address the point where you're at and accept that your addiction makes it challenging for you to make good decisions.
At the same time, you need to accept this is a disease from which you can recover.
These facts will enable you to be truthful when someone asks about your recovery.
It doesn't mean that you can simply and easily navigate this road.
Both mental and emotional struggles will happen.
However, when someone shows you that they believe the stigma of addiction, you're in a better place to accept that they don't understand what you're going through.
You may even be able to educate them by allowing them to share in your struggle and thus help them end the stigma of addiction.
As you struggle with overcoming your addiction, you need to make sure that you have a strong, positive support system around you.
You want people who understand addiction, can help you manage therapy, and promote healing of your body and mind.
These are what you'll need so you can succeed in your recovery.
You don't need to surround yourself with people who encourage the stigma of addiction.
They'll only drag you down and cause you to relapse.
Although it's challenging and hurtful to face the stigma of addiction, you shouldn't accept it as your problem.
It's something that belongs to the other person because they fail to understand what you're going through.
Fortunately, you understand how harmful the stigma of addiction is because you've worked hard to overcome it.
It doesn't matter when or why you started your addiction.
It only matters that you're a strong enough person to overcome it (even though you may not always feel strong).
Don't let those who cannot understand these things have the power to drag you down.
No matter how well you understand the stigma of addiction, it'll still impact you.
Therefore you must develop healthy coping skills.
They'll guide you through the hard times you encounter along the way.
Some of the coping skills that'll help you here include:
These things will help you avoid spiraling downward into relapse.
Make sure you use them when you discover you're feeling the worst.
Take a moment and think about what you want your future to hold.
Set some achievable goals to help move you towards this future.
These will help you remain true to your recovery as you'll be too busy working towards your goals that you won't have time to return to your addiction.
At the same time, it'll also help you finally show those around you that their stigma of addiction simply isn't true.
Remember, addiction is a disease that significantly changes your brain.
The stigma of addiction occurs because people don't understand this.
It isn't up to you to change their opinions, but it is up to you to define your future.
By working with us at Overcomers Counseling, you'll become confident in who you are and able to step away from the negativity.
Take the first and biggest step in your recovery.
Reach out to us today.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11673-017-9784-y
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1034/j.1600-0447.2003.00075.x
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Many of us are often faced with struggles and hardships and finding help can be difficult. However, at Overcomers Counseling, we are here to help you in your time of need. We are passionate about people and we believe that ANYONE can be an overcomer if they are willing to pursue it. Don't let another day go by without getting the help you desire.
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Support Team Hours
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Tuesday | 8:00am - 5:00pm |
Wednesday | 8:00am - 5:00pm |
Thursday | 8:00am - 5:00pm |
Friday | 8:00am - 5:00pm |
Saturday | Closed |
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