Building Resilience in Recovery

Individuals recovering from substance use disorder (SUD) face many unexpected challenges and situations. Treatment programs prepare clients to engage more fully in recovery and help people gain confidence in their ability to maintain sobriety. In addition, treatment also provides clients with a more positive view of their long-term recovery and mental health. According to Alcohol Research Current Reviews, "[O]ptimism has been associated with resilience to stress-related disorders, including [alcohol use disorder]." West Coast Recovery Centers gives clients the skills to build resilience in recovery using evidence-based treatments and alternative holistic therapies. 

What Are the Health Benefits of Resilience in Recovery?

Being able to overcome adversity without resorting to maladaptive behaviors, including substance abuse, reduces the risk of long-term health issues. According to the Industrial Psychiatry Journal, "Resilience refers to overall physical and psychological health, and has been described as the ability to 'bounce back from adversity.'" Resilience is a crucial ability for people in treatment, reducing stress and the risk of relapse.

Individuals recovering from SUD may encounter a wide range of situations and triggers. Resilience allows people to do the following: 

• Increase self-awareness
• Maintain accountability 
• Focus on the future with more positivity
• Increase emotional control 
• Gain self-confidence
• Improve stress management 

Moreover, when combined with determination and motivation, resilience allows clients to successfully overcome roadblocks during treatment without relapsing or falling back into old patterns of behavior. 

What Is the Role of Resilience in Recovery?

Resilience is vital for maintaining abstinence once a person achieves sobriety. Individuals in early recovery must navigate many stressful and emotionally uncomfortable situations. Resilience allows people to withstand higher levels of stress and adapt more quickly to new situations. Meanwhile, individuals with higher levels of resilience often report fewer barriers to maintaining long-term recovery. 

Resilience plays a vital role in developing positive mental health during recovery from SUD. Everyone has moments where they feel overwhelmed. The effects of SUD may cause those moments to feel more intense for individuals in early recovery. Resilience allows people to adapt by using their skills and support system to make the stress more manageable. 

How Does Building Resilience in Recover Decrease the Risk of Relapse?

Individuals diagnosed with substance abuse may experience emotional or physical relapse at some point during their recovery. According to the publication Addiction Relapse Prevention by authors Guenzel and McChargue, "One primary concern in addiction treatment is the high rate of relapses within a short period after even the most intensive treatment." More specifically, approximately 50% of individuals who undergo treatment experience an emotional or physical relapse during long-term recovery. 

Treatment reduces the risk of relapse by providing clients with the following: 

• Prescription medications for managing cravings and other symptoms of SUD
• Peer support and positive social connections 
• Essential skill development
• Alternative holistic therapies for reducing stress 

Clients use the tools they learn in treatment to build resilience and increase self-confidence. Resilience allows clients to avoid falling back into old patterns of thinking or behavior by helping them use the tools they have to manage their condition. Additionally, the care team provides clients with resources and support. Treatment programs offer clients the skills to heal, grow, and build a solid foundation for a sober future. Individual and group therapy sessions provide clients with a safe space to practice setting personal boundaries and using important recovery skills, including problem-solving, conflict resolution, and mindfulness. 

How Does West Coast Recovery Help People Build Resilience in Recovery?

West Coast Recovery Centers offers multiple levels of care to help people in all stages of recovery. Some of the treatments and services offered at West Coast Recovery Centers include, but are not limited to:

• Adventure therapy
• Activity therapy
• Anger management
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
• Experiential therapy
• Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR)
• Music and art therapy
• Relapse prevention education 
• Somatic experiencing
• Alternative holistic therapies, including yoga and meditation
• Alumni services

Clients at West Coast Recovery Centers build resilience by focusing on recovering from the emotional and physical damage caused by substance abuse. Meanwhile, the care team guides clients through the process of healing and self-discovery. 

What Are Some Ways People Build Resilience?

People build resilience by developing healthy coping skills, routines, and behaviors. According to NIH News In Health, "Resilience is a process in which many factors—including family, community, and cultural practices—interact. It boosts wellness and protects you from risks to your well-being."

A few ways clients in treatment can increase resilience is by:

• Engaging in uplifting, healthy, and empowering activities or exercises
• Relying on support systems while maintaining personal accountability and responsibility
• Accepting emotions and acknowledging their effects 
• Setting realistic and attainable recovery goals 
• Focusing on personal strengths instead of perceived failures 
• Practicing regular self-care

The environment where people heal from substance abuse impacts their ability to increase resilience. West Coast Recovery Centers provides clients with a safe, comfortable, and nurturing space to develop healthy social connections, routines, and habits. Every client is different, and the care team takes the time to become familiar with each person, their unique needs, and any factors affecting their recovery. 

Resilience is a key ability in maintaining sobriety and positive mental health during and after treatment. Often, individuals recovering from substance abuse have difficulty with motivation, focus, and stress management. Psychotherapy, prescription medications, peer support, and alternative holistic therapies provide clients with the support and skill development they need to improve resilience. West Coast Recovery Centers uses a whole-person approach to treatment, prioritizing individualized care to ensure every client has the tools to grow and feel more comfortable with their sobriety. The care team collaborates closely with clients and their loved ones to ensure people in early recovery have resources to rely on. Learn more about our programs and services by calling us today at (760) 492-6509.