Many struggling with substance abuse and mental health issues find themselves confronted with a self-deprecating, self-doubting inner voice. This can cause individuals to experience negative emotions and encourage unhealthy mental states, making self-love a challenge. Overcoming these struggles and healing means overcoming negative thought patterns through positive affirmations, humility, and trust in something greater.
It can be a little confusing for people who are just entering a 12-step program or are in treatment to be told that they need to abandon their egos and practice self-love. However, there are methods of practicing positive affirmations that can benefit sobriety. Here at Harmony Hills, we can guide you or a loved one through ways to foster and increase self-love so one’s mental health stays positive and sobriety is lasting. Contact us today at 855.494.0357 or online to learn more about therapy for mental health.
The Importance of Self-Love and Positive Affirmations
Embracing self-love and incorporating positive affirmations into daily life can profoundly affect one’s mental health and journey to sobriety. Understanding these benefits can help individuals recognize the value these practices bring to their recovery process and overall well-being:
- Boosts confidence – Regular affirmations remind individuals of their worth and capabilities, fostering a sense of self-assurance that can combat addiction’s self-doubt.
- Reduces stress and anxiety – By focusing on positive thoughts, individuals can lessen feelings of stress and anxiety, promoting a calmer mind and aiding in maintaining sobriety.
- Enhances emotional resilience – Building a habit of positive self-talk helps people respond better to challenges, enhancing their emotional strength and ability to cope with setbacks.
- Fosters a healthier mindset – Shifting focus from negative to positive thoughts encourages a mindset geared toward growth and healing, essential elements for lasting recovery.
- Cultivates inner peace – Self-love leads to self-acceptance, allowing individuals to find peace within themselves, which is crucial for long-term happiness and stability.
- Encourages healthy relationships – As individuals learn to love themselves, they can build stronger, more genuine connections with others, creating a supportive environment for sobriety.
By integrating these practices, individuals improve their mental health and create a solid foundation for continued personal growth and a more fulfilling life.
How Positive Affirmations Work
Over time, negative thoughts and negative self-perceptions that run through our minds become the norm. When we were children, we were born blank slates, joyous, curious, open to everything beautiful, and free from worry aside from eating, pooping, and sleeping.
As we get older and face life, we develop self-talk. The practice of positive affirmations is literally reversing negative thought patterns and enforcing positive ones.
It has been proven that over time, with diligent practice, conscious focus on our thoughts, and positive affirmations, we can literally rewire our brains to become more positive. Therein, we as humans become more positive.
The trick here is repetition, patience, and diligence. Try starting with one specific phrase; don’t take on your entire psyche at once. Take one phrase, and use it like a mantra throughout the day. Whether it be, I am sober today, or I choose to see God today, or hell, Do It; whatever stands out to you and means something to you, use it. Harness it, and bring it into your mind as much as possible.
Over time, it will get easier, and over time, it will become the norm. Our first thought will be the best, though, and positive affirmations get us there.
Making Positive Self-Talk a Habit
A simple practice, positive self-talk, requires a lot of conscious focus on your “inner voice” and the constant chattering inside your head. Self-talk is probably one of the most common forms of positive affirmations, as it can be done anywhere, anytime, by anyone. If you spent a day or even an hour paying attention to, not taking the advice of, but just observing, the absolute insanity and disillusionment of some of the thoughts that bounce around your head, you would begin to notice that it is almost like we have an entirely different person living inside of us.
The challenge here is to be able to see that these self-deprecating comments like “I’m not good enough,” “I’ll never make something of me,” and “Why to bother” are all completely negative and harmful. To combat them with something true about ourselves allows us to assert control over our thoughts and feelings. Here at Harmony Hills, we offer several therapies to help individuals promote self-love like:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Dialectical behavior therapy
- EMDR therapy
These forms of talk therapy focus on changing negative thoughts for the better and becoming more deeply aware of one’s emotions.
Find Support and Care at Harmony Hills
Whether you or a loved one is struggling with a substance use disorder like drug or alcohol abuse or needs mental health support to deal with issues, Harmony Hills can help. Our team of counselors and therapists is prepared to help anyone who comes to us. We’ve designed programs to help meet each individual’s needs. Call 855.494.0357, fill out our online form, or send us a chat for more information today.
