Whenever someone embarks on the journey to break free from their addiction to drugs, the expectations they have of what they and their life will be like once they have achieved their goal will concern many aspects of their life. There will be thoughts about how their relationship with their partner will thrive, how they might build bridges with family and friends whom they have shunned during their addiction, and they may hope that their finances will improve.
Another hope they are bound to have is that their mental and emotional health will be augmented, and prime amongst that will be the expectation that they will be a happier individual once they have recovered from drug dependency. Unfortunately, it can be the case that the person’s happiness does not immediately hit the level they were expecting and that raises the question in their mind “Why not?”.
Induced Happiness Is Not Happiness
We must clarify one point before we go any further and that is that the happiness levels within those who are free of drugs will invariably be higher than in those who are addicted to drugs. Any short-term periods of ‘feeling good’ or elation that has been induced by drugs do not count, and in the main, most drugs users’ lives are riddled with negativity and often despair. In other words, any happiness they feel is induced by the drugs they take and is not real.
It can be frustrating for someone who is recovering from drug addiction and taking all the right action to finally be free of the hold drugs has over them, that the levels of happiness they feel are not as high as their expectations. So, let us examine why happiness is not always immediate, and how anyone recovering from drugs can boost how good they feel and push themselves closer to where a happy state of mind is the norm.
Battle Of The Emotions
Part of the problem when a recovering drug user does not find their mind in a happy state as much as they had hoped, comes from friends and family and even their drug rehab team telling how wonderful life will be when they quit drugs. These words are well-meant and true to a point but the person who is recovering may potentially inflate that expectation thus the disappointment and confusion when they no longer take drugs but still are not happy.
What is happening is that as their mind and their body go through the withdrawal process, is a multitude of emotions can be triggered within them. Anxiety, depression, fear, and huge moods swings are just some, and it is understandable that when those emotions are dominating someone’s mind, happiness is going to have a difficult time squeezing itself in. However, that is no reason to about-turn, because there are some ways to help oneself feel better during this period.
Happiness Boosters
For anyone who is freeing themself from drug use, and who wishes to boost their levels of happiness, here are some simple steps you can take to give your happiness a boost.
- Make plenty of time to spend with friends and family whose company you enjoy and generally have fun being with.
- Watch as many of your favourite comedy shows and movies on TV as you can.
- Spend as much time as possible outdoors, especially in settings that are rich in nature and life.
- Ensure that your level of self-care is high including your nutrition, exercise, and personal hygiene.
- Have an ‘attitude of gratitude that can be boosted before you go to bed by writing down everything that you have been grateful for that day.
