It’s a new year! Maybe last year was full of disappointments. Maybe you hit a few brick walls. Or maybe you felt lost sometimes. There may have been moments when you felt as though you would never be able to get past the addiction problem you were facing. But, you took the steps you needed to take towards recovery. And you found your way to a life of freedom from substance abuse. Then, life was full of amazing victories! You realized you weren’t at all alone and you built a wonderful support system around you. Still, though, you might have experienced periods of depression and sadness. Sadly, many people deal with this issue while they are recovering from drug or alcohol addiction problems. But, as you begin this new year, think of it as another chapter in your story. And, during this chapter, you can find ways to fight depression!

Depression During Recovery From Addiction

Most likely, you’re unsure about why you are dealing with depression. After all, you’ve been successful in ending one of the most difficult struggles in life. You’ve gone through the detox and treatment processes. And you’ve attended therapy sessions to learn how to avoid relapse. These are all wonderful accomplishments! So, you wonder, Why do I feel so depressed? Many people have found themselves asking this same question. And the fact that they don’t know why they feel this way often causes many individuals to become even more saddened. It’s never easy to experience negative emotions. But, it can be even more difficult to experience those feelings without understanding where they’re coming from or how you can get through them. Of course, depression is more than a feeling of sadness. So, it’s important to understand that if, in fact, you are dealing with depression, it’s best to seek professional help.

But, you may be unsure about whether or not you should get help for this issue. Sometimes, it helps to know a little bit about what you’re feeling before you feel comfortable talking to someone else about it. One of the most important things to understand is this: you are not wrong for feeling this way! You don’t need to feel bad or guilty for the depression you’re experiencing. Many people feel as though they have “no reason to be depressed” after they’ve overcome something like an addiction. So, they often get discouraged, thinking that maybe they’re doing something wrong. But, that’s far from the truth. Depression affects people from all walks of life, including those who are successful in various ways. That includes those who have been successful in ending substance abuse. But, thankfully, there are many different ways to fight addiction. Let’s talk about some of them now.

Ways to Fight Depression in Your Life

Taking care of your physical self is one of the best ways to fight depression. This includes exercising and getting enough rest and sleep. It also includes eating well, making healthy dietary choices. But, you also need to take care of yourself emotionally. You can do this by surrounding yourself with people who offer you emotional support as you begin this new journey. Also, you can find inner peace by spending quality time in thought. Some people write about their feelings and discover ways to fight depression as they examine their lives. Therapy and counseling can also help people to better understand themselves and find out how to continue fighting depression.

Here at Wellness Retreat Recovery Center (WRRC), we understand that recovery isn’t always easy. We know that some individuals struggle with depression or anxiety after treatment. But we are here to help! If you are dealing with these issues, just contact us today to get the support and guidance you need!