Addiction recovery is a multi-part process, the core of which involves getting treatment for specific addiction symptoms. However, to successfully recover, it’s essential to take measures to decrease the risk of future substance misuse. One such step is developing and improving life skills, which may help people navigate everyday life while maintaining sobriety. A life skills program is an excellent place to learn them.
What Is a Life Skills Program?
Many people wonder, “What is a life skills program?” It’s a form of instruction and support that assists with building and strengthening several critical aspects of daily function. These include:
- Becoming more aware of thoughts, reactions, and behaviors
- Demonstrating self-control in each of these areas
- Communicating and interacting with others in healthy ways
- Making good decisions and solving problems
- Thinking critically and creatively
A life skills program in addiction recovery can help those who struggle with substance use disorders cope with life’s inevitable ups and downs.
The Focus of a Life Skills Program in Addiction Recovery
Life skills programs may assist people in many situations, including addiction recovery. Avoiding relapse is the main focus of these programs for those in recovery. Vital skills for achieving this goal include:
- Avoiding situations that increase the urge to misuse substances
- Learning how to manage emotions and stress levels
- Improving the ability to cope with stress and unpleasant emotions
- Creating a stable, health-supporting everyday routine
Without these skills, the risk of relapse increases. Getting into risky situations can expose a person to others who misuse substances, possibly triggering a relapse. Similarly, a limited ability to manage stress and emotions may leave an individual vulnerable to increased substance use urges. The same holds if a person doesn’t exercise, eat a healthy diet, or maintain a consistent routine.
Fortunately, developing stronger life skills can make a relapse less likely. Honing even one of these skills may positively impact a person’s life. However, working on all of them typically yields better, more long-term results, especially for those in addiction recovery.
Additional Skills
Life skills programs include the development of additional abilities that help participants successfully transition back to everyday life following rehab. Examples of these skills include:
- Finding and keeping a job
- Managing money and avoiding financial problems
- Maintaining the home and completing household tasks, such as cooking and cleaning
What Are the Benefits of a Life Skills Program?
One of the chief benefits of a life skills program is improving the ability to cope with life’s challenges. For instance, if a person in addiction recovery knows how to handle adversity, this may defuse one of the primary triggers of substance relapse.
There are numerous other benefits of a life skills program in addiction recovery. For example, improved communication skills may help a person avoid becoming isolated. Additionally, emotional stability often makes it easier to forge and maintain friendships. A better ability to communicate with others and a more vibrant social life can reduce the risk of engaging in addictive behaviors. Exercising regularly and eating well may improve overall health and well-being while in recovery.
Learn More About a Life Skills Program in Addiction Recovery at Promont Wellness
So, what is a life skills program? It’s an organized, systematic way to learn and hone skills that improve a person’s day-to-day function. Though some of these skills are general, others apply specifically to people in addiction recovery.
At Promont Wellness, we offer a comprehensive life skills program in addiction recovery as one of our many recovery services. During your enrollment, you’ll work to improve areas of particular importance to you and your situation. For more information on our customized approach, call us today at 866.545.9552. You can also complete our online contact form.
