Many struggling with drug or alcohol addiction 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 addiction and healing from the disease means learning to overcome 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 the ego 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 to learn more about our mental health therapy programs.
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:
These forms of talk therapy focus on changing negative thoughts for the better and becoming more deeply aware of one’s emotions.
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.
How EMDR Therapy Can Help
Many people are discovering that Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, or EMDR therapy is extremely beneficial for people who suffer from depression, anxiety, trauma, panic attacks, body dysmorphia, or sexual abuse. It pretty much functions to reprogram the neurological pathways in the brain and the way they process information.
Studies have shown that the neuropathways of people who have experienced trauma can sometimes become rewired to interpret incoming stimuli and even create the person’s self-image based on the trauma’s emotional damage. EMDR therapy reprograms the way we perceive previous traumatic events and helps people positively healthily receive new information and stimuli and not based on previous emotional, mental or physical harm. It is pretty much a method of positive affirmations that a trained therapist or professional walks us through.
Benefits of EMDR Therapy
EMDR therapy has been found to be effective for numerous mental health issues, including post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, and phobias. EMDR therapy has a range of benefits compared to traditional talk therapy due to its focus on the body’s natural ability to heal itself. It can be used in conjunction with other forms of psychotherapy or as a stand-alone treatment.
EMDR therapy can be very beneficial in improving mental health. Some of the most significant benefits seen from EMDR therapy include:
- EMDR therapy doesn’t require much talking, so it could be helpful for individuals who have trouble opening up in traditional therapy
- Highly beneficial to trauma recovery, in particular
- Addresses anxiety and negative or obsessive thought patterns
- Helps build up self-image and confidence
- Helps individuals to remain focused on the present or even the future instead of dwelling on the past
- Helps in processing traumatic memories and reducing the emotional distress related to these memories
- Helps in developing healthier coping mechanisms
- EMDR therapy is a shorter-term treatment than most other therapy programs and shows results faster
Overall, EMDR therapy is a powerful tool in the field of mental health treatment and can provide a wide range of benefits for those suffering from trauma or other psychological issues. With its focus on challenging thoughts and memories, it can help patients develop better coping skills and become more resilient when faced with difficult emotions. If you are considering EMDR therapy, it is important to find a qualified therapist who can provide comprehensive treatment and support throughout the process. With the right guidance, EMDR therapy can be an invaluable asset in improving your mental health.
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. Some of our treatment programs include:
- Detox Center Programs
- Residential Treatment Program
- Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)
- Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
- Alumni Program
- Aftercare Program
Reach out to us today at 855.494.0357 to learn more. You can also fill out our online form and let us get back to you.
