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Welcome to our complete guide on things to be grateful for in recovery.
If you’re reading this article on gratitude, then you’re most likely experiencing the following issues:
- Temptations and stress (maybe due to the holiday season!)
- Negative emotions and mood swings
- Feelings of hopelessness
- Difficulties “feeling” any sense of thankfulness or appreciation
- Perhaps you’re feeling anxiety or cravings
Maybe you’ve tried over and over again to “feel happy”, but you just can’t help but focus on the negatives. Don’t worry, it’s normal.
We’ve written this guide on things to show gratitude for during addiction recovery based on our day-to-day interactions with patients in the healing process, so you can beat those feelings and make a full recovery.
In this guide, you’ll learn what to show gratitude for as well as how to show gratitude the right way. We’ve seen dozens – if not hundreds – of people in your situation learn to utilize appreciation to reduce anxiety, improve their daily mood, and live happy, fulfilling lives…and you can too.
Ready to start focusing on the beautiful life ahead? Let’s begin.
13 Things to be Thankful For in Recovery
1. Everything You Have Gained
First and foremost, you must show gratitude for everything you’ve gained now that you’re no longer in your active addiction phase of life.
In recovery, we often find ourselves wondering “When will I feel normal again” or “I’ve been sober for x months – why am I still suffering from cravings or negative emotions? I thought this was going to be amazing right away!”.
But you must remind yourself daily of all of the amazing things that you have now that you’re in recovery:
- A second chance at life
- No hangovers
- Peaceful mornings
- A good night’s rest
- Improved physical and mental health
- Peace of mind knowing you’re living according to your values
- All of the amazing opportunities you’ll have in the future
- A full day ahead full of self-respect and self-improvement
These are actually some of the recovery’s most incredible blessings, and you gained them as soon as you stopped using them. Don’t focus on the things that you’re lacking – those come in time. Remind yourself every morning of all of these amazing benefits.
Pro Tip: Start each morning off by journaling on what you’re thankful for that day. It really does train your brain to focus on the positives and eventually lead to a happier life. According to a study entitled “Counting Blessings Versus Burdens” published in the National Library of Medicine by Emmons, Robert A., et al., conscious focus on blessings provides emotional benefits.
2. Everything You Have Gained
It might sound counterintuitive to be thankful for things that you’ve lost in recovery, but it’s actually an incredibly powerful tool for focusing on the positive things you have in this very moment.
For example, you probably no longer feel hungover in the morning, right? Or, if you’ve been in recovery for long enough, you probably no longer feel withdrawals or intense cravings.
This is what we mean by showing thanks for the things you’ve lost.
Here at The Cabin Sydney, many of our patients report that they’re thankful to no longer:
- Suffer from hangovers or withdrawals
- Feel shame or guilt
- Struggle with feelings of low self-worth while using
- Constantly stress about when they’ll use the next
- Worry about having to lie to friends and family
You may not be blissful and lusting for life yet, but surely you no longer suffer from at least one of these issues. That’s what’s important right now.
YOU DESERVE TO BE
Happy
3. Your Health
You are alive, and that in itself is a blessing. For some, it’s a miracle. If you are in recovery it’s likely that you have put your body through all kinds of hell. But at the end of the day, you are living and breathing.
Now, you can experience life all because recovery has allowed you to do so.
Take advantage of this – run and jump and climb and experience everything you can, just because you can. Or choose not to – relax and watch a movie instead. The point is, you have the choice and this is something to be grateful for.
4. Your Safety
Be thankful that you’ve woken up in your own bed (or a bed in a safe place). That’s not always the case when you’re in active addiction!
We’ve all had one of those mornings: You wake up in a stranger’s house with 0 idea how you got there or what you did. Or worse, you wake up in a public place. A nice stranger may have even relieved you of your phone and wallet (so nice of them to do that!). In all seriousness, now that you’re in recovery, be thankful you don’t have to worry about where you’ll be when you wake up in the morning.
When sober, you are much less likely to engage in impulsive, dangerous behaviours, which greatly reduces your risk of physical injury and sexually transmitted infections.
You also no longer have to worry about putting yourself into dangerous situations while scoring drugs or driving under the influence (not to mention the legal risks attached to these behaviours). Who knows where you would be if you continued on the path of your addiction, but here in recovery, you are safe.
5. Guilt-Free Mornings
Waking up sober is 100 times better than waking up hungover, groggy, and full of guilt and shame.
And guess what? You get to live that reality every day for the rest of your life. It truly is a beautiful and invigorating feeling. You no longer need to wonder about what awful things you might have said or done while you were intoxicated. You no longer have to go into “damage control” mode or “make an apology tour”. Better yet, you don’t need to check social media, your texts, or any messaging apps for embarrassing, drunken messages either.
Having this peace of mind is certainly something to be grateful for in recovery.
6. Your Freedom
Now that you’re in recovery, you can be grateful knowing that you are no longer enslaved by your addiction.
Take a moment to appreciate the sense of freedom you feel now that you are in control of your life rather than your actions being motivated by your addiction. In recovery, your time is truly your own. You can choose to express yourself creatively, dedicate more time to work or help others. The point is, you decide – not the monkey on your back.
Action Step: You’ve taken back control of your life. Now, it’s time to plan out what you’ll do with all of your free time. Write down a list of new hobbies you want to try or places you want to visit. Recovery is a time of healing and hope for a better life – visualise it!
7. Getting Your Family Back Again
This is most likely the #1 thing our patients are grateful for here at The Cabin. Addiction tears families apart. It leads us to do things to our loved ones that we’d never consider without drugs or alcohol.
Now that you’re in recovery, you have a chance to repair damaged relationships with your parents, siblings, spouse, and children. Be grateful that you no longer have to lie, cheat, or steal to feed your addiction. Instead, you can finally spend quality time with your loved ones and build loving relationships.
Be sure to show gratitude and appreciation for everything they’ve done for you, especially to those who stuck by you through difficult times.
8. Your Relationships
Show gratitude for all of the family, friends, and caregivers who’ve helped you get to this point. Sobriety is an incredible opportunity: you can repair broken relationships and form bonds with new people in your sober life.
These relationships should be cherished. If you were still in active addiction, you wouldn’t have these opportunities. Be thankful for those who helped you realise that you needed help, those who stood by you through your struggles, and the new relationships that you have today because of your recovery journey.
You can now be totally honest with those you care about – you no longer need to keep secrets or hide things about yourself or your actions. Be thankful for the quality time you can spend with your loved ones without the guilt that once came between you.
Further Reading: Addiction puts strain on your personal relationships. We highly recommend reading this guide on rebuilding trust in addiction recovery to learn how to repair those bonds and turn a new chapter in life. It includes making amends, building an action plan, and rebuilding trust.
9. All of the Money You’ve Saved (That’s Something We Can All be Grateful For!)
We can all appreciate the financial benefits of recovery, can’t we? Think of all the money you’ve saved from NOT partying too hard over the weekend!
Addiction is certainly NOT cheap. Have you ever been out for a pint in Downtown Sydney?
The financial benefits of sobriety go beyond just not spending money on your drug of choice. A sober life gives you the ability to show up to work more, work harder, and achieve more. It also gives you the mental clarity you need to set a real budget and stick to it.
Pro Tip: Most sober apps come with financial tracking features. Make a rough estimate of how much you spent each day during addiction and begin tracking your savings. This will give you more positive reinforcement each day as you see the savings add up. Go buy yourself a reward when you reach new milestones!
10. New Opportunities
It’s important to be thankful for new opportunities that await you now that you’re recovering from addiction – both personally and professionally.
Recovery offers a unique opportunity for personal growth that isn’t possible while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. With a clear mind, more energy, and more free time, you truly have the chance to do anything that you put your mind to.
Overcoming addiction also teaches you valuable skills that others don’t have. For example, facing challenges head-on and building a stronger, wiser version of yourself. It also opens doors to resilience, patience, and self-discovery.
Don’t believe us? Did you know that one of Uber’s top execs and one of the earliest members of the company went through recovery before she joined Uber? It’s true.
Austin Geidt struggled with addiction at just 20 years old, but after she went through recovery, she landed a dream job at Uber and eventually became one of its highest-paid executives.
She’s now 17 years sober and proud of her journey! Always believe in yourself.
11. Spending Time in Nature
Spending time in nature is one of the best things you can do for your mental health, and it’s not just theory – it’s fact.
One 2021 study published in the National Library of Medicine entitled “Nature-based outdoor activities for mental and physical health” found that only 20-90 minutes in nature significantly improved mental health outcomes, especially in people with pre-existing mental health conditions. Activities like gardening, green exercise (walking in the forest), and nature-based therapies were most effective.
Recovering from addiction gives you more free time and energy to spend connecting with nature, which could significantly improve your mood and well-being. That’s something to be thankful for!
12. Greater Emotional Stability
Be sure to show thanks for your new level of emotional stability – even if things aren’t perfect yet. Every addict remembers the emotional roller coaster of addiction. One minute you’re high. The next, you’re at a new low and desperate to do anything to get that same feeling again.
It’s important to remember this and be grateful that you’re no longer trapped in that vicious cycle. Even just waking up in a more stable mood and staying somewhat level throughout the day is an incredible feeling compared to the roller coaster ride of addiction.
Always remind yourself of how far you’ve come and how much better each day is.
13. The Opportunity to Recover
Being grateful for the opportunity to recover is one key point of gratitude that people often miss. You worked hard to get to this point, but don’t lose sight of how fortunate you are as well.
Not everyone gets the chance to recover. Sadly, some never realise they need recovery until it’s too late. Some adults live their entire lives in the negative cycle of addiction. Show gratitude for escaping!
Here are just a few things you can add to your gratitude list about your recovery opportunity:
- The facility you stayed in or are currently staying in
- The services they offered you
- Having access to a detox facility (they aren’t available everywhere)
- Having the financial means to get treatment or government programs to help you pay
- Any doctors, nurses, admissions staff, or others who’ve aided in your recovery journey
The Changing Pathways
Modern, Holistic, Effective
Modern, Holistic, Effective
Your Recovery Gratitude Guide: What it is, How it Helps, And How to Do It The Right Way
If you’re currently in recovery from substance abuse or behavioural addictions, this guide will teach you how to practice gratitude the right way and learn to be thankful for what you have (rather than focusing on all the negatives in life).
We’ve found that most people want to practice being more grateful, but don’t really know how to do it properly. That’s what you’re going to learn here.
We’re going to show you a proven way to do it that’s designed to stick. First, you’ll get an overview of why gratitude works, then our top tips for doing it daily.
How Does Finding Things to be Grateful For Help in Recovery?
Gratitude helps maintain sobriety and improve your well-being – it’s a fact.
According to a meta-study published in the National Library of Medicine entitled “Gratitude And Wellbeing” by Sansone, Randy A., et al., numerous empirical studies have demonstrated that gratitude produces greater well-being in subjects.
Another study published in the database at Taylor & Francis Online called “Does Gratitude Writing Improve the Mental Health of Psychotherapy Clients?” by Wong, Joel E., et al., studied 293 college students who were seeking mental health counselling. The study divided the subjects into 3 groups and instructed one of the groups to write gratitude letters while the others didn’t. The subjects were tested at both 4 and 12 weeks later – the group that wrote gratitude letters reported significantly better wellbeing.
From our own experience, patients who express appreciation and focus on the positive things of recovery benefit from the following:
- Better overall mood
- A better outlook on sobriety
- More motivation to stay sober and improve their lives
- Less anxiety and depression
- More energy
Gratitude has a physiological effect on the mind that can be life-changing when practised daily.
People with substance use disorders often have negative thoughts that lead to negative emotions. Eventually, we focus so much on these negative emotions that it seems impossible to feel anything remotely positive. So, what do we do? We use our drug of choice to escape.
Being thankful for the good stuff in life is the opposite! Focusing on the positive things keeps you in the present moment and helps produce positive emotions. And when you feel positive emotions, you’re more likely to feel optimistic and experience more self-satisfaction. This then leads to better physical, mental, and social health.
It’s a beautiful cycle – the opposite of addiction’s negative cycle.
How to Practice Appreciation The Right Way
The following is a list of activities that will help you practice gratitude the right way based on our observations at our outpatient treatment facility in Sydney.
Remember, gratitude is not just something that you do once per year in December around the holidays! It’s something that must be practised daily. Not just said aloud, practised. It’s a skill, just like meditation, mindfulness, or any other recovery tool in your arsenal.
Here are the 5 best ways to practice appreciation for the little things that will produce a major change in your daily mood:
- Create a gratitude list: Writing down a gratitude list helps reinforce positive thoughts in your mind by engaging multiple cognitive processes. The act of writing requires you to process your thoughts deeply, making them more vivid and memorable. This process involves both the language and motor areas of the brain, creating stronger neural connections associated with the gratitude you feel.
- Write a gratitude letter every day: Write a letter full of appreciation for someone who has helped you shift your focus away from the negative emotions in your mind and focus them on something positive. We recommend spending 15-20 minutes per day writing a letter of thanks to someone detailing how appreciative you are to them – it could even be yourself!
- Practice first thing in the morning: There’s nothing better than starting your day off on a positive note. It’ll clear your mind of all the junk and start your day off on the right foot. As soon as you’re alert and out of bed, give thanks for anything you’re grateful for. It could be meditating on it, writing a list, or just saying it out loud.
- Be grateful in daily interactions: Make it a priority to say “thank you” to everyone who helped you that day. The cashier at the gas station, a staff member, a family member, your kids – it doesn’t matter who it is. Even just this simple gesture could help produce positive reactions in your brain.
- Structure and plan your gratitude: Don’t just sit around and wait to “feel grateful” for something. Plan ahead of time and devise a strategy for showing it. Think of it like your own gratitude therapy programme. There are plenty of things to be grateful for in the world, but it’s not always easy to remind yourself of it. Carry a list with you, set alarms to remind yourself, and identify areas where you need to be more gracious to live. This level of immersion in gratitude will help it stick much more quickly.
Struggling With Showing Appreciation in Recovery? The Cabin Can Help
The holiday season, a time traditionally marked by joy, connection, and celebration, can be a complex and challenging period for those in recovery. The pressures to conform to societal expectations, coupled with the potential triggers and temptations associated with festive gatherings, can make maintaining sobriety seem impossible. It’s important to remember that it’s okay to feel overwhelmed or to struggle during this time.
At The Cabin, we understand the unique challenges faced by individuals in recovery during the holiday season. Our team of experienced professionals is dedicated to providing support and guidance to help you navigate this potentially difficult period. Whether you’re grappling with cravings, managing stress, or simply seeking companionship, this is where we can help.
IOP Groups
Our online IOP groups can be a lifeline. Sharing your experiences with others who get it can make a world of difference. It’s about finding that sense of community and support that can help you stay strong. Remember, you’re not alone in this. Many people in recovery face similar struggles, especially during this time of year.
Benefits of joining an Online Group this Christmas:
- Shared Experiences and Support: Connecting with others who are facing similar challenges during the holiday season can offer a sense of camaraderie and understanding. Sharing strategies and coping mechanisms could be invaluable to you.
- Accountability: Group members can provide mutual support and encouragement, helping each other stay accountable to your recovery goals.
- Structure and Routine: Regular group meetings can offer a sense of structure and routine during a time that might otherwise feel chaotic for you.
Benefits of an Individual Consultation
If you prefer a more one-on-one approach, our dedicated therapists and recovery coaches are here for you. We can work together to create a personalized plan to help you navigate the holidays. Whether it’s managing stress, overcoming cravings, or building a stronger support system, we’ll be there to guide you:
- Personalised Support: Individualized attention from one of our therapists allows you to do a deep dive into any personal challenges and develop a tailored coping strategy.
- Crisis Management: In moments of heightened temptation or distress, having a dedicated support person available can be crucial.
- Relapse Prevention: One-on-one consultations can focus on identifying and addressing specific triggers you may be facing by developing a tailored relapse prevention plan.
Gratitude, Addiction, And Recovery F.A.Q
How Does Gratitude Help with Addiction?
Gratitude helps with addiction by fostering a positive mindset and emotional stability, which are crucial in recovery. Regularly practising gratitude can reduce stress and anxiety, making the journey to sobriety more manageable. It also strengthens relationships by encouraging expressions of appreciation, thereby creating a supportive network essential for recovery.
What’s The Connection Between Gratitude and Recovery?
Gratitude and recovery are deeply interconnected, playing a vital role in maintaining long-term sobriety and overall well-being. Practicing gratitude helps shift focus from negative emotions and stressors to positive aspects of life, fostering a healthier and more optimistic mindset. This emotional stability is crucial for individuals in recovery, as it reduces the likelihood of relapse by providing a mental buffer against cravings and triggers.
How to be More Thankful for The Amazing Life I Have?
To be more thankful for the amazing life you have, start by keeping a gratitude journal to regularly note positive experiences and achievements. Practice mindfulness to stay present and appreciate the moment. Express gratitude to others through notes or conversations, and reflect on challenges you’ve overcome to recognize your resilience. Volunteering and helping others can also provide perspective and enhance your sense of thankfulness.
Does Immersion in Rehab Improve My Level of Happiness?
Yes, immersion in rehab can improve your level of happiness. Immersive rehab programs provide a structured environment, which helps individuals focus entirely on their recovery without external distractions. This structured setting fosters the development of healthy routines and coping strategies, contributing to overall well-being.
READY TO START FOCUSING ON A BRIGHT FUTURE?
Let’s Begin This Transformative Journey Together with The Cabin Today.