When people learn about addiction treatment and recovery, they may be surprised to learn that hobbies help. Hobbies are enjoyable activities that stimulate the mind and body. Being able to utilize a hobby can make a significant difference in how well someone handles their recovery and treatment. That is why at Painted Desert Recovery, clients are encouraged to discover and develop a hobby that resonates with them. By providing a safe and judgment-free zone, clients are free to make personal discoveries and try out new activities.
Understanding how hobbies help with all aspects of addiction recovery is important. It doesn’t just show people that there is more to addiction treatment than they would have thought, it also shows people that it’s possible to find joy and fulfillment too.
How Do Hobbies Help Me Stay in Recovery?
Hobbies help because they offer a fun way to pass the time and grow as a person without needing substances. Sadly, many people in the United States believe that they have to drink and use substances to have a fun time. The fact of the matter is that you don’t need substances to find joy in life. Hobbies help with this by providing activities that give deep satisfaction and happiness. These hobbies also help people with their recovery in several ways.
The first way hobbies help is by providing a healthy way to utilize money and time. A bored person struggling with alcohol addiction may spend both their time and money obtaining more alcohol and consuming it. The same person with a hobby now has a choice to make. They can either spend their time and money on alcohol or spend it on a hobby that gives them great joy. Many times, the person will choose the hobby. Alcohol and other substances are not cheap, and neither are a few hobbies. Having to choose one or the other will often show people where their priorities should be.
Another way hobbies help with recovery is by offering healthy companionship. Many hobbies can be done in a group or solo. But even solo hobbies often have communities centered around them. Many times, alumni and other people living in recovery will band together to form a community where they can help each other. With this community, people can enjoy exciting sober activities, like whitewater rafting, paintball matches, and tabletop games. They are a fun way to connect with other people as well as preserve your recovery.
Can Hobbies Help Me During Treatment?
Hobbies also help during treatment. The way most do this is by providing a healthy outlet for feelings and thoughts. Addiction treatment is not easy, especially if someone is also struggling with trauma at the same time. Several therapies in addiction treatment are designed to reduce stress and give the client a way to express themselves. For example, art therapy helps those with communication difficulties express themselves where they can be heard. Equine therapy gives clients a place to find understanding from animals who have no concept of stigma or judgment. These therapies can eventually turn into hobbies, such as art and horsemanship.
Part of addiction treatment is helping a client discover themselves. Addiction often overshadows a person’s true self and masks what makes them unique. Building confidence and learning that you are more than your addiction is important for someone to achieve recovery. Hobbies help in this instance by giving someone something unique to just themselves.
For example, baking and decorating cakes is precise and hard work. Someone looking at their completed cake will realize that this cake exists because they made it. They were able to create this cake without the use of substances. Seeing the joyful look on someone else’s face when they see and taste the cake lets the person know that they have made a positive impact on the world. It shows them that they aren’t bad people and they are capable of goodness, all of which is needed during treatment.
Can Painted Desert Recovery Help Me Find a Hobby?
Painted Desert Recovery understands that hobbies help people succeed in addiction treatment and stay in recovery. We also understand that hobbies help maintain a healthy mind and body. As a result, clients at Painted Desert Recovery are encouraged to find hobbies that give them joy and help them find themselves. Several therapies offered at Painted Desert Recovery, such as art and equine therapy, can go on to become lifelong hobbies for clients. Many clients find that outdoor hobbies help them by experiencing the beautiful wilderness of Utah.
All clients at Painted Desert Recovery are encouraged by the compassionate and professional staff to try new healthy activities. It’s a safe place where a person can explore the things that make them happy. When someone needs help, they can always speak to a staff member to get advice.
One thing that helps people recover from addiction is to find a sober activity that gives them joy and satisfaction. These are known as hobbies, and they can be a healthy way for people to not just achieve recovery, but stay in recovery. At Painted Desert Recovery in New Harmony, Utah, our clients have access to several therapies to aid in addiction treatment. Many of these therapies, such as art therapy and equine therapy, can help clients find joy that can persist long after treatment. It’s a safe place for clients to discover parts of themselves overshadowed by addiction and embrace the things that give them happiness. To learn about how addiction treatment can help you, call (844) 540-0353.