It’s common for those in addiction treatment and recovery to have negative self-beliefs about themselves. There are a lot of negative feelings a person can feel once they understand they are struggling with addiction. Coupled with the stigma around mental health issues and society in general, it can be hard to think positively about oneself. However, learning how to let go of negative self-beliefs is vital to the recovery process. That’s why at addiction treatment facilities like Painted Desert Recovery, care is taken to show clients the positive aspects of themselves. Once they can let go of these negative self-beliefs, they can find healing.
Overcoming these negative self-beliefs is easier said than done. It often takes the skills of a mental health care professional to break through the lies we tell ourselves. It’s important to remember that anyone can overcome these negative self-beliefs as well as addiction. What’s required is someone recognizing they need to make a change and then putting in the effort to do so. But before a person can overcome their negative self-beliefs, they must first understand what they look like.
What Are Negative Self-Beliefs?
Negative self-beliefs are ideas that when internalized cause us pain and harm. These negative self-beliefs can come from several sources. Commonly they come from societal stigma and negative interactions with family and peers. Many times, these negative self-beliefs are the result of abuse and trauma. Technically, these beliefs are more like lies repeated so often, we think of them as fact. This can be incredibly damaging to a person’s psyche and self-esteem.
Some commonly seen thoughts from those with negative self-beliefs include:
- I am worthless and don’t deserve help
- My addiction is a punishment for being a bad person
- I am permanently damaged
- Nobody loves me and I am incapable of being loved
- I’m a failure so I shouldn’t bother trying
- I can’t trust anyone because they will hurt or take advantage of me
These thoughts, of course, are not true. Addictions are never a punishment. Everyone deserves to be loved. Anyone can recover from the things that hurt them if given the opportunity and support. These thoughts are particularly damaging for those in recovery, as they often prevent people from seeking further help when they need it. Sometimes, these negative self-beliefs are severe enough to trigger a relapse or damage recovery in other ways. That’s why it’s important for everyone who is struggling with negative self-beliefs to get help.
Overcoming Negative Self-Beliefs
Learning how to overcome our negative self-beliefs takes time and treatment. For those in addiction treatment, clients undergo therapies designed to identify and change harmful thoughts and behavioral patterns. This is mostly done through cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which is a type of psychotherapy. Clients have the help of a therapist who guides them into changing these negative patterns into positive ones. For specific negative self-beliefs, addressing someone’s trauma can be useful in helping overcome them. Painted Desert Recovery utilizes trauma-based therapy for this reason, as many people struggle with trauma alongside their addiction.
Sometimes it’s helpful to surround yourself with positive people. Creating and maintaining a healthy support network is already a vital part of addiction recovery. This support network doesn’t just help people maintain their sobriety; it gives them reasons why they can maintain their sobriety. For example, someone could struggle with the negative self-belief that they are weak and worthless. Having a peer remind you that they think you are strong and value your friendship can eventually shatter your negative self-belief.
It takes time and practice to fully recover some of these closely held beliefs. Sometimes the echoes of these beliefs can persist long after the person or event that instilled them has gone. By bringing positivity into your life and utilizing help from mental health care professionals, you can eventually overshadow these negative thoughts entirely.
Finding Positivity in Yourself
There are several things a person can do to bring positivity to their recovery and leave negative self-beliefs behind. One way to let go of negative self-beliefs is to find parts of yourself to celebrate. For example, being in recovery after completing addiction treatment is certainly worthy of a celebration. It’s okay to take pride in your accomplishments. Addiction treatment and living in recovery can be difficult. Being able to stick with it and use the skills you learned proves that you aren’t a failure and can heal from what has harmed you. You can also find pride in your hobbies, friends, and work. Many negative self-beliefs shatter once someone finds reasons to be proud of themselves.
Secondly, you can spend time internalizing positive self-affirmations. This is a tool used to help people shift unhealthy mindsets into healthy ones and help people be more compassionate to themselves. If you are struggling with negative self-beliefs that make you feel worthless or unlovable, you can instead tell yourself verbally that you have worth and are capable of being loved. Some choose to leave themselves notes or set times throughout the day to practice these affirmations. Over time, you will begin to see a shift in your mindset and truly believe in your positivity.
It’s also okay to lean on your support network for some reinforcement. Any loved one who truly cares will be able to list the qualities they like about you if asked. Even the most self-confident people need reassurance that they are loved. Let the people you love know that you love and care about them, and they will do the same.
When someone understands that they need help for their addiction, it’s common to experience a wide range of emotions. Many of these emotions can be negative. When someone spends a lot of time thinking negatively about themselves, it can have a serious effect on their mental health. It’s especially damaging when these negative thoughts are lies they believe to be true. That’s why at Painted Desert Recovery in New Harmony, Utah, clients find their inner strength and confidence. Here, clients learn they are worthy of love, compassion, and respect. Everyone deserves to love themselves, including yourself and the people you love. If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, don’t wait. Call (844) 540-0353 today.
Of course, if you are struggling with finding positivity in your life, it’s always okay to contact a mental health care professional. By reaching out for help, you prove to yourself that you deserve to be helped. That act in itself can shatter the most bitterly held beliefs, leaving room for positivity and change.
