Resilience is one of the many essential elements that contribute to lifelong sobriety for your teen. As they learn how to cope without the drug that led them to their addiction, they must also learn how to stay on track. As we explore resilience in recovery, we will review several coping skills for lifelong sobriety and examine how adolescent residential treatment programs in Iowa can help build resilience.
What is Resilience in Recovery?
According to the American Psychological Association, resilience is “the process and outcome of successfully adapting to difficult or challenging life experiences, especially through mental, emotional, behavioral flexibility and adjustment to external and internal demands.” 1
Resilience in recovery refers to pushing through even when you feel like you’ve been knocked down and can’t get up again. If teens lack resilience in recovery, they are more likely to relapse. Learning coping skills to help build resilience can give teens the best chance to fight temptation and continue moving forward to have long-term success.
How to Build Resilience Through Your Adolescent Residential Treatment Programs in Iowa
Building resilience in recovery doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a process that requires hard work and dedication. Here are some ways you can help your teen build strength in recovery.
Accept Change
Change is inevitable in all walks of life. Being open to accepting change and adapting to conditions can help to build resilience. Help your teen realize that everyone faces change at some point. It’s how you react to the change that makes all the difference.
Make Self-Care a Priority
If teens are not caring for themselves, they won’t have the stamina to fight temptations. Eating properly and sleeping enough can help to build resilience. Exercise and meditation can also be beneficial.
Have a Support System
Having a support system can help teens stay strong. Knowing there is someone in your corner who has your back can help guide you through difficult times.
Develop Goals
Setting and working towards goals can also help your teen to build resilience. When your teen has something they want to accomplish, they may be more likely to stay on track to get it done.
Lessons From Adolescent Residential Treatment Programs in Iowa: Coping Skills for Resilience and Lifelong Sobriety
Coping skills are critical when talking about resilience and lifelong sobriety. Adolescent residential treatment programs in Iowa, like Ember Recovery, teach teens the coping skills they need during recovery and beyond.
These are some of the coping skills that can help teens throughout their lives:
Stress Management
When teens feel stressed, they may be more likely to turn to drugs and alcohol. Learning stress management techniques such as deep breathing and meditation can help. Exercise can also help to release stress by releasing feel-good endorphins.
Mindfulness
Being mindful and in the present moment rather than worrying about the past or future can also help teens cope and build their resilience. This can help to keep anxiety away, lowering the temptation to turn to drugs and alcohol for comfort.
Being Creative
Artistic practices such as dance, painting, and music therapy can all help to manage emotions. These can be a coping skill as teens turn to these hobbies rather than succumbing to temptation.
Talk Therapy
Having someone to talk to when times get tough can also provide a necessary outlet for teens. This can help them improve their communication while giving them the support they need.
Life Skills Learned Through Adolescent Residential Treatment Programs in Iowa
When teens feel overwhelmed because they have too much on their plate and feel like they’ll never accomplish it all, it can lead them to look at substances for comfort. Learning life skills such as time management can provide necessary coping skills.
Knowing when it’s time to ask for help can also be a life skill that teens can apply to help them build resilience. Recognizing when you can’t do things alone can lead teens to turn towards their support network as they fight to push forward.
How Adolescent Residential Treatment Programs in Iowa Help to Build Resilience
As an adolescent residential treatment program in Iowa, Ember Recovery works to not only help teens overcome their addictions but also teach them the resilience-building and coping skills they need to remain sober. These skills can help teens face the mounting temptations they may face as they see old friends or find themselves in situations that lead to their substance abuse.
Once they are ready to leave their residential treatment program, we offer aftercare recovery planning that helps them readjust to the real world. Aftercare recovery planning can include a combination of an outpatient recovery program or individual or group therapy. Peer support groups can also be a part of the aftercare recovery planning. Many aftercare programs can last several months or up to a year. The goal is to give teens the needed support system and gain resources to help them thrive outside treatment and remain sober.
Call Ember Recovery today to learn more about our residential treatment programs in Iowa and our aftercare recovery planning for teens to help them build the resilience they need to remain sober.
Sources:
[1] https://www.apa.org/topics/resilience
Andrea Dickerson is a Licensed Therapist and Certified Substance Use Counselor who has worked in behavioral health since 1997. Currently, Andrea is the Director of Behavioral Health, overseeing the Ember residential treatment programs and YSS outpatient counseling clinics throughout Central and North Central Iowa. She became a Motivational Interviewing (MI) trainer in 2006 and provides MI trainings throughout Iowa.
Andrea specializes in working with adolescents and their families and enjoys seeing the family relationships grow through therapy. Andrea is also a CARF International Surveyor, going around North America ensuring behavioral health organizations are meeting required standards.
In her free time, Andrea enjoys cheering on the Iowa Hawkeyes and Chicago Cubs, as well as being an active member of Soroptimist International of the Americas (SIA), a global organization that provides women and girls with access to the education and training they need to achieve economic empowerment. She has been a member of the SI of Des Moines club since 2012 and has been actively involved at the regional level, currently serving as Co-Governor of the Peaks to Plains Region.
Through her involvement in SIA, Andrea has been actively involved in the Dream Programs, coordinating annual Dream It, Be It: Career Support for Girls projects, which give girls the tools they need to achieve their education and career goals, empowering them to break cycles of poverty, violence, and abuse.