Each individual will have their own unique journey to overcoming the use of addictive substances. Finding the best route for each person to challenge the use of drugs and alcohol is part of a truly effective treatment program. At The Redpoint Center, each journey is personalized to the needs of the individual, empowering those in recovery to explore a variety of options backed by proven therapeutic support. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is just one option in which to explore long-term addiction treatment in Colorado and the relationship addictive substances have with mental health disorders. Understanding the benefits of ACT can empower those looking to personalize their recovery journey to best utilize this effective therapeutic practice.
What Is ACT?
ACT is a proven therapeutic modality that focuses on situating an individual in the present moment. Overcoming stress, anxiety, depression, urges, cravings, and more is incredibly challenging, and past experiences can make it difficult to focus on a person’s present reality. ACT is a form of psychotherapy that empowers those in recovery to effectively process these challenges, not by denying them, but by accepting, processing, and relinquishing difficult feelings before they can inform other self-destructive thoughts or behaviors – or the chances of relapse in recovery.
Being able to address a person’s emotional needs and use of substances in tandem is one of the many benefits of ACT, taking a holistic approach to the needs of each individual in their sober life. The Redpoint Center creates a safe environment to explore emotional challenges, past experiences, and traumas and open a dialogue to create dedicated strategies to accept and overcome these challenges in outpatient care.
Accepting Difficult Emotions
ACT is divided into three core tenants: acceptance, direction, and commitment. Accepting difficult emotions is the first of these and can be difficult depending on the person. Some individuals may not be comfortable with acknowledging difficult emotions like anxiety, depression, or other tense emotions and the feelings of vulnerability that accompany them. Acceptance is about not only understanding that difficult emotions and challenges are completely normal to experience, and should even be expected, but also that it is okay for an individual to feel vulnerable without feeling as if they have failed or need to hide such emotions.
Deciding a Direction
Before acting on difficult emotions, it is paramount to first decide on a clear direction and plan to address the situation. ACT employs a variety of mindfulness strategies to help each person make the most effective decision for their situation that continues to focus on their recovery and sobriety. By establishing breathing strategies, performing body scans to identify how a person is being impacted, and having accessible or tangible reminders of overarching goals, those in recovery can decide the best course of action for addressing their emotions. This can prevent an individual from feeling compelled to act rashly while impacted by intense feelings of anxiety, depression, stress, and more.
Committing to Recovery
The final tenet of ACT involves committing oneself to their best course of action and seeing it through. These decisions can inform various courses of action to ensure that each person remains focused on their recovery and sobriety despite the challenging feelings present. Coping with the challenges of recovery can take time, and having a plan to continue pursuing personal growth is a main focus of effective ACT in practice.
The Benefits of ACT in Daily Life
While ACT is a powerful approach to treatment alongside professionals and peers, there can also be benefits of ACT for those outside of a treatment facility. Bringing effective ACT practices back home can reinforce their efficacy while promoting a healthy approach to navigating difficult emotions.
Mindfulness Meditation at Home
Engaging in mindfulness meditation as part of effective ACT practices can be a great way to constantly take stock of how a person is feeling and identify any challenges that may manifest throughout the day. Stress can still be commonplace during outpatient care, with personal challenges, professional stress, and more. Dedicating a bit of time each day to mindfulness meditation as a part of a regular schedule can help each person identify changes and make educated decisions about how to process these challenges while preventing the buildup of stress.
The professionals at The Redpoint Center can scaffold effective mindfulness meditation practices and other strategies to identify challenging emotions and promote healthier emotional flexibility and resilience throughout continued recovery efforts.
Exploring Personal Values
Making a list of what is truly important to each individual can be another great way to engage in effective ACT. Working with family or writing down a list of core values can help those in recovery continue to commit themselves to their own goals and healing. Family, professional goals, personal ambitions and growth, and more can all inform a person’s behaviors. The benefits of ACT empower those in recovery to best focus on these goals and maintain a dedication to seeing them come to fruition.
Exploring these personal values is something that is key to recovery. Discussing these values with professionals at The Redpoint Center can help each person create plans to maintain focus on them throughout outpatient care, even outside the walls of a facility.
Using Journals
Journals are a powerful recovery tool that can be used across a wide array of situations to address a myriad of different needs. Those looking to explore the benefits of ACT may use journals to write down goals and values or to track their emotional state and provide context to challenging emotions. This can further a person’s emotional intelligence and resilience while building a greater understanding of how to address these challenges, how they may be connected to a person’s sobriety, and how to address them in the most personalized and effective manner.
Acceptance and commitment therapy is an effective and holistic approach to long-term addiction treatment in Colorado, and The Redpoint Center is committed to helping you find this kind of transformational care through our effective programs. ACT is just one option to explore, and each program is backed by a community of peers and varied approaches to daily strategies to create personalized daily life in outpatient treatment. There is never only one journey to a newfound sober life, and ACT can empower those in recovery to explore all of their needs, goals, and strategies for a sustainable sober future. For more information on the options available through The Redpoint Center, call to speak to a caring staff member at (303) 710-8496.
