Our society continues to become wealthier and more technologically advanced as the years go by. As many advantages as this progress brings, it also brings disadvantages that can harm teenagers. Since 2016, drug use among eighth graders has increased by more than 60%!
At the same time, people have also developed more types of coping mechanisms for teen substance abuse than ever before.
Considering how many different strategies there are for helping your teen recover from substance abuse, it can feel intimidating to get started on them. However, the important thing is not that you apply every strategy possible. It is also not necessary to pressure your team to try all of these strategies at the same time.
Learning about this variety of strategies will help you find the ones that are most effective for your teen’s unique situation. So what kind of coping mechanisms can help aid your teen’s recovery?
Read on to learn all about the most powerful strategies for helping your teen recover from substance abuse!
1. Writing Can Help With Addiction and Recovery
A lot of people underestimate the power of writing when it comes to development and addiction recovery. One of the most powerful things about writing is that it helps thoughts to become more concrete. That means that the benefits of writing tend to accrue over time.
Some people have remarkable and even life-changing experiences with a single session of writing. Others find that their thoughts become a little clearer each time they write. It can take days or weeks before the benefits of writing begin to become apparent.
However, writing helps everyone to polish their ideas with repetition. The first time your teen expresses a certain thought on paper, nothing much may seem to happen. However, as they return to that thought in future writing sessions, they will find that it evolves and develops.
This is the power of writing!
With consistent writing, your teen will find their own path through the maze of thoughts and feelings that can seem so murky at times.
2. Exercise Helps With Staying Sober
Scientists and doctors are working on all kinds of medicines to help people recover from substance abuse. However, they have also found over and over again that exercise is more powerful than the vast majority of other treatment approaches. Exercise provides a whole list of benefits at the same time.
First, it helps fill your teen’s life with another healthy activity that can distract them from potential substance abuse. Many people find it difficult to recover from substance abuse because they focus on not using substances all of the time. However, focusing on not doing something simply means that you are always thinking about the possibility of doing it.
Exercise is an irresistible way to pull your thoughts to other things. Even thoughts that recur can be forgotten as you push your body to overcome its physical limits.
In the course of doing this, your team can also enjoy a second benefit of exercise. It will help develop their physical health. When people feel healthy, they have less to cope with.
Many people turn to substance abuse because they are running away from unpleasant feelings or emotions. The healthier your teen becomes, the less they will have to run away from.
3. Learn About Coping Strategies From Others
Many people find it difficult to learn on their own. Embedding learning in a social environment can make it much easier. That is one reason why attending support groups can make substance abuse recovery so much easier.
While your team receives support from others going through similar difficulties, they can also learn about the coping strategies that have worked for them.
4. Creative Coping Skills
Some people find incredible meaning in creative activity. Although this does not work for everyone, give your teen the opportunity to experiment with some kind of artistic creation.
Learning to create beauty or to dance can give your teen a new passion to focus on in life.
5. Speak With a Therapist About Substance Abuse
Many teens feel that there is no one around them who can understand the nuances of their experiences. However, there are therapists who work with teens dealing with these kinds of struggles.
This experience can allow them to reach your teen in ways that others might not be able to.
6. Learn Meditation for Addiction Recovery
Meditation is another coping strategy that works better for some people than for others. However, trying out meditation only takes a few minutes. On top of that, there are many different kinds of meditation.
Consider making a list of brief meditations that your team can experiment with. Some teens find incredible release as they learn how to focus and control their attention.
7. Volunteering Can Help With Substance Abuse
Volunteering is another coping strategy that provides multiple benefits at the same time. Giving your teen something healthy to do can help keep their mind off of substance abuse. It can also give them a great opportunity to meet others who are also participating in positive activities.
Many teens also feel a profound sense of meaning as they help improve the lives of others in some way.
Understand Effective Types of Coping Mechanisms for Substance Abuse
There are many different types of coping mechanisms for substance abuse, and different strategies work better for different people.
However, the more different strategies you explore, the easier it will be for you to zero in on the ones that work best for your situation. As teens learn about healthy activities to engage in, it becomes easier for them to avoid substance abuse.
To learn more about how to find the best support for your teen, reach out and get in touch with us here at any time!