3 Benefits of Having a Hobby for Addicts | South Coast Counseling

Read more to learn how having a hobby can benefit you after completing drug addiction treatment.

Going through drug addiction treatment is a real challenge for many individuals. It is easy to lose focus and fall back into the firm grasp that drugs and alcohol often have on an addict. Though most people have all the best intentions when entering rehab, the reality is that many find themselves relapsing time and time again. Half of the battle is getting to recovery; the other half is staying. It is not easy to change your behavior and habits, especially if you have been an addict for many, many years. It is common for newly sober addicts to have trouble avoiding thoughts related to their past lives as a drug user. When times get tough during recovery, you know that there is a quick way to get a release, even if it is the worst route.   

How do you stay in recovery with all of these challenges? Having a hobby is a great way to point your focus in another direction and engage in an enjoyable activity that will decrease your stress. By definition, a hobby is something done during a person’s free time for pleasure. As a recovering addict, having a hobby can be very beneficial, and here are a few reasons why.

1. Get Excited about Life

Some hobbies can be stressful, but the stress that is felt is known as “eustress.” This is positive stress—can you believe that there is such a thing? This type stress is characterized by its ability to make you feel excited about the activity you are doing and the life that you are living. Having a hobby is one of the best ways to tap into eustress. Doing something that you love for absolutely no reason except that you love to do it provides you with a rush of joy and excitement.

2. Meet New People

Having a hobby is a great way to put yourself out there and make some new friends. Even if your favorite activity is a solo activity, such as painting or writing, you can easily meet others who share your interests through networking or social media. You cannot get through life contently without having some kind of social life. As a recovering addict, you might have lost many of your old friends, but now is the time to make new ones.

3. Challenge Yourself

Okay, getting through drug addiction treatment and into recovery was a pretty big challenge, but you should not stop there. Hobbies are capable of interrupting your routine with new challenges that are different from work or the challenges of daily life. These challenges are positive. The more positive activity that you have in your life, the easier it will be to stay in recovery.

Seek Drug Addiction Treatment

The first step to recovery and a sober life is seeking drug addiction treatment. A new world of opportunities is waiting for you on the other side. If you would like more information, visit our AddictionTreatment Costa Mesa page or contact a representative with South Coast Counseling today.