Talk therapy and other therapeutic services are the core components of addiction treatment. Although treatment teaches people some skills to help them in recovery, life skills training offers further preparation. It provides strategies that help maintain sobriety and prevent relapse, which is another core element of treatment. However, what’s the connection between life skills and addiction?

How Life Skills Affect Addiction

Young woman cleaning up after a life skills training at detoxPeople use alcohol and drugs to hide from stress in their lives. This stress could be traumatic events, mental health disorders, or hectic personal or business schedules. In most cases, the source of substance use disorder is a lack of skills to cope with this stress. Sometimes, people haven’t fully developed life skills, but other times, they never learned them.

However, the absence of life skills doesn’t always come first. The development of a substance use disorder can also diminish people’s ability to care for themselves. The main reason is that they stop using their skills. Declining self-esteem and self-confidence, which is typical with addiction, only make the situation worse.

No matter how it happens, those with an addiction are unable to deal with everyday living. Over time, they may start isolating themselves because of that. However, addiction treatment and life skills training can help them overcome their problems and enjoy life.

Life Skills Training Can Prevent Relapse

Learning various life skills can help people prevent relapse in different ways. Below are several skills and how they improve sobriety.

Creating an Everyday Routine

Humans are creatures of habit. Even when people don’t realize it, they have an outline of how each day goes. Small details in between might vary, but their everyday activities remain similar.

People with addiction replace many of their obligations with destructive activities such as looking for and using drugs. Having a daily routine after treatment provides structure in their lives. It fosters productivity and preventive strategies that help them stay sober and happier.

Maintaining Hygiene and a Healthy Diet

Practicing proper hygiene and eating a healthy diet is integral to overall wellness. Merely feeling clean and healthy can improve self-confidence and self-esteem. Proper hygiene includes bathing regularly, caring for oral health and wearing clean clothes.

A healthy diet is relative to each person’s needs. However, the general rule is to avoid large amounts of sugary, fatty and carb-heavy foods. People need to eat foods that provide nutrients and vitamins for the body to function normally. They learn more about these foods in life skills training.

Learning to Communicate and Develop Healthy Relationships

People with substance use disorder tend to socialize with others who also use drugs. Because of that, it’s essential that they learn how to effectively communicate with others who don’t use. They should also determine the different boundaries between how to communicate with family and friends versus strangers and coworkers.

With this life skill, they can develop meaningful, healthy relationships. It involves learning what an unhealthy relationship is, too. Also, they discover how to make amends to those who they wronged during their addiction.

Making a Career Plan and Budgeting Finances

In many cases, people with addiction lose their jobs because of their drug use. During life skills training, they receive career counseling to help them match their skills and experience with the right positions. Having a career plan gives them an advantage during recovery because it helps them find work. With less time on their hands, they’re less likely to give in to any drug cravings that crop up.

Along with help finding jobs, knowing how to budget their earnings is essential to supporting themselves after treatment. Their budgets should include money for rent or mortgage, food, utilities, auto and health insurance, and other essentials.

Learn Life Skills at Serenity House Detox & Recovery

Do you lack some of the life skills that you need to support yourself because of your addiction? Serenity House Detox & Recovery can help you take the first step toward sobriety and developing these life skills. Our detox centers in Fort Lauderdale and Jupiter offer a range of addiction treatment services, including:

Our goal at Serenity House Detox & Recovery is to prepare you for recovery. We provide programs that address your physical, mental and emotional well-being. Also, we offer men’s and women’s detox to address the unique needs of your gender.

Put an end to the destructive cycle that addiction causes. Overcome the disease so that you can have a happier life. Find out more about life skills training at Serenity House Detox & Recovery by calling 866-294-5306.