How to Control Overwhelming Emotions During Rehab

Start your road to recovery in a comfortable, serene, and compassionate space. Bright Futures Treatment Center offers you the opportunity to make a fresh start.

bbb logo
samhsa
gold medal badge
florida department logo
ncadd logo
farr logo
organization member

Emotions are an integral part of all of our lives. As such, we need to experience and process them. However, sometimes, emotions can be so intense that they overwhelm your entire being. This is particularly true when going through rehab in a substance abuse treatment center in Florida. It can be quite difficult to control overwhelming emotions during rehab, but it’s certainly not impossible. At Bright Futures Treatment Center, we know that all you need to do is learn a few tips and tricks that will help you get a better grip on your emotional state. You might even be able to use those emotions to your advantage, which is why it pays off to learn how to control them.

Thoughts, emotions, and behavior are all connected

Since we all tend to feel emotional when faced with certain events, it’s safe to say that there will come a moment when you will have a hard time keeping your emotions in check. Thoughts, emotions, and behavior are all part of a cognitive triangle, and they are all connected with each other. Everything begins with your thoughts which create emotions, emotions create behaviors, and behaviors create thoughts – and thus, the cycle repeats. Now, you can’t control what you feel, or that’s usually very hard to do for most people. However, you can control how you react to those emotions and what you make of them.

The face of a man when happy and sad.
Emotions are going to be a big part of your journey to recovery. We suggest you embrace them.

Understanding this will be very important when going through addiction recovery. Recovery is a process where you will certainly feel extra emotional. And while we always say that you should welcome your emotions, it’s crucial to learn how to use them to your favor. For example, letting them rage on without addressing them will only cause strained relationships. However, acknowledging them and allowing them to be your driving force will only empower you.

Look for treatment and have your feelings in check

Moreover, it’s always suggested that you look for addiction treatment in due time. By attending rehab, you will also be surrounded by therapists and people who are going through the same thing as you. But be careful – you want to find the best treatment center for you, as not all rehabs are alike. To be able to do that, we advise you to create a list of the most important questions you want to ask. Your list can contain entries such as:

Finances are a big factor that needs to be considered when choosing a rehab facility. After all, you might want to attend a luxurious rehab facility that will allow you to seek recovery in a beautiful setting. Unfortunately, that’s not always a possibility. That’s why you need to be realistic and inquire about your payment options. It’s best to be ready and avoid surprising your bank account.

A woman holding a lot of dollar bills.
Being realistic about the cost of the treatment you can afford is very important when searching for a treatment center.

Ten ways to control overwhelming emotions during rehab

While you are always free to decide which of our tips you want to implement, we suggest that you take all of them into account this time around. Emotions are a tricky thing, and you want to always keep them in check. And this doesn’t just apply to those currently in a drug rehab Florida center – everyone needs to be more in tune with their own emotions.

1. Acknowledge what it is that you are feeling

If you are going to take just one thing out of this entire text, let it be this one, as controlling your emotions won’t be possible unless you first acknowledge them. Now, make no mistake – we are not saying that you should let your emotions control your every action in life. However, if you let them go unchecked for a long time, they can start creating problems while in an alcohol rehab center Florida residents trust. And you best believe that the process of withdrawal will bring about some unpleasant emotions.

Many people choose to ignore them and pretend that they don’t exist. While this might help you feel better, for the time being, you can be certain that those emotions will start to impact every area of your life soon enough. That’s why we are all for accepting, acknowledging, and celebrating your feelings. Even negative emotions need to be celebrated – they are only natural and are a part of life as we know it.

2. Let therapy help you control your overwhelming emotions during rehab

Self-awareness and therapy are the two things we would say are crucial when it comes to addiction recovery. Whether attending an Inpatient or Outpatient program Florida residents love, therapy is going to be the focal point of your treatment plan. The one-on-one time that you get to spend with your therapist will help you turn your emotions into something beautiful. Most importantly, a therapist will help you understand what you are feeling – and why. They will also provide you with some healthy coping mechanisms that will allow you to control your emotions no matter the situation.

A close-up of a psychologist.
Your therapist will help you control your overwhelming emotions during recovery by uncovering them and then helping you manage them.

Keep in mind that there are many different types of therapy. While individual therapy will definitely yield the best results, it’s always best to combine it with other forms of therapy. To give you an example of what we mean by that, bear in mind that our Oxycodone rehab Palm Beach center offers group, trauma, and holistic therapy. Of course, we always let our patients choose which form of therapy they want to attend. But we also always give our recommendation that it’s best to opt for a few different forms of therapy.

3. Set goals and monitor your progress

Having goals in life is very important. However, these goals are never as important as when going through rehab. They have the power to keep you going, as you will know what you are reaching toward. Of course, there are some people who love to set goals but aren’t big on following through. As a person who is currently trying to get sober in an Adderall addiction rehab Boynton Beach center, we believe that all of your goals should be related to your sobriety. Most importantly, they need to be realistic. Is it realistic to be addiction-free a week after admitting yourself to a rehab center? No! But is it possible to start getting some clarity on what your path should look like in the future in a week? Definitely yes.

What good are goals, however, if you don’t work on reaching them? Actively keep track of your progress, which is something you can do in a few ways. Whether it’s by writing it down or talking about it with your therapist, make sure that you are on your way to making good progress. However, we suggest that you be true to yourself – the whole point of keeping track of your goals is to notice when and if something goes wrong. That way, you can reassess the situation and get back on the right track. And how will this help you control overwhelming emotions during rehab, you ask? Easy – you’ll know what you are striving for and where you hope to be at the end of the journey. That is very likely to provide some clarity during those moments when the intensity of a rehab program starts getting to you.

4. Keep moving to successfully control overwhelming emotions during rehab

Telling you that you should get regular physical activity is superfluous – that’s something we should all know by now. However, we think it is particularly important to keep yourself on the move once you start feeling that your emotions are running high. Physical activity produces endorphins, which increase the feelings of pleasure and happiness. And while happy people aren’t immune to negative and burdensome feelings, they certainly experience them at a much lower intensity.

Two women doing yoga as a way to control overwhelming emotions during rehab.
Yoga will not only help you deal with your emotions – but it will also help you feel great about yourself.

We will leave it up to you to choose which form of physical activity will work best for you. Anything from yoga to powerlifting will do the trick, as long as you are doing something good for yourself. However, we would advise you to be cautious and aim not to over-exert yourself. You shouldn’t try to spend hours in the gym right away if you haven’t been active at all in the past. Instead, find the pace that feels right and gradually up the intensity if that’s something that you want.

5. Turn to meditation

Every once in a while, you will find yourself reading an article that suggests meditation to be the solution to a problem. However, have you ever stopped to think that there might be a good reason for it? Meditation has the power to calm our nerves (and our entire being, in general), which is why it’s a great tool to use when you want to control overwhelming emotions during rehab. One of the biggest perks of this tool is that meditation is easy to implement, as you can do it virtually anywhere. All you need to do is find a peaceful place, close your eyes, and let your mind wander to brighter pastures. It’s up to you to decide whether you want to repeat a mantra or not – it will work either way.

Bear in mind that meditation can always be a part of our treatment. We here at Bright Futures Treatment Center like to focus on more than just FDA-approved medications when it comes to treating addiction. If you are not sure what will be a part of your treatment after starting rehab, you can always feel free to contact us and ask. We will be happy to provide an answer to this question, as well as the question does insurance cover alcohol rehab. Our entire team is at your disposal for questions and dilemmas.

6. Do some journaling

Never underestimate the power of the written word! Have you ever heard of those techniques that help you find closure after a bad breakup or a divorce? It is said that you should write a letter where you will write everything you would tell the other person if they were standing in front of you. By disclosing your feelings this way, you would manage to get some closure and feel as if your feelings were heard. You can do the same thing through journaling. Plus, you can get one extra thing – self-awareness. Journaling helps you become aware of your emotions, which will help you feel less overwhelmed and taken aback by them.

A person writing in a journal, trying to control overwhelming emotions during rehab.
Journaling is fast, easy, cheap, and effective – so what is there not to like?

The special appeal of this method is hidden in the fact that it is probably the easiest way to deal with overwhelming emotions during rehab. All you need is a pen and a piece of paper, as well as some desire to jot down your feelings. Since we know that recovery might be one bumpy ride, we know that you will have plenty of things to write down. After a while, you’ll be able to look back at what you have written, which will help you understand just how far you have come. Due to all of these reasons, journaling is one of the things we advise our clients to focus on during their free time.

7. Find a good friend to listen

Talking is very therapeutic. And while we definitely suggest that you do most of the talking with your counselor, it’s very important to confide in other people, as well. Talking to a beloved friend or family member can have great effects on you. In fact, we wouldn’t put any limitations on who you can talk to, as long as you feel comfortable around this person and have full trust in them. We will leave it up to you to decide whether that’s your next-door neighbor or a colleague.

Have you ever heard of the saying ‘sharing is caring?’ Well, by sharing your emotions, you’ll give another person a chance to show their care for you. Even if they are unable to give you some good advice at the moment, they can take away some of your overwhelming feelings simply by listening to you talk about them. Of course, your trusted ally can also help you take care of all the arrangements at the rehab facility. They can ask questions like ‘is drug rehab covered under FMLA‘ and ‘what kind of specialists work in your institution.’

Three women lying on the grass.
Having even one friend in whom you can confide is great – so imagine how wonderful it is when you have more than one.

8. Turn to religion

Now, we have to mention that this method will not be suitable for everyone. Not everyone is religious, and this is a highly personal matter. However, if you are someone who turns to religion in your time of need, then this will be the perfect moment to do so. Praying is a powerful tool that can help you control your overwhelming emotions during recovery, as your faith will be your source of comfort. And when it comes to addiction recovery, we all know that it might be one uncomfortable ride. That’s why we consider praying to be a suitable method of soothing oneself when in singles or couples rehab in Florida.

Praying on a regular basis has the potential to ease the symptoms of anxiety and depression. We don’t have to tell you how big that is when going through a rough patch. In fact, praying was one of the things that helped people the most during the pandemic when there was uncertainty all around us. We don’t have to tell you how helpful it will be when going through drug or alcohol recovery.

9. Walk away when overwhelmed

Once you start your journey to recovery, it’s very likely that you will start experiencing negative emotions, such as anger. We all know what happens when we get angry and fail to control our impulses. You will get into a lot of arguments with your loved ones (possibly even strangers), and you can be sure that none of them will bring anything positive to your life. And while it’s always best to confront your feelings and the situation, it’s more than okay to walk away if you don’t think that you will be able to control your emotions.

An angry woman.
People tend to act out of anger and then regret everything that they did.

Walking away might not be the ideal way to deal with the situation, but it is something that will prevent a lot of regrets. You see, we tend to say and do a lot of things that we don’t mean when angry. All those hurtful things and comments will ultimately damage your personal relationship. After all, we all know that addiction can put a huge strain on one’s relationships. Thus, we suggest that you look after your personal relationships by walking away once you feel that anger is incoming. If you do that, you will be able to preserve your friendship/partnership. Your loved one will happily hold your hand during rehab and help you inquire does Tricare cover drug rehab. And recovery is much easier when done with the support of your loved ones.

10. Use distractions to control overwhelming emotions during rehab

Sometimes, the best way to deal with the events that are happening to you is by distracting yourself. Know that we don’t advise using distractions as your only method of controlling overwhelming emotions during treatment. It’s first important to recognize and accept them. However, once you do acknowledge your emotions, there is nothing wrong with distracting yourself for a little while, letting them pass on their own. You can use the aforementioned methods of exercising, journaling, and meditating if you are looking for a good distraction. Likewise, you can also listen to music, dance, and take a walk – the options have no limits.

However, we wouldn’t advise you to use distractions that could be detrimental to your overall progress. You are probably in the situation to look for a rehab center and inquire about does Aetna cover alcohol rehab precisely because you have been distracting yourself with drugs and alcohol. Using these substances, engaging in risky sexual behavior, and hanging around the people who support your addiction are only a few of the examples of what we consider to be negative distractions.

A phone next to an open book.
Social media and reading are two of the most common distractions people turn to when feeling emotional.

Don’t let your emotions get the best of you

It’s rather natural to feel many different emotions when going through rehab. In fact, it is to be quite expected. However, you shouldn’t let your emotions get the best of you while in recovery. Because if you were to act according to what you are feeling, it’s quite possible that you would end up damaging your personal relationships beyond repair. Instead, do your best to control overwhelming emotions during rehab and let them become your driving force. Alas, there’s always something beautiful in every emotion, even if that emotion is sadness. Don’t you know how many great artists draw power from their sadness? That’s a prime example of everything you can achieve if you only manage to control your emotions.

 

Latest Posts

Contact Us

?>