Addiction wreaks havoc in people’s lives. It derails relationships and careers and isolates people to a dangerous extent. Many people start using drugs and alcohol at a young age, which impedes the development of the skills necessary to function in society. This is why addiction therapy programs offer life skills education.
If you are curious about life skills training in addiction recovery, reach out to Apex Recovery to get answers to your questions. Call us at 615.703.4639 or submit this online form to connect. Apex Recovery’s life skills training in Nashville helps our clients re-enter their lives post-rehab with the skills they need to navigate daily life.
What Is a Life Skills Training Program?
Addiction rehab programs need to do much more than support sobriety. They need to support people to engage in life in healthy ways, which is a big part of abstaining from drug and alcohol use. Difficulties with communication, nutrition, problem-solving, time management, and other life skills cause stress, and stress is often a relapse trigger. Rather than turning to substance use to reduce stress, learn how to reduce stress by learning the skills necessary to function comfortably and competently through life.
Life comes with tasks. We use what we’ve learned in life to accomplish tasks, both mundane and essential. The skills to complete small and large tasks fall into these basic categories:
- Interpersonal skills and communication
- Problem solving and decision making
- Critical and creative thinking
- Resilience and ability to cope
- Assertiveness and self-control
- Self-awareness
Life skills training in addiction recovery ensures that discharged clients are equipped with the skills and strategies to return home, engage in relationships, navigate a career, cope with problems, manage self-care, and more.
What Will You Learn in Life Skills Education?
Most life skills education will focus on specific skills that fall into the abovementioned categories. For example, a few of the essential elements of life skills training in addiction recovery will include:
- Relationships – Addiction tears families and friendships apart. Rebuilding your relationships requires skills in communication, collaboration, compromise, and compassion.
- Money management – Chances are a long-term addiction has affected your finances, perhaps severely. Learning to manage money, including budgeting and saving, will help you regain your independence.
- Nutritional awareness – People with a substance use disorder (SUD) tend to ignore their health and well-being. Addiction also saps the body of critical minerals and nutrients over time. Learning how to make healthy food choices is an important life skill.
- Communication – Communication involves both opening up and listening actively. It includes setting healthy boundaries, learning to trust and be vulnerable, and not taking things personally. Good communication skills are fundamental life skills.
- Vocational and educational planning – Life skills education in rehab will help you return to school or work by providing training and helping you with job and school placement.
- Stress management – People in recovery may have minimal experience managing stress besides turning to drugs or alcohol. Learning stress management through exercise, meditation, mindful breathing practices, and more will help you cope when things get tough.
In Apex Recovery Nashville’s life skills training program, you will have access to precisely what you need to re-enter your life after discharge successfully.