When you are recovering from addiction, it is imperative to be around positive influences that are supportive of your recovery. However, you will likely come across negative people from time to time who have a negative impact on your recovery. These encounters can be threatening to your sobriety if they have a profound effect on your general mood and well-being. Knowing how to cope with negative people will help you protect your recovery, keep your mental health stable, and keep you progressing towards long-term sobriety. Consider these tips when you come across negative people in your recovery.
Show Compassion Towards Others
It is crucial to remember that negative individuals are not bad people. There is almost always an underlying cause or reason for their negativity that could stem from trauma, substance abuse, neglect, or other adverse life experiences. When someone is hostile towards you, showing them compassion will help you avoid stooping to their level. Doing so may even improve their attitude or outlook on general life.
Try to Be in Group Settings
Trying to cope with a person’s negativity can be easier in a group setting rather than in a one-on-one conversation. This will allow others to chime in if the person is unbearably negative, and it will help reduce any emotional strain or tension that the person would otherwise place on you in a one-on-one conversation.
Ignore What They Are Saying
While it may seem rude to ignore what another person is saying to you, this can actually be an effective defense mechanism against another person’s negativity. If you can help it, try to avoid spending time with them in the future. You don’t have to be rude about it, but instead, try going about it with compassion. This will help protect your mental health moving forward in recovery.
Coming across a negative person can be challenging in recovery. This is because you are working towards building a better life for yourself and being more positive, and their comments can quickly lower your mood. This can be threatening to your recovery, as low moods may serve as a relapse trigger. As you navigate coping with these individuals, think of Alta Loma Transformational Services. We provide comprehensive treatment services to help our residents tap into their inner strengths. Through individualized treatment, you will learn how to succeed in recovery and life. Call us today to learn more at (866) 457-3843.
