5 New Year Resolutions in Addiction Recovery
A time-honored tradition, New Year's resolutions involve individuals establishing objectives for the upcoming year after reflecting on the previous year. The commencement of a fresh year can evoke strong emotions and require individuals in recovery from addiction to confront the dual possibilities of reestablishment and renewed determination. In this post, I’ll propose five innovative and empowering resolutions for those undergoing the road to recovery.
Begin a "365 Days of Gratitude" Journal
Gratitude can cause one to redirect attention away from what is absent or difficult in one's life and toward what is current and constructive. Commit to recording one thing for which you are grateful each day this year. It may be a tranquil moment, the support of a friend, or a sunny morning. You will have 365 reminders of the positive aspects of your life by the end of the year, which can be especially uplifting during difficult times.
Learn a New Skill
Frequently, the process of recovery involves the rediscovery of one's true self in the absence of substances. Make it a priority to begin a new hobby or acquire a new skill this year. Participating in novel pursuits such as gardening, coding, painting, or learning a musical instrument can offer individuals a sense of fulfillment and a productive means of relieving stress. Additionally, it may grant you access to new communities and companions who share your interests.
Volunteer
Volunteering is an effective method of gaining perspective and giving back. Engaging in consistent volunteer work at a community center, food bank, or local shelter can foster a sense of purpose and connection. Supporting your own recovery journey, it is also a reminder of your strength and the positive influence you can have on the lives of others.
Establish a Wellness Regimen
A well-balanced way of life is essential for recovery. Make it a priority to develop a routine that supports your physical and mental well-being in the coming year. This could involve adopting a healthier diet, engaging in regular exercise, or practicing yoga or meditation. These activities not only promote holistic health but also provide daily structure and self-control, both of which are significantly beneficial in the process of sobriety maintenance.
Establish a Recovery Roadmap
What is the trajectory that you envision your recovery journey taking place this year? Make time available to develop a comprehensive plan or road map. Incorporate both immediate and long-term objectives, potential obstacles and strategies for overcoming them, and significant life events to commemorate advancements. Keeping you motivated and focused on your recovery throughout the year, this living document can function as a resource and source of inspiration.
In conclusion, individuals in recovery from addiction should aim to accomplish more with their New Year's resolutions than mere abstinence from substances. Rather, they should strive to construct a life that is satisfying, harmonious, and colorful. Every individual among you takes one step closer to not only surviving but flourishing. Never forget that each day presents a fresh chance to develop and strengthen your resolve toward recovery. Optimistic supplication, continued recovery, and good health for the coming year!
The World Health Organization implemented Compulsive Sexual Behavior as a disorder in the International Classification of Diseases, version 11, (ICD-11) a change that took effect in 2022. This illness was not included in the previous version, the ICD-10. This compulsion is described as "evidenced by a chronic pattern of inability to control powerful, recurrent sexual impulses or desires resulting in repetitive sexual behavior," which is taken from the official diagnostic handbook.
The World Health Organization implemented Compulsive Sexual Behavior as a disorder in the International Classification of Diseases, version 11, (ICD-11) a change that took effect in 2022. This illness was not included in the previous version, the ICD-10. This compulsion is described as "evidenced by a chronic pattern of inability to control powerful, recurrent sexual impulses or desires resulting in repetitive sexual behavior," which is taken from the official diagnostic handbook.
This is a significant step forward in helping to treat, and relieve the pain, of those who are experiencing the negative consequences of compulsive sexual behavior in their, or their partners, lives. (You can take the Sex Addiction Screening Tool or Problematic Porn Consumption Scale for free here to self-determine your level of risk for compulsive sexual behavior disorder)
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the following are some of the signs that an individual may be struggling with a kind of sexual compulsion: When a person becomes so preoccupied with their sexual activities that they disregard their own physical, emotional and mental health, personal care as well as their other interests, hobbies, and duties, they are said to have a sexual addiction. A multitude of futile attempts made to considerably cut down on recurrent sexual conduct. Sexual conduct that is repeated over and over again despite their being negative repercussions or there being little to no enjoyment gained from it.
Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder is an issue that has the potential to severely limit a person's life, although it is possible that it does not function in the same way as some other addictions do. More study is required to more fully and completely achieve equal footing with other addictions which would land Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder in the DSM 5, the diagnostic framework clinicians most look to.
Technical Sidebar: In 2016, Kraus et al. published an article in which they stated that the diagnosis of compulsive sexual behavior was being considered for inclusion in ICD-11 (which it has since been included in), and they observed that the diagnosis of hypersexual disorder was rejected by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) for inclusion in DSM-5. Both of these diagnoses have since been incorporated into the relevant classification systems. It is important to note that diagnoses that could refer to compulsive sexual behavior have been included in the DSM ever since the publication of the DSM-III in 1980, and in the ICD ever since the first addition of a classification that included mental disorders with the publication of the ICD-6 in 1948. Both of these publications date back to the 1940s and 1980s, respectively. The diagnostic of "sexual disorders not otherwise specified" (NOS) (302.9) was added in both the DSM-IV and the DSM-IV-TR. This made it possible to diagnose hypersexual behavior. The word 'pathological sexuality' was included in ICD-6 and -7; however, in ICD-8, the term 'unspecified sexual deviance' was added, which includes 'pathological sexuality NOS.' This category was maintained as 'sexual deviation and disorders, unspecified' in the ICD-9 manual, which was released in 1975 and is used by the vast majority of nations outside of the United States. The term "unspecified psychosexual disorder" was added in ICD-9-CM (clinical modification), which was a version of the diagnostic manual that was prepared only for the United States and adopted there in 1989. The diagnostic code of 302.9 had been assigned to each of these disorders.
Sex addiction has a feature of inner struggle, despair and vulnerability. These individuals have repeatedly promised to themselves and their partners that they will never return to their unwanted behavior again. They’ve tried crafting strategies to aid in reducing or eliminating the compulsion. Yet, despite their herculean effort they are still returning to their rituals, their compulsion and staying in the exact same cycle of addiction other types of addicts are experiencing.
One prominent addiction specialist was quoted as saying that many activities that can bring about feelings of pleasure, such as shopping, eating, playing video games, using porn, and even using social media, all have the potential to become addictive if they are done to an extreme. He further said that it had the same effect on the individual's central nervous system as all of those other medicines. The main difference is that it simply does not have the same effect with regard to the peripheral nervous system, which is not just cause to eliminate them as addictions. It is still an addiction.
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