Self-compassion, recovery, and positive change

If you are struggling with opioid use disorder, it is important to recognize the root causes that have led to where you are today. 

Some possible reasons for continued opioid use include:

• You may be physically dependent and get sick if you do not use opioids.
• You may be treating conditions that are worse without opioids, like physical or emotional pain.
• Certain situations may feel more manageable with opioid use, including tough relationships or unstable housing.

• You may be continuing to use opioids because you have not been provided with reasonable access to medications that treat opioid use disorder. 

   

Recovery does not always look like abstinence, sobriety, or 12-step meetings—it is about reducing harm, making positive change, and self-empowerment. The process will include taking steps forward, backward, and in directions that may surprise you. 

Giving yourself compassion and receiving it from others can lead to positive change. Instead of feeling shame for using drugs or thinking that the only way to get better is to stop entirely, try some gentler approaches. 

Manage your expectations for your own progress and don’t expect everything to change overnight. Here are some things to try:

• Change the way or amount you use.
• Identify small things in your life that you have total control over and start there.
• Try medications for opioid use disorder or for other medical conditions that might be in the way of positive change such as depression or heart disease.
• Talk more openly with your loved ones. Prioritize spending time with people who accept you for who you are.
• Notice when certain situations lead to behaviors you want to move away from.
• Remove judgmental language, including words like always and never, from your thoughts. “I ruin everything” is very different from “That didn’t go the way I wanted.”

Be kind in your words and thoughts toward yourself and others. Remember that having respect and compassion for yourself is key to your success and an important part of the recovery process.