Hawaii Island Recovery 
Language plays a powerful role in how each person feels. The right or wrong language can also dictate the emotional impact of conversations or thoughts. Changing language when talking about addiction and its effects can make a huge difference in the sustainability of each person’s recovery efforts, both at Hawaii Island Recovery and in their lives after graduating from one of the treatment programs in Hawaii. Not only can replacing potentially harmful language in a person’s thoughts and vocabulary promote a healthier approach to sobriety and maintaining motivation but families can also adopt these changes to facilitate more effective communication without introducing unnecessary stress and challenges.
The Importance of Changing Language in Recovery
Language is an important aspect to consider throughout the recovery process, but it can often go overlooked with the deluge of changes during detox, residential, and ongoing outpatient care. Changing language is also difficult, as it involves making a conscious effort to edit a person’s spoken words and their internal thoughts and dialogue, with many potentially self-destructive thoughts and feelings being facilitated by unhealthy language.
However, there are always strategies to help alumni better visualize and adapt their language to reflect the progress made throughout the recovery process. Working with professionals at Hawaii Island Recovery as well as family and friends can be the best approach to changing language while developing new communication strategies and birthing a healthier, supportive atmosphere at home.
Avoiding Destructive Language
Many words or phrases may carry unintentionally stressful or destructive implications. These words can also be said without an individual being aware of their potentially harmful effects. Even well-meaning sentiments can be tainted if expressed with the wrong language, making paying attention and changing language paramount for communicating effectively.
Absolutist Tendencies
Speaking or thinking in absolutes can be detrimental to an alumnus’s overall goals and motivation. Either expressing feelings in absolutist language or even thinking in these terms can bring unnecessary stresses that can affect mental health, motivation, feelings of doubt, pessimism, and more.
Thinking that something is either “definitely” going to happen or, conversely, is “impossible” can carry similar connotations. Both can take a feeling of agency away from alumni navigating their sober lives, making them feel out of control of their actions, decisions, and journeys. This can be exceptionally challenging for alumni navigating anxiety or depression as it can cause improbable catastrophic outcomes to seem “inevitable,” despite the reality of the situation. Even replacing simple words like “always” with “could” or “possible” can go a long way in introducing some space to make informed decisions and avoid this kind of thinking.
Changing Language to Avoid Labels
The language surrounding substance use and addiction has changed a lot over time, and many terms that were once commonly used to describe the situation have been found to carry destructive properties. For example, calling someone an “addict” or even a “former addict” can all carry destructive potential, even if unintentional. These terms can tie an alumnus’s identity to the disease of addiction itself, thus removing or overshadowing other parts of their identity.
There is a difference between living with alcohol use disorder (AUD) or drug addiction and being defined by it. Therefore, changing language both in how a person views themselves as well as how families and supports refer to past experiences with addictive substances is necessary to avoid unnecessarily and harmfully labeling another.
Changing Language by Introducing Positive Language
While changing language to avoid destructive or harmful implications is paramount, language can also be an opportunity to explore potential healing benefits that an individual may not necessarily have already adopted. Addiction recovery is a continuous journey, and adding new elements as an alumnus can go a long way in preventing relapse and reinforcing motivation, dedication, and change in daily life.
Incorporating Positive Self-Talk
Positive self-talk is typically an internal dialogue where an individual finds silver linings in stressful situations or reinforces positive elements about themselves. It can be compliments given to oneself, or even taking pride in accomplishments, decisions, and a person’s overall progress in recovery and sobriety.
However, it can be difficult to tap into this internal dialogue, and many accomplishments may go unrecognized. Removing destructive language and replacing it with positive self-talk can be a great way to reinforce continued success in sobriety. It is normal for this to feel unnatural at first, and an individual may not fully recognize the number of situations where they may unintentionally use destructive language, or how many stresses and accomplishments an individual achieves each day.
Starting with journaling about the day can help each alumnus identify the stresses they faced throughout the day while providing a space to record thoughts and identify areas where positive self-talk can be utilized. Eventually, this can create a shift in perspective, with positive self-talk becoming normalized and effective to take pride in each person’s accomplishments, or improving resilience in the face of stress.
Developing Relationships
Changing language can also help to mend relationships in sobriety. Alumni still have many challenges ahead as they reach greater milestones, and reconnecting with family, friends, peers, and others is one of these goals. For many, this involves making amends, and changing language can help to ensure that these conversations carry the intention necessary for such interpersonal healing.
Avoiding blame – whether directed at oneself or others – is crucial while navigating these situations. Likewise, changing a person’s language to reflect current situations can help differentiate a person from their actions, helping alumni take accountability for mistakes while establishing their sober transformation in the present.
Changing the language surrounding addiction and recovery is an important step and can fundamentally affect your future recovery efforts, relationships, and more. At Hawaii Island Recovery, we understand the powerful nature of choosing the right language, and our treatment programs in Hawaii are designed to reflect these necessary changes. Not only can we empower you to navigate your personal needs both inside our walls and out but we also address your social and spiritual needs, all while exploring new language and perspectives for sustainable success and sobriety. For more information on how we can further empower your sober transformation, call to speak to a caring, trained staff member today at (866) 390-5070.
