Self-destruction lives in all of us. Strong, well-adjusted people are best able to handle it, but those who struggle with insecurity or are genuinely unhappy are more likely to engage in self-destructive behavior. Not only can this lead to difficulties in relationships and jobs but also drugs and alcohol.

The River Source is a holistic treatment center that has a women’s only addiction recovery program. In our program, we address self-destructive behavior and what women can do to practice more healthy behaviors. We recommend the following five tips.

1. 1. Choose Friends Who Lift You Up

You may not be able to choose your family, coworkers, or neighbors, but you can choose your friends. So choose them wisely. Your friends contribute greatly to your happiness and the way you feel about yourself.

1. 1. Streamline Your Life

There are hard ways of doing things and easy ways of doing things. Avoid choosing the difficult path. This may be conscious or subconscious, but there’s no reason to suffer from pain with each situation that arises. This might mean having to say no to people or turning down invitations.

1. 1. Don’t Let Fear Consume You

People who are self-destructive often use failure as an excuse for not moving forward in life. But, it’s important not to let the fear of something stop you from going after what’s important to you. People don’t judge based on failure. It’s about how you respond to the situation that matters.

1. 1. Accept Help From Others

It’s OK to request and accept help from others. It’s mutually rewarding for both people. You feel loved and valued, while the person feels needed and worthy. Self-destructive people tend to suffer in silence and refuse to ask for help because they look at it as a sense of pride. There are no benefits to doing this, aside from feeling alone and resentful.

1. 1. Avoid Using Drugs and Alcohol

Using drugs and alcohol to cope with stressful situations is rarely a good idea. This may lead to dependence, and then you won’t know how to cope with stressful situations without drugs or alcohol. Also, substances will get in the way of your functioning and cloud your rational thought processes.

Ready to learn more about our women’s only treatment program? It’s built specifically for women and addresses the unique needs that female addicts often suffer with. Your call with The River Source is confidential.