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A new study suggests that taking a few minutes to do positive psychology exercises can dramatically increase instant happiness in recovering adults after a substance use disorder.
The results are published online in the Drug Treatment Journal.
"Addiction scientists are moving more and more beyond the traditional goal of reducing or eliminating substance use by advocating treatment protocols that encompbad quality of life. Yet orchestrated positive experiences are rarely incorporated into the treatment of addicts, "said lead author Bettina B. Hoeppner, Ph.D., senior researcher at the Recovery Research Institute of Mbadachusetts General Hospital (MGH).
In the context of a randomized online survey, one of the five short textual exercises of an average duration of four minutes was awarded to more than 500 adults who reported current or past consumption problems. of substances.
Participants reported the greatest increases in happiness after completing an exercise called "Reliving Happy Moments", in which they chose one of their own photos that captured a moment of happiness and entered a text describing what was happening in the picture.
An exercise entitled "Savoring", in which respondents described two positive experiences experienced the day before, led to the next highest happiness gain. This was followed by "Rose, Thorn, Bud", in which they listed a highlight and a challenge from the previous day and an anticipated pleasure the next day.
On the other hand, an exercise entitled "3 Hard Things", in which participants wrote about the challenges they had faced the day before, resulted in a significant decrease in happiness.
The researchers note that the ease of use and effectiveness of these positive psychology exercises suggest that they could be promising tools for increasing happiness levels during treatment, which could help support long-term recovery.
"These findings underscore the importance of meeting the challenges of healing through positive experiences," said Hoeppner, an badociate professor of psychology at the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.
"The recovery is difficult and for the effort to be sustainable, positive experiences must be achievable along the way."
Substance use disorders occur when recurrent consumption of alcohol and / or drugs leads to a clinically significant impairment, including health problems, disability, and lack of work, school or other responsibilities. at home, SAMHSA).
Source: Mbadachusetts General Hospital
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