Take Some Time Out
Try and take some time out to do something you usually enjoy. Schedule it in as if it were an appointment.
Learning helpful strategies and tips to manage your mental fitness or support you when you’re finding things tough is a great place to start. You can use the ‘Filter by Topic’ button below to select a specific topic you want to focus on, otherwise just scroll down to see the different strategies and tips for all the topics you’ll find on this site.
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Listen To How You’re Feeling
Anger, sadness and exhaustion are all normal experiences after a loss. Be kind to yourself and allow time for those emotions to pass.
Consider Speaking To An Expert
It can be very challenging to tackle an addiction, especially if you’ve been dealing with it for a long time. Speaking to an expert who can support you in overcoming your addiction can make a massive difference to your recovery journey. These contacts are a great place to start or speak to your GP about places that would suit you best.
Look After Your Physical Health
Stopping your use of a substance can be extremely mentally challenging but it can also affect your physical health. Withdrawal symptoms can be unpleasant so consider talking to your GP or a medical professional to see how they can support you. www.drughelp.org.nz has some good tips on how to manage withdrawal too.
Know It’s Ok To Talk
Talking to someone about what’s going on for you is one of the best strategies and tools you can use. Make sure the person or people are ones you can trust and that they don’t have connections to your addiction. If you don’t feel comfortable talking to someone you know the Alcohol Drug Helpline has a 24/7 helpline available.
Avoid High-Risk Environments
Stepping away from situations and friends that are familiar to you is very difficult, but when these places and people are ones that encourage your addiction, removing yourself is your best chance of making a change.
Use The Opportunity
Use the ‘bonus’ time you have to focus on building a stronger you, both physically and mentally. You could focus on nutrition, careers outside of rugby, learning a new skill or studying the team plays.
Plan Time Away
Being around the team can be great but it can be just as important to have some time away doing things you enjoy. Spend some time thinking about the right balance for you and your recovery. Taking a mental break from rehab is really important.