Positive Psychology Plays a Key Role in Addiction Recovery

“Happiness and well-being are the desired outcomes of positive psychology.”

These are the words of Dr. Martin Seligman, founder of Positive Psychology. The field is built on the belief that people want to lead meaningful and fulfilling lives, develop and grow what is best within themselves, and enhance their experiences of love, work, and play.

We know that addiction is a chronic disease that people have to manage for the rest of their lives. And, we also know that some people may never recover from their addiction.

Rather than focusing on the pathology of illness and the obstacles that fill the path to recovery, Seligman believes psychology should contribute to individuals achieving their full potential in life. Positive Psychology reframes the conversation by emphasizing that addiction is a behavioral disorder and that even the most deeply-rooted behaviors can be changed with proper treatment and lifestyle changes.

Complementary to other treatment approaches, Positive Psychology helps people imagine their lives in recovery can be: happy, joyous and free. It’s about moving beyond addiction, rather than just treating the primary disorder. It’s about setting goals and living a happy, fulfilling life after addiction. While not dismissing the negative statistics of addiction recovery, turning recovery into something achievable is empowering and motivating to those battling substance abuse.

One recent study described using positive psychology in a group setting with adolescents who had been drinking. The focus of the group was to build upon their personal strengths rather than the negative consequences of drinking. The teens participated in group sessions in which they learned about relaxation techniques, nutrition, exercise and other positive ways to enjoy healthy living.

The study reported significant increases in happiness, optimism (the biggest rise) and positive emotions, together with a significant decrease in alcohol dependence, down two-thirds to a third of its original level. Many of the young people gave up drugs altogether, realizing they were getting in the way of their goals. The young participants went from having little or no concept of their futures to setting goals, many of which were achieved during the study.

Overall, the program led to increases in four dimensions of well-being: Hedonic well-being (the ‘feeling good’ part of happiness), eudaimonic well-being (the part of happiness concerned with realizing your potential), social well-being (shown in improved relationships) and physical well-being (demonstrated by improved physical health and increased activity).

At Kiva, we know that a positive approach towards life and the corresponding positive actions that come from that optimistic philosophy are the most powerful weapons people in recovery can have. Which is why our approach focuses on the individual and the strengths within each of us. And we’ve seen time and time again how a positive outlook helps people stick to their treatment plan and forward step by step along the road to lifelong recovery.