Affirmations and Self-Love: Building Mental Strength and Sobriety One Positive Thought at a Time: Andrea Mora

Hello again! It’s your friendly neighborhood mental health and substance abuse recovery advocate! I hope you found my last article helpful, enjoyable, and perhaps even motivating. That was the intended purpose, so thank you if you found value in it. I write these articles to show there is hope, help, resources, and everyday things you can do to work towards and maintain your sobriety and your mental stability. One of the best things I do for myself is practicing affirmation and self-love. After all, who better is there to inspire us than…ourselves, right? There are many ways we can practice self-love, and while I’m going to share some of those with you, it is important to remember that these are not the only options. Get creative figure out what would work best for you by listening to your thoughts and needs. What may inspire me may not be the inspiration for you, and that is ok! 

As you may remember, in my last article, I mentioned I am 6.5 years sober from alcohol and right around 6 years stable with my mental illness of Bipolar Disorder Type I. I have had a few breakthrough episodes during these 6 years, mental illness-related, and some of my other mental illness diagnoses rear their ugly heads frequently, but I have never broken sobriety. Does that mean it is easy, HEL—HECK NO! (not sure if I can swear in here, but my mouth is like that of a sailor with scurvy, so I best check. You’d get more flavor that way 😊) But, I digress. 

Each illness I live with brings its own sets of challenges as I move throughout the day, weeks, months and years. But something that has helped me along the way is practicing self-love. I do this in many ways, but a big one for me is affirmations. Before I dive right into affirmations, I’m sure we all have our own definitions of what mental illness and addiction/substance abuse are to us, but some common factors go into these. 

Mental illness and substance abuse often share common underlying factors, which can make these conditions interrelated and challenging to treat separately. One significant factor is genetics, as both mental health disorders and addiction have hereditary components. If a person has a family history of depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, or addiction, they are at an increased risk of developing these issues themselves. Genetics can influence how people respond to stress, how their brains process rewards, and even how susceptible they are to addictive substances. This genetic vulnerability can create a predisposition that, when combined with other factors, may lead to both mental illness and substance abuse.

Another shared factor is environmental stress. Trauma, abuse, and adverse life events are major contributors to both mental illness and substance use disorders. People experiencing chronic stress from poverty, relationship issues, or personal loss might turn to substances as a way of coping with overwhelming emotions or negative thoughts. Additionally, social environments that normalize or encourage drug and alcohol use can make substance abuse a more likely coping mechanism for those with underlying mental health issues. Environmental factors like these don’t cause mental illness or addiction on their own but can trigger or intensify these conditions in people who may already be vulnerable.

Biology also plays a role, particularly in how the brain’s reward and stress pathways are affected by both mental illness and addiction. Both conditions impact neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, which regulate mood and feelings of pleasure. For instance, people with depression may use substances to artificially elevate their mood, while those with anxiety may turn to drugs to alleviate symptoms temporarily. Unfortunately, this self-medication cycle often worsens both the addiction and the underlying mental health disorder, leading to a cycle that is difficult to break. The overlapping brain chemistry changes can make it challenging to address one issue without addressing the other, which is why integrated treatment for co-occurring disorders is often necessary for long-term recovery.

When we think of this, especially the long-term recovery portion of recovery, it can seem overwhelming and scary, with feelings of not knowing where to start. From my own experiences, the most important thing is to just start. One small thing, if looking at a big picture causes you distress, will help in some way. Will it “fix” you? Absolutely not, but will it help you in that moment? There are great odds it will. Like I mentioned before, let’s talk about affirmations.

Affirmations are positive statements or phrases that you repeat yourself to reinforce positive thinking and self-belief. These statements are usually framed in the present tense and focus on personal strengths, goals, or aspirations. For example, someone might say, “I am strong and resilient,” or “I deserve happiness and success.” Or one of my personal favorites “I deserve to treat myself to coffee and chocolate”. The purpose of affirmations is to shift one’s mindset, helping to replace negative self-talk and limiting beliefs with more empowering, constructive thoughts.

The practice of using affirmations is rooted in the idea that our thoughts and beliefs shape our emotions and actions. By consistently repeating positive affirmations, we can influence our subconscious mind, making it easier to adopt a more optimistic perspective. This can be particularly helpful for managing stress, building confidence, and improving overall mental well-being. When practiced regularly, affirmations can help reframe how you view yourself and your potential, which promotes a sense of self-worth and motivation.

While affirmations alone aren’t a cure-all, they are often used as a tool in combination with other self-help strategies like mindfulness, therapy, or goal-setting. Many people find that using affirmations as part of a daily routine — whether saying them aloud, writing them down, or visualizing them — can help reinforce a positive outlook. Over time, affirmations can help create lasting changes in mindset, aiding people in overcoming self-doubt, staying focused on their goals, and cultivating a more positive relationship yourself.

For myself, I love to write affirmations on Post-it notes and stick them around my computer monitor. I have different ones for different moods and positive needs and read the one I feel I need to read at that moment. By thinking it, or reading it out loud, I get the same benefit from it. That is, I know I’m a baddie with an attie and I can control my reaction to things, even when I can’t control the situation. (And just like that, I have an affirmation!) I can fill my cup up with love for myself, and it is almost giving myself permission to think, feel or act in a helpful way regardless of the challenge in front of me. 

You are your best weapon and your own worst enemy. Let’s try to use our powers for good, not evil, and bring out something in yourself that may change your mood, your day, month, or even your lifetime. The messages we send to ourselves have such power, and with great power comes great responsibility. The responsibility to ourselves, our hearts, our minds and our mental well-being. If you take one thing from this article, take this: Write yourself one, just ONE affirmation, and read it daily. You’ll find your mind shifts with the kindness you give yourself permission to feel. You can do it, and I believe in you! So…believe in yourself too, you baddie!