Sobriety is just one aspect of recovery. A new life awaits you if you stop using drugs or alcohol. Self-care is at the heart of a significant transition.
We all require a tune-up when we become clean since drug abuse has ravaged our health. Drug and alcohol abuse is harmful to the body, mind, and soul. Those with substance use disorders who have been inactive in their recovery treatment for months or years must take the necessary steps to rehabilitate and preserve their health.
What Is Self-Care?
Recovery-oriented self-care puts your mental, emotional, and physical well-being as a top priority. Individuals in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction need to acquire self-awareness of their circumstances and what will help them meet their needs and goals while also being aware of appropriate limits.
Your self-care plan should include several practical, efficient activities that you can regularly establish and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Emotional and Spiritual Self-Care
Self-Love - Even though it may sound straightforward, it isn't always easy to do. Consider using daily affirmations or self-acknowledgment as a way to jumpstart your day. Remember that self-care is a practice of self-acceptance and self-love to develop a healthier and better version of yourself.
Balance - When you’re in recovery, people tend to focus on only a few parts of their life for contentment, whether it's a career, a relationship, or even their recovery, excluding all other areas, as if they were separate or unrelated to another.
For example, attending AA meetings is excellent, but does doing that alone mean you are truly taking care of yourself if you're constantly stressed about other things? We risk toppling if we place too much emphasis on a few areas of our life.
Relaxation - Take a deep breath and let go of your anxieties. An inability to handle stress is one of the leading causes of relapse in recovery. Consider getting a massage, going for a stroll in the woods, or just setting aside some time to ponder and meditate.
Even though daily obligations like work, family, and household chores won't go away, making time for yourself is essential.
Physical Self-Care
Maintain a Healthy Diet - It's easy to go back into old bad habits like eating poorly while you're trying to get your life back on track.
However, there is evidence to suggest that eating directly impacts our emotions. According to the National Institutes of Health, improved mental well-being is linked to healthy eating habits, including the Mediterranean diet.
Feeling better about oneself starts with eating well. It's a feast for the mind.
Physical Activity - You don't have to go to the gym or run a marathon to get in some exercise, but it's a good idea. It is simply going for a stroll or riding a bike to the shop that releases "feel-good" endorphins that reduce stress.
Remember that exercising and having fun are not mutually incompatible activities! A leisure sports league or some surfing might be fun options for you. There is no limit to what can be done here.
Sleep Hygiene - Our attitude and outlook on the day are influenced by how much sleep we get. After a good night's sleep, you are more likely to maintain a happy perspective on the day. The benefits of maintaining a regular sleep schedule can't be overstated.
Social Self-Care
Boundaries - Make it clear to everyone around you about the lifestyle changes you are making as a sober person. To avoid awkward social situations or setbacks and form new friendships, it's important to let others know that you're in recovery.
Support - The importance of social contacts cannot be overstated. Social interactions are crucial to our well-being, whether a peer support group or a recovery fellowship, sober friends, or supportive family members. To care for ourselves, we must open ourselves up to others.
Talk - Seeing a therapist, particularly in the early stages of addiction treatment, may be an essential part of self-care. Having a good buddy who listens intently may be all that is needed for some people.
Whatever the case may be, it's critical that you give yourself room to feel. Experiential therapy is also a healthy and constructive way to serve oneself and interact with others.
Keep an Attitude of Gratitude
Make a daily note of three things for which you are grateful, and take time to ponder each item and the reasons for your gratitude.
Taking a few minutes each day to reflect on the good aspects of your daily life may have a profound effect on your wellness. An attitude of gratitude can promote health and prevent disease.
February 27, 2022
