Self Care In Recovery
Updated: Oct 13, 2022
What is self-care?
Often we hear or are advised to practice self-care, either by our professional support systems or our social support systems. If not our support systems, it is the media around us. There are tips and advice shared and posted almost every day on social media platforms on how to practice self-care or self-love.
But do we know what self-care entails or why it is necessary?
Say for instance your device or computer becomes slow, what comes to mind? Refresh, clean for viruses, create enough memory space, install new working software and the list goes on and on.
Because we know and understand the importance of our devices, we work hard to keep them safe, protected and functioning.
Self-care is exactly that. The only difference is that we focus on our health which is more precious than our devices could ever be.
Recovery is about so much more than just getting sober. It requires effort, discipline, and more practice of coping skills and tools. Once we put down drugs or alcohol, we must find a new way to live.
After leaving treatment, which is a controlled environment, we become exposed to triggers, toxins, and temptations that try and test our motivation for change, and our strength in surviving addiction. We are undergoing a profound transformational process. One that largely centers on self-care.
According to 'Ashley's Everything for Recovery', self-care can be defined as, “the practice of taking action to preserve or improve one’s health.”
By the time most of us get sober, our health is in desperate need of a tune-up. Abusing drugs or alcohol is toxic to the mind, body, and spirit. After months or years of active addiction, we must put forth the effort to restore and maintain health in all areas of our lives.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), self-care is important because it can help promote health, prevent disease, and help people better cope with illness.
You must consider what works for you, as an individual. Self-care is not a one size fits all strategy.
Your self-care plan will need to be designed according to your needs and what is currently happening in your life. The goal is to take steps each day to make sure that you are getting what you need to deal with the stress and challenges you face in your daily life (https://www.verywellmind.com/self-care-strategies-overall-stress-reduction-3144729).
Everyone needs to practice self-care regularly, regardless of their mental health status. We are each battling different challenges and problems, as we all equally need care and attention.
Self-care is vital for building resilience toward those stressors in life that you cannot eliminate.
When you have taken steps to care for your mind and body, you will be better equipped to live your best life.
It is important to assess how you are caring for yourself in several different domains so you can ensure you are caring for your mind, body, and spirit.
The domains include, physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, financial, and not limited to, social.
Domains of Self-care:
1. Physical self-care
It is known that for your body to function properly, you have to take care of it. This can refer to engaging in physical exercises. With the overuse of technology, the amount of time we spend in the office, often the time used for physical exercise may be limited.
Physical self-care includes how you are fueling your body, how much sleep you are getting, how much physical activity you are doing, and how well you are caring for your physical needs.
Eating healthy, and taking time for physical health care, such as gymming, jogging, yoga, or just taking time to walk outside of office hours are all part of physical self-care
2. Emotional self-care
Often we neglect our emotional state as we are busy catering to that of others. Therefore it is very important to do some form of emotional self-care so that your emotional health can be balanced.
Helping others, being there for others, and providing support for others are important, however, it will not work well for you if your emotional being is in shambles. Building your emotional intelligence should be a priority. It is important to have healthy coping skills to deal with uncomfortable emotions, like anger, anxiety, and sadness.
Emotional self-care may include activities that help you acknowledge and express your feelings regularly and safely. Some examples are art therapy, writing blogs, poetry, or daily journaling. Attending support groups to be able to openly express your emotions.
3. Mental self-care
The way you think and the things that you are filling your mind with greatly influence your psychological well-being.
Mental self-care includes doing things that keep your mind sharp, like puzzles, or learning about a subject that fascinates you. You might find reading books or watching movies that inspire you to fuel your mind. Mental self-care also involves doing things that help you stay mentally healthy. Practising self-compassion and acceptance, for example, helps you maintain a healthier inner dialogue.
4. Spiritual self-care
Whether you enjoy meditation, attending a religious service, or praying, spiritual self-care is important.
Nurturing your spirit, however, does not have to involve religion. It can involve anything that helps you develop a deeper sense of meaning, understanding, or connection with the universe.
5. Financial self-care
Financial self-care can start from as little as drafting a budget and following it monthly, learning about financial literacy, and developing discipline when it comes to your finances.
This can be done with the help of professionals at your disposal. The first step is to ask for help from those with the necessary information and knowledge for support and guidance.
It is important to remember that self-care is not limited to the above-mentioned domains, individuals are encouraged to look after themselves in every way possible that would yield positive results and improvements in their lives.
CONCLUSION
What is self-care?
Self-care is what is needed for your well-being and should always leave you with more energy and feelings of revitalization. Self-care supports your overall health and wellness.
Why is it important to practice self-care?
Engaging in a self-care routine has been clinically proven to reduce or eliminate anxiety and depression, reduce stress, improve concentration, minimize frustration and anger, increase happiness, improve energy, and more
How does self-care affect addicts in recovery?
With self-care, you nurture your mental and physical health so that you reduce your chances of turning to drugs or alcohol to cope. Additionally, by physically and mentally feeling your best, you can also work toward your full potential. By working toward goals that matter to you, you have less time to obsess over using substances.
The Dangers of Drug Abuse and the Importance of Rehabilitation
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of how to deal with drug abuse and addiction, but rehabilitation is a vital step for many people who want to overcome their substance abuse problems. Rehabilitation can help addicts learn to live sober lives and cope with the challenges of recovery. It can also provide them with the tools they need to avoid relapse and build successful, drug-free futures.
What are the benefits of rehabilitation for substance abuse?
There are many benefits of rehabilitation for substance abuse. The first is that it can help the person to stop using the substance. This is important because it can help to prevent further health problems and also because it can help the person to avoid legal problems. Rehabilitation can also help the person learn new skills and to develop a better support network. This can help the person to stay clean and to lead a more productive life.
How to choose the right drug rehabilitation centre for you or your loved ones?
If you or your loved one is struggling with addiction, it is important to choose the right drug rehabilitation centre to achieve lasting sobriety.
There are many factors to consider when making this decision, such as the type of treatment offered, the location of the centre, and the cost of care. It is also important to make sure that the centre you choose is accredited and has a good reputation.
The first step in choosing the right drug rehabilitation centre is to identify the type of treatment that is right for you or your loved one. There are many different types of treatment available, such as inpatient, outpatient, 12-step, and holistic. It is important to choose a type of treatment that is effective in treating addiction.
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