Addiction Thrives On Self-Neglect
Our addictions feed off of our self-neglect and self-abandonment. The more we neglect our needs, the more unstable we are mentally and emotionally. With an unstable mental and emotional life, we become vulnerable to addictive substances or behaviors. When we’re using, we feel like we’ve reached some semblance of stability. Self-neglect leaves us ungrounded and uncentered within ourselves. We don’t feel secure or at peace, no matter what we do. Our lives tend to be chaotic and full of turmoil, instability, and dysfunction. Toxic relationships find us easy prey, and we begin using our drugs of choice to cope with the unhappiness in our lives. We’re ignoring our inner selves and denying ourselves the care we need. To recover from our addictions, something dramatic has to change. Can self-care help us stay sober?
Self-Empowerment is Fighting Back Against Addiction
When we commit to a regular self-care routine, we’re telling ourselves that we matter. We’re acknowledging that we deserve love, and we’re finally addressing our needs. We’re showing ourselves that we’re going to prioritize ourselves and do what’s best for our health. Empowering ourselves in this way is an incredible antidote to our addictions. Our addictive patterns thrive on self-hatred and self-neglect. When we feel insecure, unstable, and unhappy, we’re more likely to turn to our drugs of choice for comfort. Taking care of ourselves sends our inner selves the message that we will no longer let our addictions control our lives.
Choosing How We Want to Feel and How We Want to Spend Our Time
The more time and energy we give to things that are productive, meaningful, and purpose-driven, the less we’ll have for self-destructive things. When we incorporate things we enjoy doing into our self-care practice, we lose interest in the things that brought us down. We begin to prioritize feelings of accomplishment and fulfillment. As a result, we have no time for dwelling in sadness, guilt, and regret. We come to prefer doing things that we love, that make us feel whole, joyful, and at peace. Our drugs of choice become much less appealing, and we’re far less tempted and overpowered by them. Self-care is an especially beneficial, therapeutic, and impactful component of a successful recovery program.
If you’re battling addiction, you must understand that a better life is possible. Despite the negative self-talk and the chaos of an addicted life, millions of people have risen above their addictions. At The Guest House Ocala, our recovery programs include many experiential modalities, including traditional therapy, conscious connected breathwork, equine therapy, somatic experiencing, art in healing, grief therapy, mindfulness, and other forms of therapy. Call 855-483-7800 today for more information.