Moving forward with our lives in recovery does not mean we are immune to the challenges and obstacles every day brings. Unexpected hurdles and difficult situations will arise. Although we learn ways to deal with these circumstances within our recovery, there are many ways we can take action to prepare and comfort ourselves to avoid a relapse or impulsive decision. Self-care is a practice that we can implement in our lives to maintain our stability, our sobriety, as well as our sanity.
What is Self-Care?
Self-care is the practice of taking care of your personal health physically, mentally, and emotionally. Practice means it is something we need to work into our lives, and that’s not always an easy task. Sometimes we aren’t sure how to begin taking care of ourselves. These practices are personal, meaning your self-care routine won’t always look the same as someone else’s. The way you nurture your physical and mental health is subjective to your own needs. Exercising self-care can help us relieve anxiety, reduce stress, and improve our health in every aspect. It is important to pay attention to the needs of your body and mind, in order to remain balanced in daily life, as well as to get through strenuous situations when they come up.
The Basics of Self-Care
Throughout our recovery, we get in tune with our spirituality. Practicing this is what aids us in healing from our addiction, and is essential in staying sober. We receive many wonderful gifts throughout the process. Facing our fears, finding a new sense of self and confidence, and learning to connect and support others are only a few of these great gifts. Continuing to do what is suggested and what we learn in recovery is the path we must stay on to relieve our obsession with drugs and alcohol. Taking care of our mind and body are practices we must add to our recovery in similar ways. Ways to do this can be as simple as taking care of ourselves when we are sick. Listen to your body. If you need rest, or to see a doctor, or a change in your diet, take the proper action to heal yourself. If you struggle with mental health issues, self-care can appear in the form of treatment for that. Seeing a therapist or a psychiatrist may be suggestions you take to ensure a happier and healthier life in conjunction with recovery. Emotional self-care can simply be allowing yourself to feel the emotions that arise in life. Sadness, grief, joy, all of these need to be experienced and nurtured in healthy ways, instead of keeping them bottled up inside. Taking care of yourself has many different forms. While these options are more foundational, there are also more personalized options to explore.
Creating Your Self-Care Routine
Since self-care is different from person to person, tune in to your own needs and comforts. There are many ways to practice self care, on many different levels. Consider what activities make you happy, calm, and inspired. For some, simply having a daily routine and adhering to it is beneficial to their health. This means waking up and going to sleep at the same time every day or possibly having a morning routine to start your day. Routine can bring balance into your life and help to maintain stability. Other forms of self-care can include relaxing your mind and body. Taking a bath, meditating, and yoga are just some of the ways people de-stress. In contrast, some people find it helpful to work through intense emotions by going to the gym and exercising. This can be a daily or weekly practice, but can also be helpful when tense situations come up. Running, kickboxing, and lifting weights can all be helpful in expelling negative emotions. Listening to music, or creating a playlist of songs that can soothe you, or playing an instrument is also a great way to relieve anxiety. Some people enjoy surrounding themselves with friends, while others prefer solitude and quiet time. Since self-care practices are meant to be personal, try making a list of the things that have proven to comfort you, things that you can implement into your life to keep a balance.
Self-Care and Recovery
Recovery allows us to build and lead a life without drugs and alcohol. Once we remove these from our life, we are off to a good start. We begin to find stability and clarity. Working with a sponsor, going to meetings, and being of service to others are all pillars in maintaining sobriety. These actions can work in tandem with self-care to align you spiritually, physically, and mentally. As we reintegrate into our lives, many things change for the better. We find friendships, relationships, start new jobs or resume old ones. We find a new sense of freedom and peace. Life naturally has ups and downs, with and without addiction. Staying in tune with our needs is important in balancing our emotions and impulses. Sobriety is a daily reprieve, meaning we get a new chance every day to overcome our addiction. Every day we get the opportunity to grow and enjoy a happier, healthier life. This requires that we put in work on many different levels. Living this life is a gift, and we must prioritize it and ourselves. Staying balanced in sobriety and within ourselves are ways that we are permitted to do just that.
The Guest House Ocala provides first-rate treatment so that you can start the journey of recovery and self-care. You are worthy of a healthy and fulfilling life, and our staff is well-trained and excited to take those next steps with you.
Call 855-483-7800 today for more information.