Self-care is a key component of successful recovery from addiction. When you’re ready to get your life back, you must make choices to avoid falling back into old habits or making mistakes. Addiction recovery requires a lot of change, and can sometimes be challenging. It’s essential to have a support system and practice self-care techniques to remain positive and strong during this time. Check these five ways to practice self-care in addiction recovery:
1. Set Boundaries With Alcohol and Drugs
You’re likely aware that drinking and using drugs harm your health and may even be addictive. Alcohol is one of the most widely used substances in the world and is a big reason why people turn to drugs in the first place. While alcohol and other drugs can be a source of stress for individuals with addiction, remember they have different effects on the body and mind.
For example, binge drinking can significantly affect your body, but a moderate intake of drugs can improve your mental health. Ideally, abstaining from alcohol and drugs until you’re ready to start functioning again is the goal. If you struggle with managing your intake, addiction treatment centers can help you set boundaries with harmful habits to prevent damage.
2. Find a Mentor or a Personal Coach
Having someone to talk to, ask questions, and receive support is always helpful. You can find various recovery supports online, but an excellent place to start is with a friend or a mentor. A mentor can be a great way to get insight and advice from people who have been through similar experiences as you. Talking to someone can be a great way to practice self-care strategies such as building positive thinking, active listening, and reframing.
3. Go to Recovery Meetings
A critical part of self-care in recovery is going to support groups or organizations that provide peer-to-peer support. Many NAS communities have support groups for individuals with substance use disorders, including recovery groups for alcoholics and users of hallucinogenic drugs.
Many addiction recovery groups also feature relaunches or clean starts specifically designed to help members kick their addictions through volunteering and meditation, among other things. If you’re new to recovery and want to get started fast, groups are a great way to meet other people like you who are going through the same thing.
4. Exercise Regularly
One of the best ways to stay healthy and enjoy good health during recovery is to keep physically active. Low-intensity aerobic exercise is better for your body than high-intensity interval training (HIIT), and it’s important to alternate your workouts to keep your metabolism and body systems working as they should. You can also try yoga, tai-chi, and other similar practices to increase your mental health and well-being during this time.
5. Learn About Self-Care Strategies
Self-care strategies can help you become more patient, resilient, and balanced. You can learn about stress-reducing and anxiety-management techniques in self-care books, and you can learn about using specific foods to manage certain health problems such as an overgrowth of bacteria in your stomach or acne. You can also learn about the best ways to support your mental health and well-being during recovery through therapy, counseling, read-alouds, and more.
Self-care is vital for anyone going through recovery. A healthy self-care practice can help you stay focused on recovery, stay injury-free, and feel happy. Practicing self-care in recovery can be challenging, but it’s worth it in the end. Going forward, you’ll be happier, healthier, and more productive.
