People who embark on a recovery journey face the consequences of long-term self-neglect. Hence one of the goals of self-care in addiction recovery is to help patients rebuild confidence and self-love. The recovery process always goes hand in hand with developing healthy habits and routines. It’s how patients begin to build a new life for themselves in which their health is a no.1 priority.
What Does Self-Care Embody?
It’s vital to help a person in the process of recovery understand what self-care includes:
- Taking care of own body.
- Adopting a new life perspective.
- Developing a healthier mindset.
- Recognizing personal emotions and needs.
- Recognizing toxic patterns tied to substance abuse and learning how to avoid them.
- Doing things out of love for yourself.
- Cultivating self-confidence in personal abilities.
- Rediscovering intuition and emotional needs.
- Learning new things.
The connection between mind and body is essential. The way a person cultivates their body will reflect on their mind, and vice versa. For instance, cardio and gym training doesn’t only boost energy and melt off fat. It destresses the mind, regulates hormones and biochemical processes, and helps with excessive mind chatter. Furthermore, creative work like painting and crafting helps the brain develop new neural paths. In one word – mental health and physical well-being come together.
Self-Care In Addiction Recovery Is A Long-Term Process
Contrary to popular belief, self-care is a journey meant to last for years. It’s a set of habits and routines a patient will form as days go by. Addiction recovery experts at littlecreekrecovery.org suggest that it’s best to introduce a patient to self-care habits from the very first day.
That way, each day becomes an opportunity for patients to make healthier choices that serve their well-being. However, it’s necessary to make self-care a permanent habit.
A Patient Gets A Much-Needed Social Support
The very beginning of recovery is tumultuous and hard for a patient. It’s not easy to undo the need for the next fix that has grown due to continuous drug use. That’s why strong support from close people and doctors is an integral part of the entire process. By having a therapist to guide them, a patient has better chances to resocialize and start prioritizing their health and well-being. Social factor plays a crucial role in helping people overcome addictions and begin a new chapter.
Progressed Recovery Process
Small steps towards recovery snowball into healthy habits and renewed self-worth. However, it’s important to note that each patient won’t get to that point at the same pace. Past traumas, years of addiction, and other crucial factors must be considered.
Tangible Results
Physical exercise is another crucial way to remind a patient why taking care of their own body is beneficial. Once a patient discovers their love for hiking, swimming, or practicing yoga, chances for setbacks are minimal. Simply put, physical activity is a healthy way to vent out, combat anxiety, and remain clear-headed. It switches the patient’s pleasure associations. Instead of a substance, the patient begins to seek activity and get a dopamine rush while keeping the body in shape.
Emotional healing is also a sign of a successful Recovery center meth detox. That’s when a patient knows how to recognize their needs, wishes, negative patterns, etc. Furthermore, it becomes normal for them to talk about challenging moments and plans for their future with a trusted therapist and close person.
Successful Prevention Of Relapse
Various self-care methods successfully contribute to relapse prevention. Cravings and anxiety are easier to manage with developed, healthier coping mechanisms.
Orderly Lifestyle
When a person takes care of themselves, they also make sure their living space is clean and tidy. Messy and chaotic life is swapped for an orderly lifestyle with more structure and discipline.
Introduction To New Hobbies And Interests
Whether it’s a gym workout, painting, or crafting, it will change a patient’s life for the better. Newly formed habits benefit cognitive functions and help the brain renew. Studies show new neural pathways show after a prolonged period of practicing new skills.
Outpatient Rehab Incorporates Self-care
Those with mild withdrawal symptoms opt for outpost rehab. Instead of in a health facility, they spend their recovery at home. However, not all patients have the same recovery journey. Setbacks are very likely due to the lack of supervision. This is why the introduction to self-care is what a trusted doctor has to do. Furthermore, the doctor/therapist is obligated to track the progress, highlight positive results and pay attention to re-emerging negative patterns. That way, outpatient rehab is more likely to go smoothly. It’s important for a patient to get the necessary assistance. As a result, they regain a sense of responsibility and trust in their own future judgments.
Self-care vs. Abstinence
Abstinence has been seen as the number one way of helping patients stay drug-free. However, the drawbacks of abstaining without self–care are more common than not: relapse, cravings, and inability to focus and do daily tasks. Self–care in addiction recovery is necessary to establish healthier life, mitigate cravings, and follow up negative patterns. It’s not enough for an addict to stay away from drugs, but also has to learn how to live differently. Taking drugs regularly can cause drug detox insomnia. People who take drugs can experience insomnia as a result as well. And that’s precisely why they need to know how to take care of themselves and thus leave an addiction-infused lifestyle for good.
If You Are On A Healing Journey Yourself…
This guide serves as a reminder of the benefits of self-care in addiction recovery. Refer to it whenever you need to remind yourself of the positive changes that come with taking care of your soul, mind, and body. Most importantly – trust in the process no matter how long it lasts. The goal of addiction recovery is a newly-discovered life and purpose. It’s not an endpoint but a way of living. So, have patience, confide in your closest ones, and remember you’re brave and worthy of a new and exciting life chapter that awaits you.
