Addiction recovery is about more than just the cessation of use.
You need to establish a lifestyle that actively cultivates and supports your emotional wellness and physical health and sobriety in the long term. And here’s the thing most people don’t realize…
Self-care is not a luxury during recovery. It’s the foundation everything else is built on.
Good self-care can fortify your emotional wellness so that you’re far less likely to relapse and unable to cope. The exciting thing? Establishing a self-care routine as part of your recovery process doesn’t have to be difficult.
In this article, we’re going to talk about:
- The non-negotiable place self-care holds in recovery
- The relationship between emotional wellness and sobriety
- Practical and proven self-care strategies
- How to build a sustainable self-care routine
Self-Care: The Key To Long-Term Recovery
Did you know…
About 75% of people who develop an addiction during their lifetime do recover from that addiction. That is amazing!
What’s even more amazing is this startling relapse rate for people with substance use disorders.
This figure averages out to somewhere between 40-60% of people who will experience a relapse at some point during recovery. So where do we begin with self-care?
The thing is, a lot of people come to recovery from addiction and end up relapsing. And the main reason for that is a lack of self-care. Why?
Self-care is what builds strong emotional wellness in the first place, which is necessary for developing and executing a successful addiction recovery plan. Working with a trusted addiction recovery center like Novara Recovery Center will tell you the same thing – your self-care is important.
The better your emotional wellness, the more capable you are of navigating triggers, stressors, and changing lifestyles.
Addiction is often used as a tool for emotional management to avoid the unpleasant and stress. However, without solid emotional management and self-care skills, when life gets hard, where does that leave you?
Right back where you started.
Emotional Wellness: The Link To Sobriety
Here’s a fact you might not know…
Emotional wellness is the result of self-care practices.
It is more than just the feeling good all the time. It means that you’re building skills and capacities to deal with life’s demands. The good, the bad, the everywhere in-between.
For people in recovery, emotional wellness is even more important than usual.
Building strong emotional wellness in recovery acts as a support for when cravings and tough times hit. When life inevitably gets hard again, it will help you manage negative emotions without reverting back to substance use.
Recent data also reveals that 72.2% of adults who struggled with substance use or addiction considered themselves to be in recovery. What do most of these individuals have in common?
Prioritization of their emotional wellness through regular self-care.
Key Elements Of Self-Care In Recovery
Ok, we know. We get it, but what does this practically look like?
You’ve got to build self-care into your life. Self-care during addiction recovery can be broadly categorized into the following types of activities and interventions.
- Physical self-care
- Emotional self-care
- Mental self-care
Self-care might seem simple in theory, but in practice, it can get overwhelming. Let’s take a look at the practical application of each element.
Physical Self-Care
Did you know, a person with an addiction needs to pay very close attention to their physical self-care.
The abuse of substances has a severe effect on your physical body over a long period. Therefore, rebuilding your physical health is an essential step in your recovery.
Physical self-care activities include;
- Getting between 7 and 9 hours of sleep
- Regular, nutritious meals
- Regular exercise and movement
- Hydration throughout the day
- Regular medical check-ups and appointments
Emotional Self-Care
Ok, ok. We know. This one is the hard work.
Emotional self-care activities require you to attend to your emotional wellbeing and actively find positive ways of dealing with your emotions and feelings.
Emotional self-care activities include;
- Therapy and counselling sessions
- Support groups
- Journaling your experiences
- Mindfulness and meditation
- Talking to friends and family
Did you know 64% of Americans reported that they take part in self-care routines? However, the sad thing is that most of them wish they did more.
Prioritize emotional self-care from the get-go.
Mental Self-Care
Your mental wellbeing matters too.
You need to care for your mind actively. You also need to think about ways that you can improve and keep a clear, analytical mind to make the right decisions for yourself.
Mental self-care activities include;
- Gaining new skills and hobbies
- Books that excite your imagination
- Engage in creativity
- Set your boundaries
- Monitor negative thinking
Asking for help isn’t the end of the world, reach out when you feel like it.
Creating A Self-Care Routine That Sticks
A confession time…
Self-care is excellent, but it will only help if you follow it through. This is where most people get lost. In this section, we discuss how you can make your self-care stick in the most practical way.
Bite-Sized Practices
Do not overwhelm yourself by overhauling your entire lifestyle in one go.
Choose one or two simple self-care practices and commit to those for 30 days. Once it becomes a habit, you can introduce another.
For example, you can start with a 20-minute meditation a day for a month. At the end of the month, you can add an extra practice of doing a yoga class or exercise for 30 minutes.
Prioritize Self-Care
Schedule it.
Literally put it on your calendar as an important event and do not miss it. Mark a time where you can get at least 20 minutes a day and defend that time fiercely.
Self-Care Practices That Work For You
Find what self-care looks like for you. What works for someone else might not work for you. In other cases, what soothes your bestie might stress you out of your mind.
Explore and find activities and practices that work for you and discard what doesn’t. Experiment and be flexible with the type of activities you explore.
Self-care activities should be relaxing, enjoyable, and rejuvenating.
Join Recovery Communities
Ok, we get it. You may be tempted to go at it alone. However, recovery is a team sport, and you need as many people on your side as possible.
Build relationships with people who support and enhance your recovery.
Join support groups and share your experiences. You can also learn from others as you share your own journey. 72% of people have used self-care as a reward after a long week.
Remember self-care should be a daily routine not only on the weekends.
Supplementing Self-Care With Professional Help
Let’s be clear on one thing.
Self-care is important, but it is no substitute for professional care and treatment.
Remember self-care is the maintenance and daily upkeep you need to do to keep the whole recovery process running smoothly.
As we mentioned above, working with a reputable and trustworthy addiction recovery center is essential. A quality one will guide you on the types of self-care practices you should be following.
The center will be in a better position to design a recovery plan for you that will include recommendations on professional self-care.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Conclusion
Self-care is one of the significant components of a successful recovery journey. In this article, we’ve covered some important facts about self-care.
- It is a key component to successful addiction recovery
- Emotional wellness is the backbone of successful sobriety
- Physical, mental, and emotional aspects of self-care
- Consistency beats perfection
- Professional help from a center is the key
Addiction recovery is not impossible. The statistics are there to prove that it is not. 75% of people who develop an addiction recover from the substance abuse.
However, it’s going to take work and effort, and self-care is a massive part of the process.
Start small, be consistent with your efforts. And most importantly, remember taking care of yourself is never a selfish act.
If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, contact our admissions team today at Novara Recovery Center, for more information on our substance abuse treatment services.