Self-Care in Recovery: Fostering Compassion for Yourself
When someone fails to look after their physical and mental health, they suffer the consequences on both fronts. The scientific community increasingly learns more about ways in which our minds and bodies are interconnected. When we eat healthier, we are less depressed. When we exercise, we elevate our mood and reduce anxiety.
A structured routine that takes both mental and physical well-being into account is essential for anyone who takes their health seriously. But self-care in recovery is perhaps even more important than it is for those who aren’t struggling with addiction.
Healthy routines and thought patterns are critical for someone who suffers from a substance use disorder or mental health concern. Addiction treatment professionals help clients identify tools that they can implement in their normal routines. Finding the methods that work best for an individual typically requires counseling along with some trial and error.
By finding the best self-care processes that work for you, you will build a framework for daily living. This provides value beyond the time and effort you put into each strategy. The proper routine can dramatically improve your overall quality of life.
From exercise to therapy, you have many resources available to optimize your health. Let’s take a closer look at some possible tools you can use in your own life.
Understanding Self-Care in Recovery
The term self-care might spark a reaction from skeptics. However, it simply means prioritizing your physical and emotional health. Self-care in recovery also emphasizes purging destructive thought patterns that prevent you from moving forward in your addiction treatment.
This process is about establishing a protocol that makes your life as happy and sustainable as possible. Structure is key for those in recovery, so self-care is about finding the tools that consistently work best for you.
Common Methods of Self-Care in Recovery
There are several ways you can make sure you’re prioritizing your mental and physical health. These methods are helpful for anyone, but they are often essential for someone in recovery. Creating a routine that includes any or all of these tools gives your life structure. Common self-care methods include…
- Regular exercise
- A healthy diet
- Spending time outdoors
- Regular, consistent sleep
- Meditation
- Maintaining a regular spiritual practice, such as attending church or daily reflections
- Journaling
- Attending group meetings
- Regularly scheduled therapy sessions
When you first enter recovery, you begin trying several tools that give you a framework from which you build a daily routine. Some will work better than others. Everyone is different, so it’s important to find the resources that work best for you. Once you do, stick to them and keep an open mind about what you might incorporate into your self-care routine.
How to Show Yourself Compassion
In addition to your daily or weekly practices, you will also want to cultivate a new way of thinking about yourself. For many people struggling with substance use disorders or mental health issues, negative thought patterns are a constant threat to the balance they strive for. Part of your self-care routine should be setting aside time to show yourself forgiveness and compassion.
Finding compassion for yourself is a process. Therapy, meditation and journaling can be powerful tools to help you develop this skill. It’s vital that you resist falling into a pattern of negative thinking about your past or current actions.
Avoiding the Negative Self-Talk
Negative self-talk reinforces bad behaviors and leaves a person vulnerable to depression, anxiety and, ultimately, relapse. In counseling, you learn that identifying negative thoughts is the first step in loosening their hold on your life.
Most people, particularly those struggling with addiction, have a difficult time forgiving themselves for their actions. In recovery, you learn to live life one day at a time. Freeing yourself from a cycle of shame or negativity is key to being present.
If You’re Ready to Move Forward, Contact R&A Therapeutic Partners Today
At R&A Therapeutic Partners, we help people find the path that works best for them. Your needs are unique to you, and we make it our priority to identify the tools that keep you engaged and thriving in your recovery. We encourage you to contact the Miami interventionists Raymond Estefania and Ana Moreno to find out the services R&A Therapeutic Partners offers. Call us at 786-452-7352 to schedule your appointment.
At R&A Therapeutic Partners Raymond Estefania and Ana Moreno specialize in substance use and mental health disorder evaluations, treatment, intervention and therapeutic/educational consulting for clients throughout the greater South Florida area, as well as nationally and internationally. For more resources and information please visit Therapeutic-Partners.com or on Facebook.
