When people have an addiction to drugs and alcohol, one area that suffers is self-care. Self-care is doing those things that are healthy for us, such a showering, eating balanced meals, exercising, and enjoying activities that help us relax and de-stress.
Why Is Self-Care in Recovery Essential?
Self-care in recovery is an essential part of drug and alcohol rehabilitation treatment programs. People must often relearn how to take care of themselves physically, emotionally, and mentally. During treatment, they are taught how to make healthy choices like what foods to eat, why they should exercise, how support groups and ongoing treatment after rehab are vital, and so on.
What Is the Importance of Self-Care in Recovery Treatment?
The importance of self-care in recovery treatment is vital to remaining sober after completing rehab treatment. Without a solid self-care foundation, relapse into formal bad and addictive tendencies is highly likely. By incorporating the life skills learned during rehab, a person is more likely to be able to face their new sober life and maintain it more easily.
What Are Some Benefits Self-Care During Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation?
Some benefits of relearning self-care habits include:
1. Helps you prioritize your health and well-being.
You establish the skills needed to help you make smart choices that reflect your new sober life. You know you need to eat healthy foods, exercise, get plenty of sleep, and seek support when you are struggling.
2. Helps you maintain proper personal hygiene.
By getting into the habit of showering daily, brushing your teeth, and taking care of other personal hygiene needs, you feel better about yourself physically, emotionally, and mentally. In turn, this helps give you a more positive outlook on your sober life.
3. Helps you create the boundaries you need to stay sober.
You will learn it is okay to tell people no, you don’t want to do something and how to deal with peer pressure. You are no longer afraid to tell people you no longer want to associate them when they cannot understand your sobriety. You also will be better equipped to avoid putting yourself in situations that could compromise your sobriety.
4. Helps you focus on things you enjoy and like.
You will find that you spend time on activities and things you enjoy like reading a book, playing video games, gardening, painting, and so on. You establish skills to help you avoid negativity in your life whether internal or external.
5. Helps you more easily recognize triggers and how to deal with them.
You have a better understanding of your addiction’s triggers, like hanging out with friends who drink or use drugs, so you will avoid them. You also learn how to make your sobriety a top priority and make you not afraid of refusing to make compromises to put that at risk.
6. Helps you repair damaged relationships and make new ones.
Throughout your addiction, you may have alienated yourself from friends and family that care about you and your sobriety. Self-care can help you start to rebuild these damaged relationships in a positive manner. You will also discover new friendships with other people who are living a sober lifestyle.
In the end, it comes down to you wanting to strive to remain sober by taking care of yourself physically, emotionally, and mentally and doing what is best for you.
If you are ready to start your journey to recovery through drug and alcohol rehabilitation at our addiction recovery center, please feel free to contact Adelante Recovery Center at (949) 427-9099 today!