If you have experienced addiction, you’re probably familiar with the feeling of being disconnected from your true self. The cycle of addiction can habitually cause you to put yourself on the back burner. In order to break the cycle, you need to learn how to put yourself first. A consistent self-care practice can help you overcome addiction and teach you to love yourself again.
Relapse Prevention and Personal Growth
According to a 2015 study in the Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine, “Relapse prevention is why most people seek treatment.” By the time individuals seek help, they probably have already tried to quit substances on their own. The study notes that one of the main ideas of relapse prevention is treating recovery as a process of “personal growth with development milestones.” Through recovery, you can develop a strong relationship with yourself rooted in love and compassion.
Love, Compassion, and Self-Care in Recovery
According to a 2009 article in Human Development, self-compassion is “strongly associated with psychological well-being,” increased feelings of happiness, and optimism. It is also associated with decreased anxiety, depression, and fear of failure. Self-compassionate individuals are not hard on themselves when they fail. The article stated self-compassion can allow people to “admit mistakes, modify unproductive behaviors and take on new challenges.”
Self-Care Practices
A self-care routine can help you break the cycle of addiction by adding positive changes to your life. The following are activities you can add to a self-care routine.
Exercise
It’s no secret that exercise is one of the most beneficial things any person can do for their health. A great way to start a self-care routine is by showing your body some love. You can move your body each day through stretches, yoga, or taking a walk outside. Every exercise is not for every person, so you might want to research different methods to find one that you really enjoy.
Meditation and Spiritual Practices
When trying to heal, meditation is one of the best ways to connect with yourself and your soul. Meditative practices can help you release stress and worry as you learn how to process tough thoughts and emotions. Other spiritual practices and Eastern traditions can also help you build a loving routine for yourself. You may want to research different modalities like somatic therapy, breathwork, sound healing, and more.
Self-Care Days
Another beautiful practice you can do for yourself is to designate specific days as “self-care days.” You can block out time on your calendar for this day just as you would for any other event and commit to fully focusing on yourself all day long. Some activities you may want to include in your self-care day can consist of journaling, treating yourself to a meal (or dessert), watching movies, getting beautified, or anything else that will bring you joy.
A little compassion can go a long way in breaking the cycle of addiction. The more you practice self-love and compassion, the easier it will become to find lasting sobriety.
Self-care and compassion are powerful practices that can help you overcome addiction. Individuals who are more self-compassionate can create positive change in their life, and they’re less afraid of failure. At The Guest House, we know how transformational self-care can be. Our treatment programs are designed to help you re-discover yourself as you heal your mind, body, and soul. We have extensive options for different therapies and modalities to help you overcome addiction as you learn how to love yourself again. Call us at (855) 483-7800.