Whether you’re recovering from addiction or mental illness, self-care must always be your first priority. This is difficult for some people to accept. You might have many responsibilities you don’t feel you can let go of or delegate, especially if you’re a parent. You might be dedicated to your career and feel obligated to do whatever someone asks you to do. You might still be feeling guilt over your past behavior. Perhaps people close to you called you selfish and you want to prove you’re not. Regardless of the specific circumstances, you should never feel selfish for prioritizing your own recovery. Everything else you want to do in life depends on staying sober and healthy. You can’t be a good parent, partner, friend, employee, or boss if you don’t keep your addiction or mental illness under control. As the flight attendants say, secure your own oxygen mask before helping others. Anything you do for others depends on taking care of yourself first. You can only defer maintenance for so long before putting your recovery second becomes a problem. And if you don’t take care of your recovery, you risk being a liability to the people around you. Self-care doesn’t mean self-indulgence. While it’s good to regularly take time to relax and do things you enjoy, relaxation and enjoyment alone aren’t self-care. Self-care means taking care of your physical, mental, and spiritual health.
Physical health
Everything in life is harder when you’re sick and tired. At the most basic level, you have to take care of your physical health. Get at least eight hours of sleep every night. Eat a moderate amount of healthy food, including lots of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, nuts, and omega-3s. Avoid sugar and unhealthy fats. Stay active and try to get a little exercise every day. Cheating your physical health is not sustainable. If you neglect the basics, you will soon feel sick and tired and your recovery will be in danger.
Mental health
There are many ways to look after your mental health. Learn to manage stress, by managing your schedule, taking time to relax, and asking for help when you need it. Talk to your therapist when you need to. Write in your journal to work out your thoughts and feelings. Minimize the time you spend with negative and difficult people.
Spiritual health
Find some way to connect yourself to the bigger picture, whether it’s family, your community, or an important cause. Volunteer and help others when you can. Take time to pray or meditate. Ask yourself if you are living in a way that aligns with your values. Of all the kinds of self-care, spiritual self-care is the most long-term and most important. It recognizes that giving back is important for your sense of wellbeing. It is also difficult to practice spiritual self-care if your physical or mental health are suffering.
If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction or mental illness, we can help. Recovery Ways is a premier drug and alcohol addiction treatment facility located in Salt Lake City, Utah. Our mission is to provide the most cost-effective, accessible substance abuse treatment to as many people as possible. Request information online or call us today at 1-888-986-7848.
