Self-care is an essential part of life in recovery, as it contributes to your overall well-being. Self-care practices vary greatly and can be anything from practicing meditation daily to prioritizing the things you enjoy like art or dancing. If you’re struggling to come up with ways to practice self-care on a daily basis, here are nine great ways to practice self-care while you’re enrolled in sober living. Residents of Eudaimonia sober living homes may enroll in an alumni group or IOP while they are enrolled in sober living.
Create a sober friendship network
Working with recovery coaches after addiction treatment is also a great way to get your addiction-affected body back in shape. Think of it as if you’ve been given a new life and a blank slate. This is your chance to make the right choices moving forward and take care of your body. Finding meaningful activities to fill the void left by abstinence from substance use is crucial for recovery. These activities can take various forms, depending on individual preferences and interests. Some people may find solace in art therapy, while others may find relief in physical activities like hiking, yoga, or team sports.
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- The good news is that you are not alone in this struggle and there is hope – you now have a chance to rebuild your life after addiction.
- Drugs and alcohol can have many lasting physical side effects that may take months or even years to resolve.
- One of the best things you can do to encourage the healing process is to take care of your body and your physical health.
Food addiction is a serious problem for many people and often starts with drug or alcohol addiction. There are groups, such as Greysheeters Anonymous (GSA) to help people to overcome food bingeing and food addiction. Other concerning behavior may include gambling, smoking, drinking, overeating, and reckless sexual behavior. As long as you do not pick up a drug, and you keep working towards your goals, you will get better and better at achieving more in life than you ever imagined. Quitting drugs is an opportunity to follow your dreams and live the life that you were meant to live. As your brain heals and you start to feel like yourself again, you will find yourself faced with some important decisions to make.
- Support from family, friends, or peers can help individuals stay motivated and feel supported in their struggles.
- Recovery from addiction is a transformative journey that requires commitment, resilience, and a willingness to embrace a holistic approach to your well-being.
- Using dialectical behavioral therapy to treat addiction is very popular and successful.
- Peer support groups will become a part of your life as these are where you discover role models whose success you can emulate as you restart a new life.
- However, we only suggest doing this if you feel safe and comfortable to do so.
Establish a daily routine.
Having an addiction can be one of the most difficult experiences. It can cause us to lose our sense of identity, washing away our hopes and dreams for the future. The good news is that you are not alone in this struggle and there rebuilding your life after addiction is hope – you now have a chance to rebuild your life after addiction. As you rebuild your life and form your support system, relationships damaged by addiction may also need attention, as the support of loved ones is invaluable.
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Eminem was addicted to opioids and nearly died from an overdose. He has chosen to restart a new life and has been in recovery since 2008 and uses running to manage his compulsion to drink. You could set an afternoon free to batch cook some meals for when you don’t feel like cooking. Tackling ‘life laundry’ tasks head-on is a marvelous way to improve your mood. Do the smaller easier tasks first, then move on to the more difficult ones.
Your body’s condition is influenced by what you eat, and it may now be showing signs of malnutrition caused by long term neglect. It is crucial to minimize fats, cut junk food out from your diet, cut out sugar and unhealthy food and eat fresh fruit, veggies, fish, and lean meats daily. Also, drink lots of water and cut back on coffee or energy drinks. If you have experienced severe addiction, you faced some of the worst and most complex diseases in the world. Forgiving yourself can give you everything you need to move forward.
- Follow the rules and do what’s expected of you to help make loved ones view the present and form more practical standards moving forward.
- Once you identify any toxic behaviors in people, aim to eliminate them from your life immediately as your recovery to restart a new life is most important.
- For example, if you became an addict during your teenage years, but you’re now sober in your late 20’s — things are going to be very different.
- This holistic mindset will provide you with the resilience and fortitude necessary to navigate the challenges that may arise on your path to lasting recovery.
- As your brain heals and you start to feel like yourself again, you will find yourself faced with some important decisions to make.
After you’ve completed a stay at an addiction treatment center and returned to life, the real work of restarting a new life after addiction begins. There’s not a lot that is as much of a threat to your newfound sobriety as hanging out with old friends that still dabble in drinks or drugs. Even if these old friends support you, if they are still addicts, they are in the exact same place where you left them. They are headed in the complete opposite direction to where you want to go. You are more likely to relapse with people from your past who are still using than you are with anyone else. When you’ve taken the time to make amends and discuss the expectations that your friends and family have of you, it’s time to follow through on your promises.
When you are stronger then it may be possible to engage with these people again. Studies have shown that positive thinking skills influence levels of hope and quality of life among those living with addiction. A positive outlook in recovery can lead to improved physical health and overall well-being. Finding a new hobby, such as art, music, journaling, or reading, may help you cope with cravings and the urge to use drugs or alcohol. Peer support systems such as 12-step programs, including Narcotics Anonymous (NA) and Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), have also been shown to have a positive impact on sustaining recovery. Prioritizing self-care is not only vital for maintaining sobriety but is also an essential element in supporting your overall well-being.
