Addiction recovery is a process that involves many different aspects, including behavioral therapy, medication, and support groups. While these are all valuable tools for addressing substance abuse, they can only do so much. In addition to these therapeutic interventions, self-care is an integral part of addiction recovery, especially for men.
Self-care refers to the things you do for your own good, such as getting enough sleep, eating healthy food, and exercising regularly. However, compared to women, men aren’t encouraged to participate in self-care in the same way. Men who are struggling with addiction need to make time in their life for self-care. Fortunately, Buena Vista Recovery can help men incorporate self-care into their treatment and recovery plans.
What Is Self-Care?
Self-care is a broad term that can mean different things to different people. According to the National Institute on Mental Health (NIMH), self-care is defined as “taking the time to do things that help you live well and improve both your physical health and mental health.” Self-care isn’t just important to make yourself feel good. It is also important because self-care works to improve your overall well-being. Self-care can energize your mind, body, and spirit in tandem.
Why Is Self-Care Important for Men?
It’s normal for men with addiction or substance use disorder (SUD) to neglect their physical or mental well-being as a result of their addiction. In recovery, it is vital for men for them to learn to take care of themselves and their well-being.
Substance use can cause you to forget how to take care of yourself properly. Additionally, it can make it difficult to find enjoyment in the things you liked to do before you started using substances.
There are societal and gender role stereotypes that discourage men from seeking help or discussing emotional vulnerability. Society can make men feel like they can only be macho, strong, resilient, and fearless. As a result of these pressures, men may not realize their need for taking time for themselves to keep their bodies and minds healthy during recovery.
Buena Vista Can Help You Learn to Take Care of Yourself
Here at Buena Vista, it is important for you to learn ways to incorporate self-care into your routine. We will take time to help you come up with a plan of little things you can add to your day that will help you learn to put your needs first. By implementing a self-care routine, you will be more successful in your recovery and, ultimately, your long-term sobriety.
What kind of things do we encourage you to do as part of your treatment and recovery? Here are some of the things that we teach at Buena Vista:
Prioritize Time for Yourself
It is important to set aside time for yourself. Take time out of your day and plan activities that you enjoy doing, such as reading a book or playing with your children. Even incorporating proper hygiene can make a great impact, such as getting enough sleep, eating nutritious meals, and drinking plenty of water.
Prioritizing self-care requires you to plan ahead. Make sure you have the time, energy, and money needed to engage in these practices. This will set you up for further success.
Meditate and Practice Mindfulness
Meditation and mindfulness are two things that you can implement into your routine to help you calm your mind, foster peaceful thoughts, and focus on your life. Meditation can help reduce stress by letting go of our worries so that we can focus on the present moment.
There can be some misconceptions about meditation. It doesn’t mean sitting alone, still, and quiet for hours and hours. There are many different ways to incorporate meditation into your routine. You can consider participating in breathing exercises, repeating affirmations, listening to guided meditations, or simply taking time to focus on the present moment as ways of promoting mindfulness in your life.
Take Breaks From Social Media
Social media can be a great tool. It can be a beautiful way to connect with friends and family. However, it can also be a big distraction during recovery. You may feel the need to constantly focus on other people and other things going on in the world at the moment, which can hinder your focus.
If you are trying to make your recovery the forefront of your mind, taking a break from social media for a few hours, or even a few days can positively impact your treatment process. Don’t feel guilty for taking time away from social media and your phone. When the time comes to go back to those things, you will feel remarkably refreshed and ready to focus on the thing that matters most right now; getting and staying sober.
Buena Vista Can Make Your Recovery More Manageable
Self-care is for everyone but is especially important for men in addiction recovery. Incorporating self-care into your routine can help you manage stress and avoid triggers that can lead to relapse.
Self-care involves making time for activities that are good for you. In addition to the suggestions mentioned previously, here is a list of things we encourage our clients to try when learning to incorporate self-care into their routines:
- Going on walks
- Taking baths
- Meditating
- Exercising
- Reading books
- Listening to music
- Hanging out with friends and family members who care about you
- Eating well
- Getting enough sleep at night
- Practicing gratitude by recognizing all the good things in your life
Self-care is a crucial part of recovery. For men who are often taught to put others first and neglect their own needs, it can be difficult to prioritize self-care. However, research shows that self-care helps mitigate negative effects, like depression and anxiety, that can surface in addiction recovery. If you are struggling with addiction, finding ways to take care of yourself is crucial. At Buena Vista, we will help you make the connection between the importance of self-care and long-term sobriety. Doing the little self-care things every day will help you accomplish the things that you want. If you or someone you know is struggling with an addiction, please contact us at (480) 741-9414 or complete an insurance form.
