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Why Pampering Is Important When Recovering from Addiction or Another Medical Condition (Or in General)
Addiction is a serious and often life-threatening ailment that impacts millions of men and women of all ages each year. Whether you’ve struggled with addiction throughout your life or if you are experiencing addiction for the very first time, knowing how to work towards sobriety and overcoming your addiction is key to long-term happiness and fulfillment.
Opting to pamper yourself and tend to your own wants and needs can help with facing and overcoming addiction along with other medical conditions and issues you may be experiencing. By pampering and treating yourself, you can learn how to steer clear of addiction and the substances of your choice, while instead focusing on healthier things and pursuits.
Feeling Good About Yourself Is Key
In order to overcome an addiction, it is important to feel positive about yourself. Individuals who view themselves negatively tend to turn to self-destructive behaviors, such as drug and alcohol abuse along with other impulsive or detrimental activities.
When you feel good about yourself, you are far less likely to put yourself in harm’s way, which could lead to more opportunities and experiences rather than turning to addictions and other forms of self-destruction. Pampering yourself while recovering from addiction can help to remind yourself that you are worthy and that you have value, which is necessary while working towards a life of sobriety free from drugs and alcohol altogether.
Self-Esteem and Confidence Can Prevent Relapse
Feeling proud and confident in yourself can help to prevent relapse, especially as you work towards achieving and accomplishing other goals you have set for yourself. The more confident you feel in yourself and the more self-esteem you have, the more likely you are to stick to your plan of remaining free from drugs and alcohol.
Using your confidence and self-esteem can also help you to dive headfirst into alternative hobbies and projects to keep from finding yourself in risky or tempting situations, thus preventing a potential relapse. If you truly love yourself and envision a future for yourself that is free from temptation and relapse, focusing on rebuilding your own self-esteem, as well as your confidence, can go a long way on the road to lifelong recovery.
Recovery Is Unique to Each Individual
Recovery from addiction is not the same journey for everyone, as recovery is unique to the individual who is eliminating drugs and alcohol from their lives for good. When you are in a recovery treatment center or enrolled in a short term inpatient rehab program, it is important to remember that everyone’s journey is different.
Taking time to pamper yourself with self-love and care is extremely important and can help you to gain perspective along with valuable insight into your own personal struggles you are facing during the recovery process. Spend time focusing on your health, nutrition, passions, and interests and adventures you have always wanted to experience.
Processing your recovery can also bring up a variety of emotions, memories, and other challenging thoughts, which is why it is highly advisable to journal regularly. Journal your ups and downs while also journaling the positive elements of your recovery program and treatment. Using a journal is a great way to help remind yourself of all of the positive aspects of life, even during your most challenging and trying times.
Shift Your Focus to Positive Aspects of Life
Pampering yourself regularly can help to rewire your brain as well as your thought process. Rather than focusing on obtaining and consuming substances, you can find enjoyment by interacting with loved ones or getting in the zone while pursuing your favorite creative hobby. Shifting your focus to the positive aspects of your everyday life is much easier when you are pampering yourself and providing yourself with the self-love and care you need.
During addiction recovery, you are likely to encounter tough times and plenty of mixed emotions, especially if you have developed a physical, mental, or emotional dependency on the drug or substance of your choice. If your emotions, anxiety, and irritability are skyrocketing, shifting your focus to pampering and self-care could help. You could take some time to take a walk or a nap.
As another possibility, spend an afternoon with relatives and close friends to shift your focus onto socializing and getting back to a sense of normalcy. Little efforts can do so much while you are in the process of recovery from addiction, even after leaving an inpatient or outpatient rehab program.
Learn to Love Yourself Again
When you pamper yourself on a regular basis, you can begin to love yourself again and forgive yourself for past behavior and mistakes you have made. Proceeding through the recovery process for addiction is not an easy feat, but it can provide you with the strength and resilience necessary to move forward in life.
Although it may be challenging to face your addiction head-on in the beginning, the process of recovery with the aid of self-pampering can open doors to new experiences and adventures that you never thought were possible. Learning to love yourself by pampering yourself, forgiving yourself, and building a strong foundation of support among family and friends can truly help you to begin building a life that is fulfilling and free from drugs and alcohol.
Pampering yourself does not always mean getting massages or taking a break from chores, although it can. Above all, pampering is treating yourself with kindness and compassion.
Learning how to provide pampering and self-care can help you face addiction and other challenges or struggles in your day-to-day life. With an understanding of the issue at hand, learn how to put pampering and self-love to work for you in order to overcome obstacles, stop using drugs and alcohol, and achieve your goals and milestones.
Great post. I will be going through a few of these issues as well.. Jamie Niess