This entry once again comes from our guest contributor Kimberly Hayes of PublicHealthAlertInfo.
The Healthy Road to Recovery
Recovery from mental illness or substance abuse isn’t something that happens overnight. In fact, it’s not something that you ever get to complete since it’s an ongoing process, a way of life. But that’s a good thing. It means you’re living your life with purpose.
Know Your Why Recovery is a community welcoming people from all walks of life. Here, we offer you some advice on ways to get your life back on track and moving forward with purpose.
A Support Network
By surrounding yourself with supportive friends and associates, you’re giving yourself a safety net or a parachute, so if you ever feel like you’re falling, you’ll always know there’s something or someone there to break your fall.
Groups like Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous are communities you can be part of so you don’t feel as if you’re doing this all on your own. The support and understanding from people who know and understand you, what your journey has been like, and what it can be in the future can be just the encouragement you need.
Therapy
A therapist who specializes in addiction and recovery can help by addressing any underlying issues that may have contributed to the addiction, like past traumas. They can also be a valuable resource for guiding you through stress management and healthy coping mechanisms.
Other therapies may include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy which is a therapy tool designed to challenge negative thought patterns and replace them with more helpful thoughts if appropriate. Or, they may suggest trying Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) This is a type of talking therapy based on (CBT), but it’s specially adapted for people who feel emotions very intensely.
A Healthy Diet
A healthy diet is important for everyone. It’s the foundation for our health and well-being. Our diet plays such an important role in how we feel that it can make all the difference in your recovery.
Consuming sugary or high-fat foods can make you feel tired, sluggish, and depressed. These are definitely not the emotions you want to be feeling when you’re working your way out of addiction or mental illness.
On the other hand, a properly balanced diet that includes fruits, vegetables, protein, and grains can give you energy, stamina, and strength. It also can prevent chronic or long-term illness like diabetes, obesity, and heart disease. And if your alcohol or drug addiction has meant you’ve neglected eating well in the past, then it’s even more important you reverse any of that damage with a new, healthier way of eating.
A Plan to Exercise
Along with a healthy diet, exercise can also improve your health both in the short and long term. Exercise improves strength, energy, and stamina. It will also help reduce stress and improve your mood by releasing endorphins throughout your bloodstream. Endorphins are hormones that make you feel happier and in a better mood.
Daily exercise can also promote better sleep, meaning you won’t need pharmaceuticals that your doctor has probably prescribed against you using if you’re recovering from addiction. And a proper night’s sleep will also improve your mood and your focus.
A New Career
Part of your recovery may include a new career. This can be a very positive thing since it can be part of a new beginning, a new chapter in your life.
You’ll first want to assess what your skills, strengths, and abilities are, as well as your weak points. You might even benefit from taking skills or career aptitude assessment tests.
Build your resume with an online resume builder to help you to stand out from the rest. Resume templates also ensure you’re not missing any important steps. Then share your resume to job-seeking sites like LinkedIn or on prospective employers’ career sites.
A Business of Your Own
If you’ve thought of starting your own business, there’s no reason why this can’t be the best time to do so. You’ll be doing something you really enjoy, and the self-satisfaction of building a business of your own can be a great way of moving forward in a positive direction.
There’s more help out there than you might imagine, like business plan templates, social media marketing tools, and free online invoicing software. In fact, if your business is that of an electrical contractor, you’ll have the use of electrical contractor software that will keep your finances organized and prompt your clients to pay on time by sending out invoices for you.
Whatever path you choose for your recovery, remember to check in frequently with your support group, therapist, and health care professionals. The road ahead is full of opportunities; just remember that help is there for the challenges, too.