Addicts must focus on self-care
Karen Griessel, a social worker at Wedge Gardens Treatment Centre, explained an addict's life is consumed by their alcohol, drug or pill of choice, and thoughts of getting clean.
Making time for yourself in today’s world can be a challenge, a tougher challenge for active addicts whose focus is on finding their next drink or hit.
Karen Griessel, a social worker at Wedge Gardens Treatment Centre, explained an addict’s life is consumed by their alcohol, drug or pill of choice, and thoughts of getting clean.
“It is a continuous sick cycle that is their constant priority, while taking care of themselves falls by the wayside,” said Griessel.
“Once the recovery process has started, self-care becomes critical. Physical care such as personal hygiene is easy to achieve, but emotional self-care is more complex. Let’s be honest, all of us struggle to find the balance between looking after ourselves and getting through work, family and community obligations.”
Griessel said the intrinsic characteristics of kindness, compassion, patience and forgiveness are vital when it comes to looking after oneself holistically.
“During active addiction, individuals use drugs or alcohol to deal with stress, cope with life or to handle emotions.”
She highlights that it is important for addicts to find new and healthy life and coping skills.
“Recovered addicts will have less chance of relapsing if they have a balanced lifestyle and a holistic sense of overall well-being. This will empower them to fight off depression and anxiety, maintain positivity and reduce triggers and cravings,” she said.
Self-care tips provided by Wedge Gardens include:
• Practise mindfulness, which is the conscious awareness of experiences by staying present.
• Stay connected and have a healthy support structure.
• Look for interests, opportunities and ideas and follow your goals and dreams.
• Keep active by exercising because this naturally increases happy hormones.
• If you need medical or psychological care, do not procrastinate; just do it.
• Get enough sleep and follow a healthy diet to reduce stress.
• Be aware of negative states, like hunger, anger or loneliness.
• Make sure to maintain healthy boundaries if you feel irritated or uneasy.
• Have fun and laugh a little, and make sure you stop and smell the roses.
• Reach out and ask for help if you need to.
Find out more at www.wedgegardens.co.za
