The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) defines wellness as being in a state of good physical and mental health. According to SAMHSA, your physical health and your mental health are linked so that improving one often benefits the other. The reverse is also true.
Achieving and maintaining a state of wellness requires a deliberate, conscious effort on your part. By making healthy choices in all 8 dimensions of wellness, recovering addicts can lead healthier, happier, more fulfilling lives.
8 Wellness Tips for Recovering Addicts
A healthy diet for recovering addicts is one way to reach a state of wellness. Another way to get there is to take advantage of the benefits of exercise during addiction recovery. While these two wellness components are important, they aren’t the only factors to consider. It’s vital to have a balance in all 8 of the dimensions of wellness throughout your ongoing addiction recovery.
According to SAMHSA, the 8 dimensions of wellness include the following:
1. Emotional: Learning and practicing effective coping skills is essential for your emotional wellbeing. As a bonus, a positive outlook on life could also reduce other negative health risks.
2. Physical: Exercise is understood to be effective in helping recovering addicts repair the negative effects of addiction on the body.
3. Spiritual: We all go through difficult times. Having a spiritual sense of purpose could make it easier to cope while also bringing more meaning to your day-to-day existence.
4. Occupational: People who find satisfaction in their work often say their lives are more rewarding and fulfilling. If you aren’t satisfied with your current job, consider volunteering in your community and helping those in need.
5. Intellectual: Drugs and alcohol change the brain, altering its structure and the way it functions. Continually learning new things can help restore your brain to its natural state.
6. Environmental: The physical environment in which you spend your time play a huge role in your overall wellbeing. Do what you can to make your living arrangements as pleasant and as stimulating as possible.
7. Social: Avoiding social isolation and meeting new people not only improves mood, memory and physical health, it also helps you avoid one of the most common addiction relapse triggers.
8. Financial: Finances are one of the biggest sources of stress and anxiety. While you likely won’t be able to solve these challenges overnight, you can take little steps each day to feel more financially secure.
If you’re already eating a balanced diet and getting plenty of exercise, good for you! And, if not, it’s never too late to start. Just make sure to remember that your overall health and wellbeing depends on the 8 dimensions of wellness explored here.
Focus on the 8 Dimensions of Wellness in Your Ongoing Recovery
Drug addiction rehab and recovery isn’t just about quitting drugs and alcohol. It’s about changing your whole lifestyle – from the way you cope with your emotions to the way you take care of your body. This is why our addiction treatment programs address the person as a whole, including things like diet, exercise, relationships, co-occurring conditions and much more. If you or someone you care about is struggling with addiction, there’s hope at The Raleigh House. Fill out our form, or call us today.
