Family caregivers often share their distress about how to continue to support a loved one in recovery when they have stepped down to lower levels of care. It’s really hard when we’re afraid for our loved one’s life to focus on what we can do to support them rather than the bad things that can happen.
Today Intern Anna is sharing some of her lessons from recovery that families can utilize to help support a loved one to stay in solid recovery. ~ Becky
Things I’ve Learned in Recovery – Intern Anna
I have been in recovery for about two years now and I have learned so much about myself in that time. Here are a few of the tips I have acquired along the way:
- I always like to bring snacks with me whenever I leave the house. I put them in my backpack, purse, car, etc. That way if I get hungry, I won’t have to scrounge for food and I won’t get irritable.
- I try to eat something every 2-3 hours. For me, this helps my body stay energized and it helps me avoid becoming exhausted or burnout. Keeping small snacks with me helps to accomplish this goal. This can also help prevent bingeing because you can look forward to eating sooner.
- When I grocery shop I like to make a list of everything I need ahead of time. This allows me to meal prep and buy all the ingredients I need for my recipes. Organizing your grocery shopping can help you stay on track with your eating habits.
- Affirmations seem to really help improve my mood whenever I am feeling self-conscious. I like to do them in the morning because they start my day off in a positive way. It can be helpful to put sticky notes with positive quotes throughout your house or on your mirror so you see them often.
- I have placed a big shift on how I view exercise and movement. I try to place an emphasis on moving my body in a way that feels good and can be challenging if I want it to be. My exercise routine looks different each day because my body feels different each day.
- I recognize that I will always be the harshest critic of myself. Holding this in mind helps me feel better when I am looking at pictures of myself or am replaying an embarrassing moment in my mind. It helps to see that there could be a different way to look at it, a more positive way that will serve my goals more.
- This is a big one. Recognizing that food can be fun and that it is something that is meant to be enjoyed. I used to get so caught up in the numbers of it all that I forgot that food is meant to taste good. I try to go into the meal with an optimistic outlook and remember to focus on those with whom I am sharing the meal.
Hope these tips are helpful and can help shift your perspective with food, exercise, body image, etc!
Intern Anna for,
