This Valentine’s Day, we share a post via New Method Wellness. These words are truly a worthwhile read!

With love,

Nutritious Thoughts

“It’s a little annoying when stores start putting up Valentine’s Day decorations before it’s even January. Well, February is here already, and now the countdown has begun toward that lovely – or dreaded – Hallmark holiday. Relationship experts and addiction professionals warn about love during the first year of recovery, but when “love is in the air” and all around you, it’s hard to block it out of your mind, especially around this time of year! As you scroll through your Facebook feeds and Instagram pics, you can’t help but wonder, how would a little love hurt anyone?

WHAT’S BETTER THAN LOVE AFTER RECOVERY?

If you are in recovery, your best bet is to make sobriety the top priority on your list rather than finding love. That can be pretty hard to do when every store you walk into is full of reminders that you are single, but rest assured, you won’t regret sticking to the discipline of sobriety for the following reasons:

• Focusing on your sobriety will, in the long run, lead to healthier relationships overall, not just in the romantic domain, but also in all aspects of life
• You increase your chances of success at any endeavor if you stick with the treatment plan that you and your substance abuse counselor developed together
• You reduce your chances of relapsing by avoiding romantic distractions
• You avoid the pitfall of unhealthy relationships. If you get involved with someone during your early stages of recovery, you get addicted to the “high” of falling in love rather than falling in love with the person
• You get to exercise responsibility by not entangling others in an emotional rollercoaster while you sort out your own emotions and discover who you are.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO INSTEAD OF FINDING A NEW RELATIONSHIP?

Do what makes you happy. Fill your schedule with activities that excite you. Here are some ideas you might want to try:

• Sign up for a dance class. Tired of salsa? Try swing dancing and bring a friend with you who will be supportive of your recovery.
• Get into photography and soak in the beauty around you. Form a new habit by creating an album of memories and people you never want to forget. Appreciate beauty in all its forms wherever you go.
• Go horseback riding. Aside from letting you bond with your favorite animal, horseback riding offers you nontraditional benefits of a physical workout. It helps strengthen your muscles and improve your cardiovascular health.
• Like water? Try water sports like surfing and paddle boarding. Not only are they great for physical exercise but they’re also excellent ways to enhance your mood and reduce anxiety.

DO NOT ISOLATE YOURSELF ON VALENTINE’S DAY

It’s a well-known fact that those who have a history of addiction tend to isolate themselves, irrespective of the type of addiction they have. Case studies have shown that social isolation largely contributes to higher rates of drug use, and the maladaptive patterns developed during substance abuse negatively affect one’s existing relationships.

Reach out to a loved one. Reach out to your recovery community. Stay connected this Valentine’s Day!

While reserving space and time to care for ourselves in a chaotic, pressurized world is essential, the concept of “self care” has also become idealized and even exploited in recent years. Certain forms of self care (ex. “spa days”, exercise, etc.) have been pedestalized in mainstream media, which narrows the vision of self care considerably and reduces accessibility and inclusiveness for, well…the majority of people.

There are many reasons why people may avoid caring for themselves, and we believe that feeling pressure to create a luxurious experience for oneself every time we engage in self care only adds to the mix. The purpose of this post is to let you know that it is perfectly alright to choose boring, less “shiny” forms of self care when they meet your needs more efficiently and that it is important to pay attention to what those needs actually are in the first place.

“But I have no clue what I need!”

We hear you – totally and completely.

Start here:

Taking a moment to consider how you are feeling can help you choose self care activities that will be most appropriate for bringing you back to a more balanced place. We know, we know, getting in touch with feelings is everyone’s faaavorite activity (haha, not), but doing so can tell us more about what we are truly needing.

Below are a few examples of how to tie it all together!

Example 1:

Feeling/affect: Bored, isolated, lonely

Potential need: Connection

Possible self care activities: Reach out to a friend or support person, engage with recovery-positive social media, try a group movement class, etc.

Example 2:

Feeling/affect:  Overwhelmed, over-extended, “burnt out”

Potential need: Rest

Possible self care activities: Rest (nap, go to bed early, sleep in), massage or spa treatment, cancel plans, etc.

Example 3:

Feeling/affect: Anxious, restless, unsettled

Potential need: Calm, comfort

Possible self care activities: Guided meditation, grounding/breathing technique, nature walk, etc.

For more self-care inspiration, check out the link below about “boring self care” and one of our favorite Instagram profiles: @makedaisychains 

‘Boring Self-Care’ Drawings Celebrate Everyday Mental Health Victories

*Disclaimer* Choose what feels right to you. These suggestions are in no way absolute and are not meant to replace your current self care regimen, only to enhance your mindfulness around it. You don’t have to fit any mold ever, and we want you to choose self care activities that help you feel like your best self, no matter how trendy, luxurious, involved, simple, or boring they are or are not.

How can we take recovery on vacation with us?  How do we maintain the efforts necessary to stay stable and safe without compromising enjoyment and spontaneity?

Check out this post from Moods, Meds, and Meals, a mental health and lifestyle blog, on how to care for yourself and still enjoy the summer (or any season, really) of fun around you.

Favorite #1: Dances With Fat

Writer Ragen Chastain (she also identifies as many other incredible things – seriously check her out!) is REAL. We love this blog for the relatable content, post consistency (new reads monthly – yay!), and conversational spark in her writing.

Some common themes in this blog include: Health At Every Size (HAES), weight neutrality, size diversity, ditching diet culture, and lots of other awesomeness!

Click here to visit Dances With Fat

Favorite #2: Julie Duffy Dillon 

We love her blog, yes, but really just everything about this wonderful human is worth getting to know.  Julie is a nutrition therapist and eating disorder specialist that is passionate about helping others find peace with food, movement, and their bodies.  

Some common themes in this blog include: Eating Disorder & disordered eating recovery, PCOS, body image, mindful and intuitive eating, and lots of other awesomeness!

Click here to visit Julie’s blog

Favorite #3: Iris Cullinan

Perspective. That’s what we love about this blog. Iris is a Intuitive Career and Business Coach in Asheville, NC (Hey, neighbor!) and is a recovery advocate. Her vision is extraordinary, and her writing embodies elements of the recovery experience like no other.  

Some common themes in this blog include: self-care, motivation, mindfulness, life changes and transformation, and lots of other awesomeness! 

Click here to visit Iris’s blog

Happy reading, everyone!