Take Care of Your Spiritual Well-Being in Recovery

wellbeing

Updated on 1/31/2023

Stress, anxiety and pressure define a regular day for most people. 

We fill our lives with obligations, forgetting to take care of ourselves. We can’t always control our environment or how we respond to stressors. The urge to find a quick way to relax can overcome us. While we can understand why we seek refuge from work, home or social stressors, we don’t always understand how our choices affect our well-being.

How many times have we heard or said, “I need a drink or drugs to help me relax”? Society has established harmful behaviors as a social practice. We become part of a group when we drink or use drugs. The feeling of being accepted or understood by our peers or family is important to us. What we don’t see is the negative influence these behaviors have on our physical or spiritual well-being. Let’s explore how tapping into your spiritual side can help you on your recovery journey.

Spiritual Well-Being in Addiction Recovery

Your spiritual well-being is not necessarily defined by religion. Family, friends or groups you belong to create your spiritual environment. Who you associate with can affect your health. 

When you socialize with people who rely on alcohol or drugs to help them relax, you normalize your use. You disregard the dangers that alcohol or drugs because negative influences surround you. Often, the decision to stop using alcohol or substances is a threat to those around you because it challenges their use or lifestyle. Your environment is toxic to your goal to become sober when those in it don’t support you.

Once you choose to work on your spiritual and physical well-being, the choice to enter alcohol or substance treatment is integral. Treatment for any addiction is the start of increased well-being. You can learn healthy habits like: 

  • Meditation
  • Yoga
  • Creative pursuits like writing, painting, journaling
  • Exercise – group or individual activities like running or basketball

Embracing spirituality creates the chance to step back and take in your surroundings. You can learn how to relax your mind and open yourself to alternate ways to cope with or view situations. 

Opening yourself to practices like yoga or meditation allows you the opportunity to reconnect with your mind, body or spirit. Both activities teach you how to find your focus. You can recenter your thoughts or feelings about how you respond to pressure, stress or other harmful influences through yoga or meditation. The essence of both practices is to step back, connect with your breath and release your emotions. Instead of reacting without thinking, you learn how to pay attention to your inner being; you respond with clarity from there.

Attaining clarity or peace requires you to listen to your physical or mental signals. Stepping back from adverse situations aids you in finding healthy alternatives. Healthy living isn’t a slogan or a trend; it keeps you feeling positive and fulfilled. Holistic treatments like yoga, meditation or the arts are essential to your treatment and recovery when combined with group or individual therapy.

Finding Your Spirituality

Where you find your spirituality is personal. While some find peace in religion, others can find peace in a secular group. The vital part of discovering your spirituality is knowing you aren’t alone. Your treatment and recovery are bolstered when positive influences surround you. 

Family, friends, or social groups impact your behaviors. Groups dedicated to helping you remain healthy are essential. These groups can instill or re-enforce your:

  • Relationships
  • Personal Values
  • Purpose in Life

Over time, you can:

  • Feel satisfied with your life 
  • Take pride in your accomplishments
  • Stop passive behaviors and take control of your lives

Spiritual well-being is integral to making healthy changes, maintaining your sobriety, and being at peace with yourself. Working with a therapist or a group to replace harmful behaviors with healthy behaviors can enhance your spiritual health. You don’t have to, nor should you work on your spiritual health alone.

 

Obligations, stress, alcohol or substances can take away your sense of self. Ignoring your mind, body or spiritual health can lead to physical and emotional harm. You don’t have to work through your feelings of stress, anxiety or obligation alone. Seeking help with a therapist or a group creates positive support and a safe place to discover why you don’t take time to re-evaluate situations. Casa Palmera in Del Mar, California, understands how your environment can negatively affect your state of mind. We want to help you to reconnect with your inner self while healing physically, emotionally and spiritually. We do this by creating a personalized treatment plan that is evidence-based, with supplemental help from our Conscious Recovery program. Learn more by calling (855) 508-0473.

Disclaimer


This blog is for informational purposes only and should not be a substitute for medical advice. We understand that everyone’s situation is unique, and this content is to provide an overall understanding of substance use disorders. These disorders are very complex, and this post does not take into account the unique circumstances for every individual. For specific questions about your health needs or that of a loved one, seek the help of a healthcare professional.