How can I help my loved one recover?
When a loved one is going through recovery, we often focus all of our efforts on helping them. Self-care is something that we tend to forget, but it's vital. Remember that when we help ourselves, we can better help our loved one.
Choosing Self-Care
You don't have to choose between your self-preservation and that of your loved one. Your emotional resilience, physical health, social support system, and perspective on change are contributing factors to their recovery. Practicing self-care is different for everybody, but it boils down to doing things that keep you healthy, which is necessary if you are going to be there for someone else.
The Benefits of Self-Care
Practicing self-care allows you to cultivate the internal resources needed to do for others, such as empathy, patience, and compassion. You are also setting an example. If you can take care of yourself through these difficult times, so can they.
Practicing Self-Care
You should feel hopeful about your life and do things that you believe will benefit you physically and emotionally. Here are a few examples of self-care activities that might help you:
Meditation
Journaling
Having a spa day
Exercising
Getting adequate amounts of sleep
Listening to relaxing music
Spending time with people who give you support
Doing things that make you laugh
Remember that even though you both need oxygen, you should put on your oxygen mask first.