Top 7 Ways to Care for Mental Health During Detox in Recovery

Published On: October 10, 20224.1 min read821 wordsCategories: Detox, Recovery

Mental health plays a very important role in your ability to both complete recovery and maintain long-term sobriety.

Just as you would eat nutritious food and exercise regularly to keep your body energized and strong. Your mind must also be taken care of in order to remain balanced and oriented towards the good. 

Positive mental health does not happen by accident; it is the result of consistent, conscious effort, healing and exercise.

Due to how uncomfortable and sometimes even painful the detox effect on mental health can be, it’s often one of the most challenging habits to build both in and out of recovery. Caring for your mental health is, however, one of the most essential practices for not only maintaining sobriety, but also building a fulfilling, positive life.

In this article, we’re going to share with you the seven best ways to take care of your mental health during recovery, specifically, the detox phase.

Mental health help

The detox phase of recovery is one of the most grueling parts of recovery, making it one of the most important phases to practice mental health care in. 

Here are the top seven ways to take care of your mental health while you’re detoxing.

1. Manage your stress.

Identify what (maybe even who) in your life is causing you stress, and take the appropriate steps to reduce it. Oftentimes this means setting boundaries with loved ones, practicing being present in the moment (as opposed to feeling stuck in the past or anxious about the future), as well as learning and regularly practicing breathing techniques.

2. Protect your sleep.

Sleep recharges your body, boosts your immune system, helps your body recover from illness and injury, and can help alleviate a variety of health conditions. Poor sleep, however, has been linked to a variety of diseases and mental health disorders, including: 

  • Anxiety
  • Obesity
  • Heart attack
  • Depression
  • Addiction 

Making sure to get enough sleep and being sure not to sabotage your sleep pattern, such as by overstimulating your brain at night by being on your phone or staying up til early morning hours.  It’s one of the best things you can do for your mental and physical health.

3. Move your body daily.

Along with good sleep, daily exercise has been linked to reduced anxiety and depression symptoms, boosting your immune system, and increasing your natural production of serotonin and dopamine (the happiness hormones). Exercise is supposed to be fun, not something you dread, so experiment with different styles to see which you enjoy most. 

Some ideas for exercise in conventional and some unconventional ways:

  • Yoga
  • Martial arts
  • Roller-skating
  • Boxing
  • Pilates
  • Rock-climbing
  • Nature walking
  • Gym-based exercise
  • Group classes (such as Zumba, pilates, or cycling)

Find the workout style that best fits and keeps you interested to help boost your mental health.

4. Prioritize nutrition.

Poor nutrition has been linked to obesity, heart disease and stroke, diabetes, cancer and a variety of additional health diseases and conditions. One of the greatest privileges we have in this country is our vast selections of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and clean proteins.

Prioritizing a diet that’s rich in minerals, nutrients, antioxidants and healthy fats, is one of the surest ways to improve your mental and physical health. This also means to significantly reducing your intake of sugar, alcohol, processed meat and nutrient-devoid food (such as the majority of boxed and frozen meals).

5. Relax and take care of yourself.

Many people in recovery find themselves struggling to relax because they feel a pressure to be constantly actively working on their recovery. While this is an admirable goal, one of the best ways to promote your sobriety is to take the time to  because it will recharge you mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. 

Give yourself to slow down, relax, and give yourself some much-needed TLC. You deserve it.

6. Surround yourself with supportive people.

Supportive social connection is one of the most influential factors that promote a strong recovery and both motivate and directly help people maintain long-term sobriety. Spending time with friends and family relieves stress, improves your mood, motivates you to continue sobriety, as well as provides you with an opportunity to talk about things that are a bother to you.

7. Contact us when you need help

If you or someone you love is struggling to maintain sobriety or has suffered from a relapse, send a confidential message to our team here at Freedom Detox.

We provide inpatient detoxification treatment for substance use disorders; we don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all treatment approach, which is why we customize every treatment plan according to your unique needs.

Our team of compassionate medical professionals are here to support you throughout each phase of your recovery as well as in your aftercare and as you transition to independent living.

To speak with one of our admissions specialists and learn more about the different programs we offer, call our office today at 800-475-2312.

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