Making Relaxation a Part of Recovery

You’re moving through your steps, talking to your counsellor and attending meetings—but how much are you really taking care of you?

Sharelines

• Relaxation is an essential component of a successful, sustainable recovery process.

• Recovery from #addiction isn’t easy, but adding relaxation into your daily routine can make a world of difference.

Recovery is a journey of rediscovery and determining what keeps you satisfied, comfortable and motivated. Alternately joyful and challenging, recovery is where people confront root causes of addiction, identify triggers for problematic behaviour, and adopt ways to successfully address and manage addiction. It is a lifelong process that requires patience and self-awareness as individuals test ways to live free from substances and harmful habits. At Shafa home, we’ve observed that a major element of recovery is learning how to handle stress and crisis without relapsing into addictive behaviours. Relaxation is a powerful tool in the recovery process, and a variety of techniques aimed at stress relief are being increasingly used and taught by addiction specialists as they guide people through treatment. From breathing exercises to yoga, to meditation, there are many ways to encourage a sense of balance and calm, and strengthen a sustainable recovery.

Settling In: Exploring Different Ways to Relax

The art of relaxation is highly personal; what one person finds soothing, another may find challenging or even boring. It’s important when exploring different relaxation methods to keep an open mind, and to try d