Wellness in Recovery

Maintaining and building physical, social, and emotional health is crucial for long-term addiction recovery. These also happen to be 3 of the 6 dimensions of “wellness,” according to the Global Wellness Institute (GWI). Therefore, it’s natural that wellness practices are a vital part of recovery for many people.

What is Wellness?

The GWI defines wellness as “the active pursuit of activities, choices, and lifestyles that lead to a state of holistic health.” The term “active pursuit” is what sets wellness apart from other concepts like “health,” ”well-being,” and “happiness.” While closely related, wellness is not simply existing in these states of being but rather actively making choices that lead one toward these healthy outcomes.

There are different models of wellness, but most include at least 6 dimensions (some models have up to 12). These dimensions include:

• Physical.
• Mental.
• Emotional.
• Spiritual.
• Social.
• Environmental.

How Can Wellness Help in Recovery?

Effective drug and alcohol treatment—and ongoing recovery efforts—requires a comprehensive approach. Addiction does not occur in a vacuum, and managing one’s addiction requires addressing many possible contributing factors like co-occurring mental illnesses, physical health problems (e.g., chronic pain), unemployment, legal problems, unhealthy living situations, and more.

Taking a proactive approach to health and wellbeing—like engaging in activities that foster wellness—can prove invaluable for people in recovery. Health practices that encourage an overall state of wellness can be just as important as treating illnesses or injuries.

A few examples of wellness practices that can actively pursue one’s physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, social, and environmental well-being may include:

• Studies have found yoga to have many therapeutic effects, including promoting recovery from addiction.
• Walking outside can reduce stress—a common relapse trigger—as well as decrease “rumination,” which refers to dwelling on negative thoughts, a pattern that often serves to reinforce addictive behaviors.
• Meditation is an effective stress-management tool that can be practiced almost anywhere. Researchers believe it may reduce emotional reactivity and improve the coping skills of people in recovery.
• Learning a new language or skill. This can improve motivation, reduce boredom, and boost confidence, which are all valuable in addiction recovery.

When engaging in these practices, remember that wellness isn’t a state of perfection; it’s an active pursuit. In other words, don’t be too hard on yourself if these new activities don’t come easily to you.

An often-overlooked aspect of treatment recovery—and something most consider to be a pillar of wellness—is nutrition. Here are just a few reasons why proper nutrition is crucial during recovery.

• Certain substances have effects on metabolism and appetite. Some drugs inhibit the body’s ability to process nutrients. Some may also diminish or increase a person’s appetite, which may contribute to lasting health problems.
• Poor hydration, low blood sugar, and a poor diet are associated with increased cravings, potentially leading to relapse.
• A proper diet can increase one’s immune system, improve mood, and help repair damage to organs and tissues caused by substance use.

Call to begin addiction treatment at Greenhouse or to learn more about the many wellness-related amenities offered at our Texas inpatient rehab center. You can also verify your insurance coverage online using the confidential .