A Compilation of Wellness Practices to Enable Recovery Resilience
In 2021, I am assuming there are many people who do not know or understand the concept of Wellness and Recovery. The media may provide an idea supported by a fraction of factual data through various platforms: Internet, Television, and Newspapers.
This is not wrong, but education is important which may require research (very important).
As anyone may be experiencing the challenges of mental health illness this is not the end; in fact, it may simply be the beginning. In kind, I have been working as a Certified Peer Specialist for more than 10 years. During this time I have worked with a multitude of peers assisting them to (Starburst – analytical approach), or brainstorm any action they felt may help provide them with relief from the signs and symptoms of debilitating mental health illness. To say, I am not well experienced with drugs and alcohol so perhaps my audience may have someone who can write a Blog associated with this blog tailored to drugs and alcohol use.
I like to include an introduction to help my audience understand this blog is worth time to read.
Let’s look at wellness tools and action plans that have been created, practiced, and that I have personally found to have recovery value:
1) Circuit Training: this is critical to help keep active, moving around, and increase
cardiovascular health. This is where you move around to different activities like bouncing a ball; jump rope; jog, sprint, basketball; racquet ball; etc. keep with the rhythm.
2) Exit Plan: A pre-arranged plan to leave a questionable environment if one or more are acting inappropriately questioning your comfort-level. You may want a phone with numbers to call, flashlight if you walk, and some to use, apply, fiddle with to maintain calm.
3) Pet Therapy: The practice of using a pet to satisfy your emotional needs for comfort and reassurance. A pet does not judge, talk, or deny us; therefore, they make excellent companions (name your pet).
4) Change Recovery Environment: Look at your recovery environment and think about how each corner of a room and/or each room in your home may be designated
for specific activity. For example, Bedroom is for rest; Bathroom is for relaxation; Basement is for recreation; Garage is for crafts or exercise; Porch is for reading. Furthermore, some environments offer limited space so each corner of a room is designated for something different and can be decorated to reflect the activity like meditation with candles, baskets, plants, and a pine tree. I assure you it is refreshing so make it your own.
5) Recovery Triangle: This is a newer concept that is actually a work in progress. It involves the peer, community, natural, and treatment resources; and a trusted support. The peer communicates to the trusted support his thoughts, ideas, concerns, problems, etc as he works through resource utilization. The Recovery Triangle is intended to build confidence and resilience with the peer with the objective to be more independent.
6) Recovery Garden: This can be whatever you envision to be a garden. This may be
an area where pine trees are growing provide a picturesque moment for you; perhaps you like Christmas Trees and have a room full of them; one idea is to have a wooden box full of plants with figurines; the recovery garden may reflect your recovery experiences; maybe its your own outside/inside garden growing things—you are in control! If it is not relaxing then it is not a recovery garden.
7) Recovery [Smart] Glasses: Whether you require eyewear for vision correction or not, a pair of glasses can be the change—the transition needed for a better mood or outlook for your minute, hour, or day. Glasses are off so I am relaxed and ready to be free. Glasses are on and I am focused, feeling good, sophisticated, classy, and I am ready for my day—it can be a literal game changer.
8) Headphones: I have observed utilizing headphones with a genre of music can help provide balance to one’s mood. I have had peers working with Schizophrenia, Anxiety Disorder; Depression; and Anger Management who sought music as a remedy to calm themselves. Peer A used headphones to filter (drown out) voices. Peer B used headphones to play Classical Music to think and Rock N’ Roll Music to exercise or drum up motivation.
In essence, these are eight wellness tools with action plans to practice and perhaps revamp old thoughts. In recovery, the sky is not the limit as the human imagination can allot us knowledge and power. I encourage you to be creative and add to this list to share resources.
Blog by: EW
Comments