Healthy Ways of Coping for Mothers in Recovery
Mothers in recovery face unique challenges and often have additional stressors, such as the pressure to be the primary caregiver and the stress of being held to higher standards than men.
In addition, mothers in recovery sometimes face the stressor of being single parents. This can make it challenging to find time to attend meetings, see a therapist, and take care of their own needs.
What Are Coping Skills?
It is important to develop healthy coping skills to manage stress. Coping skills are any characteristic or behavioral pattern that enhances a person's adaptation.
Coping skills are actions or plans to manage difficult emotions like stress and anger. They can be learned and repeated to improve our ability to cope with difficult situations.
Unhealthy coping skills like abusing substances or food feel good in the short term but have negative long-term effects on our minds and bodies. When people turn to alcohol and drugs to handle emotions, it can destroy relationships and employment opportunities. Furthermore, using substances to cope can lead to addiction.
Healthy coping skills take time, practice, and repetition to learn with no short-term gain. However, developing healthy coping skills pays off in the long run by improving our well-being and our lives.
Addiction Is a Maladaptive Coping Mechanism
Individuals who suffer from addiction often struggle with other issues, such as mental health disorders. In fact, between a third and half of all individuals with mental health disorders also battle substance use disorders, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).
When someone is constantly exposed to stressful situations, their brain changes, leading to a "fight-or-flight" response. While this response is beneficial in short-term survival situations, chronic exposure to stress can hurt a person's physical and mental health.
This increased vulnerability can lead to addiction to cope with the constant stress. In addition, for many people, substance abuse can become a form of self-medication for underlying mental health issues like anxiety and depression.
However, addiction is a progressive disease that only gets worse over time. Left untreated, addiction can lead to serious health problems, financial ruin, and even death.
Healthy Coping Strategies for Moms
Life can become overwhelming for a mother caring for a family and others, and coping in unhealthy ways could lead to a full-blown relapse. However, the basic self-care strategies below are the foundation of successful recovery.
Eat nutritious food: When we are in recovery from substances, we need to be mindful of what we are putting into our bodies as well as what we are taking out. Proper nutrition is key to long-term success in recovery. Food affects our emotions and our ability to handle challenges that come our way. The foods we eat impact how we feel and how we feel influences our ability to make good choices overall. When an individual is in early recovery and detoxing from drugs, they are vulnerable and may be experiencing other mental health issues such as anxiety or depression. In this state, it can be difficult to make healthy food choices.
Exercise: Exercise is a recovery and coping skill that can help reduce tension, stabilize mood, and improve self-esteem and sleep habits. Staying physically active can boost both emotional and physical health, manage stress, help to control cravings, and prevent relapses. In addition, regular exercise can improve mental health by reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Get enough quality sleep: Scientists have long known that a good night's sleep is important for overall health, but recent studies have shown that it is crucial for successful addiction recovery. Individuals in recovery often need more sleep than others as their minds and bodies heal.
Build a Supportive Community
Moms in recovery face a unique set of challenges. In addition to managing the demands of motherhood, they must also navigate the complex landscape of addiction and recovery.
One of the most important tools for moms in recovery is building a supportive network of family and friends. Having people to rely on can make a difference when times are tough. Friends and family can provide emotional support, practical assistance, and a listening ear. They can also be a source of positive role models and healthy coping strategies.
Counselors and recovery associates can also be an invaluable part of the recovery process. They can help you work through the challenges of addiction and provide guidance on how to build a healthy, sustainable life in recovery.
Recovery is a journey, and having a solid support system will help you every step of the way. Mothers who have coped with addiction and developed successful sobriety skills have formed support groups to help those currently struggling.
In these groups, mothers can share their stories, provide tips and encouragement, and give hope to others going through the same thing.
The importance of creating and maintaining a support system in recovery cannot be overstated. This can be especially true for mothers in recovery who may feel isolated and alone.
Mothers recovering from substance use disorder (SUD) face unique challenges in balancing their well-being with their parenting duties. Establishing a firm routine of basic self-care is an invaluable tool. Eating whole foods, getting enough exercise, and having a sleep hygiene routine can provide the foundation for sustained change. Involving your family in counseling and other parts of the treatment process can help you mend relationships with the people you love most. Joining a community of other moms who dedicate themselves to their recovery can also give you a solid foundation on which you can rebuild your life. Other healing mothers can meet you where you’re at and make the journey with you. SUD recovery is a life-changing experience. You are not alone, and help is available. For more information on how to support yourself and other mothers in recovery, contact Next Level Recovery Associates today at consult@nextlevelra.com.