Share your self care!

[Printemps]

Hello everyone, it's Saturday so it's time to check in with ourselves and reflect on our self care!

I think @JinxyWolf makes a really incredible point about forgiveness. Making mistake is a part of our development, and as Jinxywolf points out, until we accept that, recognise and learn from our mistakes we aren't truly growing in recovery.

In that theme my self care for this week is being patient with myself. I have been trying to develop better habits around exercise and eating well after being unwell for a while. It has been difficult and there have been stumbling blocks, but I know if I continue to stay angry at myself I won't be able to move forward. So now, I'm being patient. It's difficult because anger is easier than patience but it's worthwhile, as this will help other aspects of my life, including dealing with those around me.

So how is everyone else going? What reflections on self care do you have for this week?

@Fluffy094 , @Harleygirl51 @AGHS @Judes @Dr.Semaj @Spartan @Iamlucas000 @Chilli Heeler @Johnsnow

[Judes]

@Printemps - this week I have decided to take an opportunity presented to me by friends who own a country pub to help them out. I am moving my van after being at the Sunny Coast for 15 months and being back in a comfort zone that needs to be challenged! That always means a little stress which for an ex-gambler is not good! I will continue to follow my exercise routines as much as possible to cope with the changes in my life - to keep some normality and routine! I think that is the key to not reverting to pokies as a coping mechanism! I got this!!!

[Printemps]

okay everyone, another week another chance to reflect on how we're looking after ourselves and what we could be doing to be a little kinder to ourselves!

my current self-care is very much focused on finding my voice and advocating for myself. This comes in a few ways, including learning to set boundaries and speak up for myself. This is something I know I've had to work on for a while, but by putting it in place in recent weeks, in both professional and social settings, has felt really empowering.

so how about everyone else?

@Tcdawe @Alphabet @nathank7 @nickisc54 @Party68 @zolugo @Desperation @Serini @IslandLady @Billyjs95 @Dfs674 @yep123 @Anita44 @Damaged_Armour

[yep123]

Hey @Printemps

Still finding it hard to look after myself after my relapse, but I am going to try this week. Starting with eating healthy again. As since my relapse, all I want to do is give my body bad food. As I think I don't deserve to be looked after.

One step at a time.

[Printemps]

@yep123 looking after yourself and being kind to yourself are two of the best things you can do right now. Starting with eating healthy is a really great step, you can break that chain of just wanting/feeling like junk food and feel better inside and out! What we eat does have a massive impact on our headspace!

[yep123]

Hi @Printemps

Yeah I understand, just so hard to to give self love when self destroying with gambling.

[Printemps]

@yep123 it takes time to get into a habit of self love/care. The more you do it, the more natural it will become and overtime you will find yourself not ruminating and getting stuck in cycles of negative thinking.

Just take it day by day, with small changes like eating well. the positive effects will follow :)

[Printemps]

This has been a busy week for me, so much of my self care has been around checking in with myself and recognising the motivations behind emotions at the moment.

I often find that I become easily annoyed at people due to situations that haven't even happened, or by ruminating on past actions that I have no power to change now.

A big part of relationships, especially in recovery is centred on trust and forgiveness. But, speaking as someone who has had their trust broken, that can be very difficult to do. For loved ones who are supporting partners/family/friends it's important to check in with ourselves and our emotions. It can be very easy to get caught up in reliving things that have made us angry or have hurt us. By doing this we limit our own ability to move forward and stay holding on to anger. Negative feelings are valid, this is a difficult journey with all types of emotions involved, but we have to recognise if we are actually doing ourselves more damage by ruminating on the bad instead of working towards a more positive future for ourselves and in turn those we are supporting.

For individuals going through recovery, it's important to remember that for loved ones it takes time and communication to work through these emotions and that people may not be ready to forgive overnight. Respecting boundaries that have been set and remembering the importance of accountability are paramount.

Emotional first aid and self care is so important for everyone involved in recovery, whether their own or someone else. Checking in with ourselves and giving space to reflect on where we're at and how we're feeling is paramount.

@spentitallagain @yep123 @Kita @Kate397 @Maik @GgMg @Butterfly1 @Haze45 @Carlton 2022 @Westbrook

[Printemps]

hello hello everyone! It;'s that time of the week when we come together and share our self-care!

For me today, self acre looked like a sleep in. I have been really busy lately, working a lot and a lt going on behind the scenes so giving myself a rest was really important. You can't pour from an empty cup, we all have to remember our limits and remind ourselves to slow down and give ourselves a breather :)

How about everyone else? How are you all looking after yourself at the moment?

@Caleb_bryan199 @Tom98 @Carbsone @Jmitrevski @EricBisch @Jgroves1 @llucyoh @michelle48 @Alexaboom @ttnt @Juney26 @Grub1983 @Ann1976# @Elizabeth-Jane @massivegamblor @Anita44 @KAG @Jimap @Staceyann29 @yep123 @thebunny66

[Printemps]

Hey everyone, I wanted to jump in and share myself care for the week and see how others have been looking after themselves!

This week my self care is ensuring I give myself time on my own and become used to my own company and being self sufficient. My house mate is moving out so I will be living on my own for the first time. I'm excited but also nervous as I have always been in share houses, so I think I will have to get used to my own company. That does worry me a little as I'm an extrovert, but I do think it's really important for me to learn that spending time on my own is okay. I'm hoping that I'll be able to get back into my hobbies properly and also I guess get to know myself a bit better, without always being on Fun Outgoing Mode, or being reliant on others to maintain my emotions.

Having time on your own can be daunting, but it is important as it provides you space to recognise triggers, urges and how to manage them. It helps you grow and develop throughout recovery.

So now I want to hear from everyone, what are you doing to support your self care this week? @Kevcollingwood @spentitallagain @yep123 @Addiction101 @JohnBoy @Buttercup @StopPunt @Andy @Marzena @re1oad @Ann1976#