How Mindful Self-Compassion Can Support Our Recovery


By Tanya D'Angelo, APCC

The defining characteristics of mindful self-compassion include mindfulness, recognizing our common humanity and self-kindness. Each of these ingredients can offer a bit of support depending on what is needed in the moment. Below are a few options within each category to consider.

Mindfulness

  • We can attune to our senses in the moment, without judgment. This can lead to stress reduction.
  • Without jumping ahead or worrying about the past, take things moment by moment only dealing with what we are able to as it comes.
  • We can build awareness around why we were drawn to the particular behavior or substance. This awareness can help us recognize what we are needing more of in our life in order for us to more readily meet those needs in ways that align with our long-term goals.

Common Humanity

  • In the instance that relapse does occur, we experience it as a natural part of a very human process and this removes feelings of shame and potentially harmful self-judgement.
  • In recognizing that we are human, we also recognize our human limitations and reach out for support when needed.
  • We can recognize we are not alone and connect with others.

Self- Compassion

  • This can come in the form of being kind and understanding toward ourselves just as we would be to a good friend.
  • This can also come in the form of fierce self-compassion, where we are taking action steps such as removing something harmful from our surroundings or setting an important boundary.
  • We can speak to or write to ourselves with kindness, offering care and concern.
By noticing what is happening in the moment, non-judgmentally, recognizing that we are only human, and relating to ourselves with care, we can offer ourselves some relief and support that can be an important piece in supporting our recovery.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Understanding Interpersonal Violence: A Call to Action for National Coming Out Day and LGBTQPIA2S+ History Month

Image
By Van Ethan Levy, LMFT 118131, LPCC 8269  Van is a queer, non-binary, trans, AFAB (Assigned Female at Birth), POC (Person of Color), dually licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist and a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor. Van is passionate about holding space for all intersections of one’s identity(ies). Van is dedicated to social justice & believes it is vital to cultivate an awareness of our own internal strengths, specifically our resilience as we continue to grow and discover ourselves. Van also provides trainings on trans and non-binary identities and is author of the interactive book Exploring My Identity(ies) (2020). As we approach National Coming Out Day on October 11th and celebrate LGBTQPIA2S+ History Month, it’s crucial to shed light on a pervasive issue that often goes unnoticed: Interpersonal Violence (IPV). Many individuals may not recognize the signs of healthy versus unhealthy dynamics in relationships. IPV can take many forms, including physical, emoti
Read more

Here’s why you shouldn’t test for COVID

Image
  By Kim Marquardt, RN MSN This blog post is from the Nurse Kim archives of myth busting. I want to share some "alternative" or maybe just lesser known health and wellness viewpoints for you to chew on. *These posts are not intended as official medical advice. They ARE meant to be fun, informative, and thought provoking, hopefully sparking an interest for you to do your own research (you can start with the links I provide!) and discover the marvels of the human body, and how it can function at its optimal performance level if we understand how it works and interacts with our environment and our diet. I have a passion for health and wellness through lifestyle and nutrition and have done thousands of hours of research in addition to being a registered nurse for 23 years. I have done A LOT of self-experimentation in and around diet, lifestyle, body care, and supplementation and have spent a lot of time looking into the science behind it all (or lack thereof!). Check back weekly
Read more

TWO QUESTIONS: Adela Sanchez on Narcan Trainings

Image
TWO QUESTIONS FOR Adela Sanchez on Narcan Training  1.       What led you to bring Narcan training to MiraCosta? Narcan (naloxone) training in community colleges, especially when provided by a nurse, offers numerous benefits. As someone who grew up in this community being able to offer training for students, faculty, and staff is especially important to me. There are so many obstacles in healthcare so when there are opportunities for free programs and resources, I am immediately drawn to them. Empowering community members, especially in a college setting, fosters a sense of responsibility and community care. Trained individuals can act confidently in emergencies, contributing to a safer environment for everyone! I’ve seen too many accidents turn fatal so anything we can do to help is worth it. ·          Narcan equips us with the ability to respond swiftly to opioid overdoses. This can save lives in situations where medical help might not be immediately available.  ·        
Read more