Alcohol and other drugs have a tendency to shift our focus away from our basic needs. Things that were once simple, like managing finances or meal planning for the week, are overshadowed by the need for our next drink. Sometimes our main focus becomes simply finding somewhere to sleep for the night. When in recovery, we’re not just healing from our substance use disorder – we’re healing from years of self-neglect. This makes it even more overwhelming to reunify with the things that once mattered to us, like our community, our friendships, and our families.
Some of us may be coming from a background where the nourishment of our self-care was never taught. Taking care of our bodies, minds, or finances might not be something we’ve ever invested our time in. Sobriety needs self-care to thrive. Learning about our lives and how to enrich them is a part of our journey. Without these skills, the probability of returning to our addictions in order to cope is much more probable.
At Sumter Behavioral Health we see the value in teaching or re-teaching the skills that may have been lost or never discovered at all. That’s why we hold Life Skills classes for anyone in recovery. Our Life Skills classes focus on four main components: Budgeting, nutritious meal preparation, personal hygiene, and medication management.Long-Term Budgeting Skills
Financial stability is often a huge trigger for those battling addiction. Nothing makes us feel quite as helpless as an eviction notice, a car repossession, the inability to buy food, or the inability to properly support our families. These are the kinds of things that make us feel like we have no control over anything when in reality, proper financial management gives us just that: control.
The first thing we’ll do is sit down with you and make a plan you can be proud of. We’ll go over the money you have coming in, the money you’ll need for your monthly expenses, and whether or not any changes need to be made. Many of the women that come to us are unemployed – and that’s more than okay. We’ll talk to you about what you see for your future, and we’ll help you get there. We can help you look for jobs, apply for opportunities, set up appointments, and more. When you’re sober, the thought of employment isn’t as scary or as big as it was when you were using. While you’re here, you’ll most likely find yourself dreaming again. We are here to encourage those dreams and guide you on your way there.
Meal Preparation
Did you know that your gut is often referred to in medical communities as the “second brain?” This is because our gastrointestinal tract has a significant effect on our moods. For anyone dealing with anxiety, depression, or other mental health disorders, gut health is extremely important. Substance use disorder also has a tendency to create chaos in the body. The body has a hard time processing alcohol, and, in fact, it isn’t designed to process alcohol. It leads to things like leaky gut and an improper breakdown of fats. When you’re practicing sobriety, your body (and your gut in particular) is desperately seeking the nutrition it’s been deprived of.
While you’re here, our goal is to reset your body and teach you how to make healthy choices moving forward. In our training kitchen, you’ll learn how to make nutritious, filling meals that you can share with your family and friends. Our training kitchen is a wonderful tool for anyone on their sobriety journey. If you’re a mother, you’ll learn healthy recipes for your family. If you’ve never cooked a day in your life, you’ll learn basic meals that will sustain you and give you the energy your body needs for recovery. If you’re already a cook, you’ll still benefit from new ideas and new recipes.
Self-Care Through Hygiene
One of the first things we neglect when we’re battling addiction is our personal hygiene. Some days, just getting out of bed is a chore in itself. Taking a shower can feel like climbing a mountain. Brushing our hair feels like running a sprint. Many of us have gone days or weeks without picking up a toothbrush. This is nothing to be ashamed of. It’s a common and normal consequence of substance use, and it is something we understand. But now it’s time to move forward.
We want to go over all of the basics of hygiene with you and help you build them into your daily routine. When you leave here, all of these things will feel like second nature to you again. You’ll feel better, look better, and you’ll naturally make healthier choices because of it.
Thriving Through Medication Management
It’s no secret that alcohol and other drugs aren’t good for you, but did you know they also interrupt your brain’s neuropathways? In other words, when you’re in the depths of addiction, your brain isn’t functioning the way it’s supposed to (or the way that it used to). Your memory is impacted by this damage, and it can take years to heal. The good news is that the brain is adaptive, and it will get used to your sobriety. It will begin to thrive again. In the meantime, it’s important to cut yourself some slack. Having “brain fog” or being forgetful during this journey is natural.
A large number of women recovering from substance use disorder are on medications. Others are trying different medications, looking for the right one. We know that while you’re healing, you may need extra help with these medications. Finding the right ones, taking them on time, and taking them responsibly. We’ll work with you to set daily reminders and work your medication into your daily routine. We’ll help you find the right doctor if you don’t have one, make it to your doctor’s appointments on time, and manage your medication so that you feel more in control of it. Your medications can do wonders for your mental health and healing – they’re important. It’s vital that, when you leave us, you feel completely self-sufficient in this regard.
What Other Things Can I Expect to Learn in Life Skills?
While budgeting, healthy eating, hygiene, and medication management are our main areas of focus, there are other things you’ll learn during your time in Life Skills. For example, we’ll ask you about your living situation. If you’re in a stable, healthy living situation – great! But if you’re in a living situation that might be detrimental to your recovery, we may work with you on finding another solution. We want to work together to set you up for stability after completing treatment at Sumter Behavioral. This might mean looking at new apartments, sending in applications, or applying for assistance.
Other aspects of your future post-addiction may seem fuzzy, and that’s ok. The goal of Life Skills is to set you up for sustainability and self-sufficiency. Anything that you need to create that environment is what we’re going to be working on with you.
Why Do I Need Life Skills?
We’ve briefly touched on how important Life Skills are in your sobriety, but now let’s discuss why they’re important. You probably hear the phrase “sobriety is a journey” more than you’d like to. In the recovery field, this is one of our favorite phrases. It essentially means that your sobriety is going to have ups and downs, it’s going to take a while, and it’s going to be full of surprises. It’s also important to note that it isn’t linear. One day, you’ll think you have sobriety handled – you’re unstoppable. Another day you might find yourself slumped and sobbing on the kitchen floor, reliving your past, and wanting your drug of choice more than you’ve ever wanted anything in your life. Life Skills are for all of these moments, the good and the bad.
Think of self-care as a toolbox. You can reach in and grab a tool when you need to calm the stormy moments or enrich the joyful moments. There’s nothing quite like the confidence that comes with feeling independent and being able to care for yourself. It’s only when we can care for ourselves that we can properly care for others. Life Skills will set you up for a safe and healthy space to heal. We lose a lot of trust in ourselves when we turn to addiction. Life Skills are all about gaining that trust back.
We accept self-referrals and even walk-ins. Many forms of insurance are accepted. To learn more, feel free to give us a call at (803) 905-5100. You can also fill out and submit our referral form.
Reach Out To Sumter Behavioral Health Services Today!
Sumter Behavioral Health Services Is Here for Your Needs
If you or your loved one is seeking services for a behavioral health or substance use disorder, please contact us at (803) 905-5100.