Self healing involves incorporating healthy routines into your life that enhance wellness and promote self-healing. These usually include several different techniques that complement one another and focus on all aspects of your being.
Self-healing personalities often select environments and situations that align with their skills, interests, and abilities, and help them feel centered and connected to others. They are also less likely to engage in harmful or unsupportive relationships.
Meditation
Meditation is a mind-body complementary practice that can help reduce stress and improve your health. It has roots in ancient philosophies and several world religions, but you don’t have to be religious to meditate.
Meditation can be helpful for lowering your blood pressure and heart rate, and it can also help you sleep better. In addition, it can be used to help you move through emotional healing, which is essential for physical healing.
Some forms of meditation are: chanting or repeating a word or phrase, such as “love” or “peace”; visualizing a circle of those who have been kind to you; or doing actions, like lifting your leg and placing it back down on the ground. Various research has found that people who meditate experience changes in their brain structure.
Yoga
For those suffering from anxiety, yoga can be a great tool for self healing. Regular practice of yoga creates mental clarity, calmness, and increased body awareness; reduces chronic stress patterns; improves focus and concentration; promotes good sleep habits; decreases irritability; increases energy levels; and strengthens immune system function.
Trauma-informed yoga techniques use gentle movements to foster a sense of grounding and stability and can help trauma survivors develop a strong mind-body connection. It can also increase the levels of GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) in the brain, which slows down nerve cell activity and results in improved mood and reduced anxiety.
However, it is important to note that yoga cannot heal trauma in and of itself, and should be used as a supplement to other therapies like counseling or drug rehab programs. If used for the wrong reasons, it can be counterproductive to one’s healing journey.
Exercise
Exercise is nature’s miracle drug, boosting our body’s ability to heal itself. It strengthens our hearts, alertness and sex life, gives us an edge against cancer and cardiovascular disease, can prevent common colds, and can even help wounds heal faster.
And, in addition to its physical benefits, it has powerful psychological effects. It has the unique ability to exhilarate, energize and relax the mind, and it can be used as a supplement to psychotherapy or medication for anxiety disorders or clinical depression. In fact, it can aid in your recovery from mental health issues by bolstering brain neuroplasticity and encouraging healthy habits that support sobriety.
Nutrition
Nutrition is often overlooked as a tool for self healing, yet it’s a powerful way to support your mental and physical health. A healthy diet provides the fuel your body needs to function in all areas of life, and it’s especially important during recovery. Whether you’re going through medical drug detox, alcohol detox or other forms of addiction treatment, adequate nutrition is key to ensuring the best possible outcome. During this time, focus on eating a variety of fruits and vegetables, lean proteins and whole grains. Also, be sure to keep healthy snacks on hand, such as cottage cheese, berries, Greek yogurt or nuts.
Healthy Relationships
Healthy relationships (whether romantic, familial, or platonic) have a profound impact on our mental health and offer a sense of security and belonging. Oftentimes, a loving relationship provides us with the motivation to take on other healthy behaviors such as exercising, eating a balanced diet, and quitting smoking.
In addition, healthy relationships provide a source of physical affection which has been shown to reduce stress levels and boost immune system function. However, balancing personal growth and healing with relationship well-being can be challenging.
If you’re struggling to maintain a healthy relationship, it’s important to seek the guidance of a trauma-informed therapist. They can teach you ways to enhance your self-awareness and heal old wounds. This can help you shift from reactive behaviors to more thoughtful, intentional responses in your relationships.
