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28 Self-Care Tips To Boost Your Recovery Over Love Addiction

 

By Jim Hall, MS, Love Addiction Specialist


 

For people with love addiction patterns, the concept of self-care can feel like foreign territory. 


 

Individuals with love addiction can have major impairments with self-care-- particularly when entangled in a romantic (addictive) relationship with someone critical, cold, or emotionally unavailable.



And yet, self-care is a key component to a healthful life and relationship happiness. The issue of Self-Care in relationships is enormous-- and is one of the primary core issues for love addicts.

 


Self-care and recovery go hand in hand. It is a practice or act of nurturing and caring for oneself, by consciously making choices that contribute to one's health and well-being.

 


The act of caring for oneself is about being mindful of personal needs and wants and taking the steps to meet them.
 


Having love addiction, the lack of self-care can show up in many ways- here are a few examples:
 

  • Not setting functional boundaries (communicating with another what is okay or not okay).
  • Making choices and/or behaving in ways that go against personal values/beliefs.
  • Abandoning, minimizing, or devaluing your own needs and wants.
  • Trying to gain self-worth ("I matter") through a person/relationship.
     
  • Enduring a relationship where loneliness and pain are the norms.
  • Allowing a partner's identity to become your own identity.
  • Taking responsibility/blame for matters with which, you are not responsible.
  • Declaring "love" for someone you have only known a short period.
  • Trying to “earn” a person's approval of you.
     
  • Tolerating uncaring, disrespectful, or abusive behaviors; and justifying such behaviors.
  • Disengaging from friends/family; abandoning goals, interests, activities, etc. while in a relationship.
  • Staying in a relationship with a person unable or unwilling to commit.
  • Expecting yourself to be a perfect partner who never makes mistakes.

 


Self-care is crucial to your recovery.

 

Self-care is critical to self-protection (think boundaries).



It's critical to honoring our needs and wants in relationships. It is critical to experiencing joy and contentment in life. It is important for our emotional and physical well-being.

 

It is about having a compassionate and loving relationship with the "self". With appropriate self-care, we look after ourselves, like we would a cherished loved one. When we honor ourselves we choose behaviors that breed peace, satisfaction, and self-preservation in our lives.


 

When self-care is scarce, needs and wants are rarely or minimally met; and life is much less gratifying.

 


When we lack it... We yearn... We crave... We ache... We get 'stuck'... We fall apart... We even “feel crazy”.

 


When we lack a healthy loving relationship with ourselves and our self-care tank is deficient-- then we go into relationships and cannot attend to our needs and wants, and our well-being.

 


Love addicts and codependents are great at taking care of others, but not so great at doing the same for themselves.

 


In relationships, while turning away from the 'self', the love addict will turn towards their partner with laser focus and care only about making him or her happy and getting his/her needs met... this is "other care" only, and is dysfunctional.


 

Self-care is analogous to taking your car to a carwash, filling your
tank, having your oil changed, & rotating your tires.


 

Part of the recovery work in love addiction is the work of fine-tuning and building self-care muscles.

 

If you have a pattern of toxic relationships, then it is perhaps time for you to begin strengthening your self-care muscles.
 


The following are 28 important self-care acts to help you start building these muscles.

 

 

28 Acts Of Self-Sare To Help Defeat Love Addiction
 

  1. Never put anyone on a pedestal, above yourself-- where no one belongs.
     
  2. If it feels wrong, don’t do it.
     
  3. Trust your instincts, always.
     
  4. Stop feeling you should be ‘nice’ to everyone -- only be nice to/respect those who are nice back.
     
  5. Stop taking responsibility for any adult's feelings, behaviors, or choices- they're not yours, you're not responsible, they are.
     
  6. Say NO to anything of which you are not sure.
     
  7. Say YES only to that of which you are sure.
     
  8. Never give up engaging in your interests, goals, or passions-- for "love", or anyone.
     
  9. Engage yourself in meaningful relationships with non-toxic people… and treat yourself with respect, kindness, and warm regard- treatment that you deserve.
     
  10. ‘Let go’ of things and people of which you have no control.
     
  11. Don’t be a people-pleaser-- it is not yours in your job description.
     
  12. Never shame, devalue, or speak negatively of yourself-- NO MATTER WHAT.
     
  13. Never violate your values-- consistently exercise your values, instead of just professing them.
     
  14. Stay away from negativity and relationships fraught with drama.
     
  15. Honor all your needs and wants, especially in relationships.
     
  16. Never listen to anyone who tells you how you “should” think, feel, believe, or act in your own life.
     
  17. Never tolerate any person who by word or deed, implies that you are worthless or inadequate -- NOT ANYONE!
     
  18. Never try to “earn” someone’s love or approval. You are not a slave. Who you are, is enough!
     
  19. Always be kind, gentle, and compassionate to yourself— in every matter and experience of life.
     
  20. Stop blaming others for where you're at with your love addiction- You are not a victim (there is zero power in being a victim)- Take responsibility, own it, - you did the best you could...  now go forward and learn from it, grow.

     
  21. Tell yourself five things you are grateful for (big or small) — make a daily habit of it. "I will practice gratitude to retrieve gladness."
     
  22. Allow others to be who they are (feel, do, act)-- it is their right. Simultaneously, accept that what you observe, IS who they are.
     
  23. Stop pursuing perfection, it will destroy you-- Do what you can, with what you have, where you are, as you are; this my friend, is enough.
     
  24. Take five minutes for yourself, every day, to relax, to connect with yourself, and focus on validating/affirming yourself. “I am worthy” and “I love myself enough to make healthy choices.”
     
  25. Honor ANY/ALL of your feelings (good or bad) —feelings are neither wrong nor right, and they do not define you.
     
  26. Celebrate all of your accomplishments or successes, big or small/tiny even  (things like your growth, recovery, positive choices or decisions, job, career... anything, for it all matters). 
     
  27. Do something that brings you pleasure; e.g., seek out a pleasant leisure activity that feels good -- and regularly participate in it.
     
  28. Allow yourself to be all that you are, no more cover-ups; plenty will love you for that.
     

* These 28 self-care acts focus primarily on relationships. While this is not a comprehensive list, my hope is this list offers you some important points and lessons in how you can start to acquire healthy patterns of self-care to boost your recovery and healing from love addiction.
 


What Self-Care is Not:

It is Not Selfish.
It is Not Self-Pity.
It is Not Self-Indulgence.


 

What Self-Care is:

It is healthy
It is Self-Preservation
It is Self-Value/Love
It is A Right!

 

 

Bottom-line:



“If self-care is not an essential part of your life. If you don’t treat yourself with kindness and respect, then how could you expect others to do the same?"

 

No one can do it for you, but you.

 

When people neglect themselves, it leads to resentment, anger, unhappiness, and certainly toxic/hurtful relationships.

 

We cannot truly function in a healthy, nurturing manner unless self-care becomes an indispensable part of our lives.

 

Self-care is vital for your health and well-being. Moreover, it is critical for healthy and happy relationships.

 

When we have a healthy relationship with ourselves, we can have happier, healthy relationships with others.

 

You’re worthy of love and belonging-- and you're worthy of taking care of YOU.

 

Self-care is NOT selfish, vain, or egotistical. If ever you have a voice in your head that says something like, “I am being bad and selfish if I focus, and care about my needs/wants, and put myself first”— then please understand this type of thinking is a lie.

 

This kind of voice is a “false message” you received from someone in your past (growing up).

 

You unknowingly internalized this lie ("I'm bad if I care about my needs") as a truth, and did so because you were powerless and did not know any better. 

 

So understand, this voice is not yours, but a shame-based person/'s from your past— if it ever comes up, disown it, trash it, and call it what it is a gigantic lie. 

 

Learning to care for yourself will likely startle some others around you. Because you are beginning to change your dysfunctional patterns to new healthier patterns (self-care), they will feel uncomfortable, perhaps resentment or angry (not your problem).

 

They may try shaming you, calling you a narcissist, and/or trying to make you feel guilty during the times you are taking care of yourself.

 

Smile at their projection, scoff at it—this is not about you, but is only abundantly (only) about their emotional/unresolved issues.


 

Self-Care Will Help Your Recovery, Growth, And Help You Live A Healthier, Happier Life.

 


As an adult, you and only you are responsible for taking care of yourself. Only you can honor that right.

 

The right to feel, say, and do what YOU choose to grow, thrive, and live your best life possible.


And no other person has a right to say otherwise-- and just in case anyone does, then do what you rightly need to do, “take care of you.”

 

Learning to better care for ourselves is about growing up-- meaning we can get up off our feet, make the choice to value ourselves, value our lives, and value our true wants and needs.

 


Growing up is choosing to take action and behave in manners that only contribute to our health, happiness, and well-being.

 


There is no better time than now to emphasize Self-Care on your journey to break your love addiction-- There is no better time to make yourself- your needs- your wants, and your well-being, a priority.

 


Changing our unhealthy habits to healthy habits (self-care) can take time-- and that is okay, just stay on that dignified road. 

 


You’re worthy of love and belonging-- and you're worthy of taking care of YOU. Self-care is something you are entitled to. It is what you deserve.



And YES, choosing on your behalf, to do 'what it takes' to overcome the problem with love addiction is A Significant Act For Your Self-Care …  A Gift that will last you a lifetime.

 

 


About the Author: Jim Hall, MS, is a Love Addiction Specialist and Author of 3 Books on Love Addiction and Healing. Recovery Coach and Author of 3 Books on Love Addiction and Healing. Jim teaches those struggling with love addiction or anxious attachment styles how to overcome unhealthy/insecure relationship patterns and attain happy, fulfilling love.


 

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You May Be Interested In:

 

Top 6 Signs of a Love Avoidant

 

How to Stop Obsessing Over An Ex

 

Love Addiction Withdrawal: What it means and how to deal with it



What Makes A Relationship SECURE?

 

Relationship Addiction Cycle


>> View ALL my Articles >>

 


 

The Love Addict in Love Addiction Book:

 

About: The Love Addict in Love Addiction

 

 


Relationship Healing and Recovery Books/Workbooks:

 

About: Beginning Recovery for Love Addicts

 

 


About: Surviving Withdrawal: The Breakup Workbook for Love Withdrawal
Obsessing Over An Ex, Love Withdrawal? The workbook on healing obsessive love after a breakup:
 

 

 

 

 

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