Wellness in Recovery: Reading List
The journey of recovery from substance use and mental health challenges is a profound and transformative experience. The effective integration of wellness into recovery services across care systems stands as a pivotal element in addressing substance misuse and its associated consequences. Wellness, with its holistic approach, holds great promise for enhancing the overall recovery experience and improving outcomes. This reading list explores the intersection of wellness and recovery, offering insights and resources for individuals looking to enhance their lives using a wellness framework.The reading list presents a collection of resources, from understanding the dimensions of wellness to exploring the relationship between wellness and recovery.
1) A Step-by-Step Guide to Wellness: The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) Wellness Initiative envisions a future in which people with mental or substance use problems pursue health, happiness, recovery, and a full and satisfying life in the community. This guide offers a broad approach for achieving wellness, recognising that each individual's journey is unique.
2) Integrating Wellness in the Addiction Recovery Process: Explore a webinar on Wellness and Addiction Recovery by ISSUP Kenya, delving into how wellness and recovery intertwine, the whole person-strength-based approach to wellness, and examples of wellness practices that can be incorporated into the recovery process.
3) Journey to Wellness Guide: Dr. Peggy Swarbrick, a longtime wellness expert, has created a Journey to Wellness Guide designed to help people find new ideas to begin or continue their personal journey to wellness, regardless of where they are in life. It provides valuable insights for those who have faced chronic stress, addiction, trauma, or other life challenges.
4) Eight Dimensions of Wellness: SAMHSA explains the concept of wellness, encompassing physical and mental health. This resource elaborates on the eight dimensions of wellness that cover various aspects of modern-day life, highlighting the interconnection between physical and mental well-being.
5) Emotional Wellness in Recovery Guide: Emotional wellness is a cornerstone of the recovery process. The American Addictions Centers explained in this short guidance how to use mindfulness therapy and other techniques to help individuals overcome negative thinking, leading to a healthier life and a successful recovery journey.
6) Health & Wellness in Recovery: The American Addictions Centers provide insights into how a healthy diet and exercise can enhance overall health and recovery. This resource offers an overview of the root of addiction and how to overcome it through healthy life habits.
7) Recovery: The Many Paths to Wellness: Explore Chapter 5 in "Facing Addiction in America: The Surgeon General's Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health," which defines the concept of recovery from substance use disorders and reviews methods used by mutual aid groups and recovery support services to foster and sustain recovery. Understand why recovery matters and the diverse paths to wellness.
