I don't see any insanity in that, more so a coping skill set that has turned out rather maladaptive.
Dogs are the best recovery pals. I've always had dachshunds and a friend located a rescue in need of a home a few months after I got clean. When you have another creature dependent on you for food, exercise and bathroom needs, that's a big incentive to stay sober.
Self care was something that was really stressed in treatment. Even things that a lot of people just take for granted like making your bed or taking a shower, we tend to let go. It takes a bit of time before they become habits again.
Self care goes faaaaaaar beyond chores (even if one really enjoys chores). A lot of places require you to basically work cleaning the treatment center for free, as part of the "therapeutic environment." Maintaining ones hygiene and general responsibilities is important, and some people need help with that. But self care is something else entirely. These are behavioral things that are separate from or ancelary to actual mental health/SUD treatment.
Dog, and animals generally, are super fucking grand though
I suffer from sever depression as well. On that 1-10 scale test they give you, I add-up to very high. So sometimes it is hard for me to have the evergy to get into hobbies or to meet new people. This year was the first year in 3 summers that I got out to weed my flower beds. It has helped me a lot.
Have to take it one day at a time & focus on self care. I didnt know how to do either of those things before my bottom fell out & it is still a struggle almost daily at times bc bad habits are so engrained in me.
My dog helped me a lot too! I don't know what I would ever do without him.
What do you mean when you say self care? As someone who also deals with mental health issues, this has probably been on of the cornerstones of recovery.
Yes that includes chores and such, but as far as that kind of self care goes it about essentially learning to experience and find the joy in simple activities, such as the nice feeling I get when I am in a tidy environment and all out pleasures involved in preparing (and cleaning up) a simple (yet delicious) meal.
Self care for me is more about making sure I devote regularly amounts of time to stuff that nourishes more my soul (for lack of a better word - as in the soul in "soul food"). So, in a word, leisure. But also how I am productive with my time, making sure I find at least some way to enjoy that too.
But specifically devoting a significant time(s) each week to enjoying life in healthy ways (so a lot of options actually), as well as shorter periods of time each day devoted to doing something also enjoyable and not particularly unhealthy. That is the ideal at least.
Looking forward to getting better at this tbh. Sometimes, if I can just tidy the place up a bit on certain days I am happy though. Chores can be a good start.
Haha I've totally lost myself with this, apologies 8)