Spirituality and Recovery
Many people who start on the path to recovery find that a lot of their life feels broken. Body, mind, and spirit can feel ravaged by addiction. Yet when you get sober, you’re often acting on hope. You’re ready to try something new, but you’re not sure what the path ahead entails. This willingness to try something new can sometimes be a spiritual awakening for newcomers. Throughout your recovery journey, you’ll find yourself learning from others. Tales of their experience, strength, and hope will help you plow forward even when your spirit feels broken. Willingness is a building block for spirituality later in your journey. Spirituality vs. Religion For many people who grew up with a specific religion, spirituality may be a little challenging to grasp. Religion is organized with a lot of rules and rituals in more cases. Some people find their spirituality is deeply connected to their religious beliefs. Still, other people in recovery it’s more of a personal search for meaning or feeling connected to others as well as the universe. The idea of spirit is often associated with religion. However, in recovery, you don’t have to join any religion or worship a specific god. The idea […]
Recovery, Sober Living and COVID-19
People in recovery (as well as the rest of society) face unique struggles during the coronavirus era. It’s hard to isolate. Some people are suffering from anxiety and depression in addition to recovering from addiction. COVID-19 has made a lot of people feel uncertain about the future. Luckily, people who have chosen sober living homes are in a unique situation that they can use to their advantage. They aren’t alone, and they live with people who care about them and see them every day. People who are in sober housing situations are lucky to have others around that have the same goals and understanding of the recovery lifestyle. But there are also some challenges that people will face when they are home with others a lot of the time. Togetherness Is Crucial Living in a sober living situation doesn’t mean that things are going to be perfect. Everyone has character flaws and issues to work through. But the good news is that you ARE working on yourselves. You’re around a group of people who want to get better and are working on themselves every day. Being in a sober home where chores and meals are shared is a lot like […]
Diving Deeper Into Your Recovery Program
Everyone in recovery has a routine, but like many people around the world, you may feel like it’s being interrupted. While life as we know it has changed indefinitely, the foundation of your recovery program remains the same. People in recovery need support meetings, the 12 steps, and each other to stay sober in the long term. However, when you’re not able to meet in-person, the ways these tasks are acted out change. Staying focused, sane, and serene can take practice in this new era. But there are many ways to re-center yourself and prepare for the journey ahead. Your Recovery Program: Beyond the Basics If you’ve been sober for a while, you’re probably already aware of the basic tools and first three steps of twelve. You probably work the first step every day – it’s what keeps you sober! The second and third steps also require constant revisiting. But what other ideas, beyond these basics, can you use in your daily life? Finding gratitude. You probably kept a gratitude list when you first got sober. It’s time to get a cute notebook and revisit this habit. It can seem like a real downer to be isolated at home, struggling […]
Having Anxiety? Five Ways to Manage It
Pretty much everyone has experienced anxiety from time-to-time. It’s one of those emotions that can creep up on you before you realize it. While there is no way to 100% curb your anxiety in life, there are some powerful strategies available. As you stay sober, you’ll start understanding that coping with it is half the battle. Anxiety is a Normal Emotion A lot is going on in the world to feel anxious about. You can’t let yourself freeze in place because of these feelings. Anxiety can do a lot of damage to your daily life, and you may start to think yourself into a dangerous situation. After all, the disease of addiction is primarily a disease of the brain. It wants you to self-destruct. Staying focused on your recovery, and learning new tools is essential. It’s a hard time in the world right now. But you’ve made it through other hard times, haven’t you? And you now have the support you need to make it through challenges. Don’t you let your fears take control of your recovery. Start taking control and trying to manage it before it takes over. Before all else, know that you can always pick up the […]
Coping in Difficult Times
Everyone has felt anxious recently with the spread of COVID-19. Fear of the unknown is a normal reaction, as is anxiety about the disease itself. While these feelings are natural, you need to be able to cope with them so you can make rational and safe decisions. Whether you work in a recovery home or treatment center, or simply worry about your 12-step community, you’re allowed to take a breather. Learning to cope effectively with stress can help you and your recovery community even stronger. Use Your Recovery Resources Many 12-step meetings may be canceled if they have a large attendance. This doesn’t mean you can’t have a meeting, but be creative. Don’t put yourself at risk even if others are breaking public health rules. Look for alternatives such as 12-step video chats, chat rooms, and other meetings online. Keep in touch with your support network and check in on people you care about. It is a difficult time for people all over the world. You’re not alone in this. Be Responsible Learn what you can about the COVID-19 virus and how others in your community are keeping themselves safe. Think of pooling resources if you don’t have enough supplies. […]
Be Aware of These Silent Depression Symptoms
Many people in recovery feel down and blue from time-to-time. Emotions are a part of life in recovery. Learning to cope with feelings can be difficult and sometimes disorienting. In the first year of recovery, recognizing emotions and learning to cope with them in a positive manner is important. But sometimes, it’s hard to know what you’re feeling. You may be angry but not realize it, or depressed but unable to vocalize it. Depression can be a state as well as an ongoing battle for people with mental health disorders. If you’ve been having trouble lately in your daily life, but aren’t sure what’s going on, you may be struggling with depression. What is Depression? Depression is a mood disorder, also known as a mental health disorder. People with depression experience a persistent feeling of sadness. They often don’t know what is wrong and may lose interest in things they once enjoyed. Depression isn’t simply “feeling down”. Depressed people usually feel empty, sad, or hopeless. Clinical depression is usually chronic, meaning that it has lasted longer than two weeks. For some people, depression can last for years and even cause disability when it goes untreated. While major life events such […]
How to Add Self-Care to Your Recovery
Life can be stressful for everyone, especially in recovery. Even if you’ve learned how to cope with your emotions, it’s easy to get worn out by them if you’re stressed every day. Self-care is a valuable tool to use if you’re having a bad day or week. Many people think of self-care as taking a bath or going on a shopping trip. While for some people, this is self-care, you’re not limited to what you see in the media. Learning what kinds of activities make *you* feel better is essential. After all, we are all individuals. Why Practice Self-Care? Self-care is about nurturing yourself. Everyone has things that stress them out or put them in a bad mood. Self-care helps you release that negative energy by doing something for yourself that enables you to unwind. What relaxes you? What makes you feel better or more confident? What makes you feel powerful? Think about some of your favorite things to do. There are many types of self-care you can practice, from meditation to going surfing. You aren’t limited by your own experience, either. Self-care can be exploring new ways to enjoy life and yourself. Ideas For Self-Care On A Budget Most […]
Set Weekly Goals, Not Resolutions, This Year
Many people find setting New Year’s resolutions to be daunting. After all, setting a list of rigid changes that you must make – or fail – can be upsetting in recovery. Instead of creating “resolutions” this year, making a simple list of goals can help you enter 2020 with a clear list of things you want to work on. Setting Weekly Goals Everyone in recovery has a list of goals in their head. It helps clarify your purpose in life and can give you the motivation to keep going. Staying sober, going to recovery meetings, and maintaining a sponsor are all items that are vital to success in your daily recovery. It’s okay to have some tasks in recovery that are negotiable or only done a few times a week. Having a set of weekly goals is helpful because it gives you items that you get to fit into your schedule when you can. These goals can help you learn the best times to do specific tasks, and help you plan things at your leisure. Here are some great examples of weekly goals: Keep a gratitude list when you feel angry or depressed. Gratitude will help you pull yourself up […]
Creative Visualization as a Tool in Recovery
Do you suffer from anxiety or fear of failure? It’s common for most people when they’re trying something new. Creative visualization can be a powerful tool to help you cope with your fears and work toward new goals. A visualization is a tool that is used successfully by many people. Studies on weightlifters and other types of athletes have shown that people who visualize their goals gain more muscle than those who don’t. Comedians and other performers often imagine themselves on the stage even after they’ve had rehearsals. Visualizations focus on a positive outcome and involve more than just “seeing” yourself accomplish something. Using Visualization in Your Daily Life Creative visualization is something that you need to do regularly. It’s similar to doing affirmation, but it seems to imprint on the mind more. A visualization is usually a form of relaxation or meditation. It’s best done in a quiet room and starts with closing your eyes and breathing slowly? Think about the struggles you currently face in life. What behavior are you trying to overcome? Here are some visualizations that you might benefit from: Regulating your anger. Close your eyes and take deep, slow breaths as you count to ten […]
Try Breathing Exercises to De-Stress
Breathing exercises are a popular way to de-stress. In recovery, you need all the coping skills you can get to stay sober. Learning special breathing exercises can help you with anxiety, stress, and negative thoughts. What Breathing Exercises Should a Beginner Use? Deep breathing is one of the most natural exercises to master right away. You can do it anywhere, at any time, and it’s not conspicuous. For example, if you get higher blood pressure when you go to the doctor’s office, you might want to try this technique in the waiting room before you’re called. Close your eyes and listen to the sounds around you for a few seconds. Take a deep breathe in through your nose. Pay special attention to how the air spreads down toward your lungs, moving your belly. Hold your breath for about five seconds, counting backward silently ni your head. Now release, feeling the tension leave your body through your mouth. Continue this breathing exercise until you have taken at least ten deep breaths, and keep your mind focused on your core as you breathe. This exercise is called deep breathing, also called belly breathing. Once you feel you’ve mastered it, there are more […]
Sleep: An Overlooked Part of Healthy Recovery
Addiction is a tiring disease. When you first get clean and sober, you’ll probably find that your energy levels vary. Once you’re comfortable with your newfound sobriety, you will probably start working towards new goals. You may find yourself busier than ever before – after all, there’s a lot of lost time to make up. However, if you’re spending so much time working on yourself and living life that you’re not getting enough sleep, it’s time to reprioritize. Sleep is Important Sleep is an essential biological need. Without sleep, you may find yourself having trouble remembering things or focuses. Science has proven that when you sleep, your body can help remove toxins from your brain. Long-term detox from drugs and alcohol takes time, and detoxing from these things is essential to your recovery. Your brain also needs to detox from stress and pollutants. Sleep is also a way for your brain to solve problems at night. Have you ever woken up in the morning with a great idea or solution to something that’s been bugging you? That’s an aftereffect of your brain’s complex problem-solving process. Combatting Insomnia A lot of people both in and out of recovery have insomnia. We […]
Why Do People Call Others Out in Recovery?
Everyone in life is a work in progress, especially those in recovery. Getting “called out” in recovery is part of learning to keep your ego in check and your recovery front-and-center. It may happen when your sponsor sees you lapse into old behavior or a friend sees you manipulating somebody you love. Everyone has faults and actions that they’re not necessarily proud of. When you’re called out, it’s not because people don’t like you. Why Are People Called Out in Recovery? When you’re being called out, it means that somebody sees something in your recovery program that needs some work. You may have been told in the past that your brain is “broken,” but this isn’t necessarily true. It’s a simplification of what happens when a person becomes addicted to drugs, alcohol, or other destructive behaviors. If an addicted person’s brain is “broken,” then it can be “fixed.” There’s no one “fix” for those in recovery. The truth is that everyone has defects that need to be worked on, regardless of how much time they have been clean or sober. When you are new to recovery, you’re also learning to adjust to life again, but healing takes time. You might […]