For most of us, we’re afraid when we think about changing the patterns of our lives, whether it’s giving up drugs or alcohol, or changing the way we think, feel, and act. After all, we have done or been something for so long that those actions, behaviors, thoughts, and feelings are mechanical or habituated. These predictable actions are the norm, and when we leave the comfort zone, we get anxious.
Our barriers are self-imposed for the most part. That’s both good and bad news. Good because it’s an attitude within us, and therefore, we can change it. However, that’s the downside, too as most of us don’t like to feel uncomfortable in our life choices
To break down associations, identify who the person reminds you of; then make a conscious effort to not filter the message by the association or past connection.
By: Marilyn L. Davis Are You Behaving Like a King or Queen in Early Recovery? “Little by little, the old world crumbled, and not once did the king imagine that some of the pieces might fall on him.” ― Jennifer Donnelly, Revolution Many addicts and alcoholics create the false belief […]
One aspect of joining these groups and attending meetings is that if the orientation, value, and support are what you need to shore up your foundation in recovery, most have a free course or instructional format for starting a meeting in your area.
Start your day by isolating your negative emotions and the fears beneath them. Next, create a calming statement and test how you feel about the situation after you write your calming statement. Do this for 30 days and see if you don’t see a difference in how you regulate your fears. Here are some examples to get you started.
I could not dissipate those feelings and was alone in my armor with them. It was an insidious trap. However, most of us who are semi-delusional from our use, do not understand that while we think we’re protecting ourselves, we are also preventing ourselves from receiving help.
“Abuse manipulates and twists a child’s natural sense of trust and love. Her innocent feelings are belittled or mocked, and she learns to ignore her feelings. She can’t afford to feel the full range of feelings in her body while she’s being abused—pain, outrage, hate, vengeance, confusion, arousal. So she short-circuits them and goes numb.”
“It’s about making a list of all the people you’ve harmed, either emotionally, physically or financially, and going back and making amends. That’s a spiritual lifestyle. It’s not a fluffy ethereal concept.” ― Anthony Kiedis, lead singer, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and author of Scar Tissue
But that’s the cycle of addiction.
Rather than be trapped in the loop of addiction, travel that road again and see what you missed on the first trip.
“…It’s why we have this second chance, and we can’t throw it away. Besides, you were the one who said we’re not exactly the same as we were back then. If we’re not the same, then things can turn out differently.” ― Michelle Madow
In our addiction, we keep having the same experiences, over, and over, and over, like an endless loop.
By: Marilyn L. Davis How Do You Discuss Your Life? “If you took one-tenth the energy you put into complaining and applied it to solving the problem, you’d be surprised by how well things can work out… Complaining does not work as a strategy. We all have finite time and energy. Any […]
I Gave Up Drugs, Why Can’t I Function?
I got into recovery and wasn’t functioning well, because I did not realize how much damage I had done to my body and brain.
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