What is your daily or weekly regime when it comes to secular recovery? - SoberRecovery : Alcoholism Drug Addiction Help and Information

sekular · 03-18-2008, 08:59 AM

Just thought I would see what other people are doing to stay clean and sober in a secular world.

It would be interesting to know clean times also because it is important to hear what new people are doing for their recovery and what people with some time under their belt are doing and how we can learn off each other.

Any thoughts from anyone?

**Alera** · 03-18-2008, 09:51 AM

I went back to school, completed my AA and am now studying the LSAT as I complete my BA. Trust me, you need a very sober mind to understand those logic questions on that test. I also check in here every morning.

soidog · 03-18-2008, 07:16 PM

I got a membership at a pretty nice gym and work out at least 4 times a week and sometimes 6 times a week. Its great for your health, confidence, and it helps me get to sleep every night (whereas previously I drank myself to sleep). Although I am not as in good a shape I was when I was in college, I am in the best shape of my life within the past 12-15 years. Keeping fit - and enjoying being fit - is an added incentive to keep off the booze too.

I'm also doing a lot more pleasure reading in my free time as well.

nan07 · 03-24-2008, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soidog

I got a membership at a pretty nice gym and work out at least 4 times a week and sometimes 6 times a week. Its great for your health, confidence, and it helps me get to sleep every night (whereas previously I drank myself to sleep). Although I am not as in good a shape I was when I was in college, I am in the best shape of my life within the past 12-15 years. Keeping fit - and enjoying being fit - is an added incentive to keep off the booze too.

I'm also doing a lot more pleasure reading in my free time as well.

+1. I set aside some money and found a decent treadmill and other used gym equipment on craigslist. I can work out whenever I please and I feel like I'm in the best shape of my life right now. I can't emphasize enough how important this has been to my recovery. For me, vigorous physical activity is a huge stress reliever- a good workout is better than beer or wine any day! I cook healthy foods- just joined a CSA last fall. I read voraciously, which helps keep my mind occupied.

msh58 · 03-25-2008, 02:38 PM

today, i've come to this site and tonight will be reading well into the night, probably rational recovery tonight.

msh58 · 03-26-2008, 07:00 PM

think i'm going to be at this site every night after work. Just really helps seeing other people here. Reminders are everywhere why i shouldn't be drinking ever again as opposed to what my own brain is feeding me.

i had the day off from work and reread the avrt part in the rational recovery book for part of it.

emotions are coming back, i'm used to being deadened, been awhile since those were woken up. Found myself journaling just so i could get them out of me and look at them and see if i'm resembling something rational.

nan07 · 03-27-2008, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by msh58

think i'm going to be at this site every night after work. Just really helps seeing other people here. Reminders are everywhere why i shouldn't be drinking ever again as opposed to what my own brain is feeding me.

i had the day off from work and reread the avrt part in the rational recovery book for part of it.

emotions are coming back, i'm used to being deadened, been awhile since those were woken up. Found myself journaling just so i could get them out of me and look at them and see if i'm resembling something rational.

The emotions returning can be such a great thing, but a curse as well, sometimes. Journaling is a great outlet, I do that too...plus working on a piece of art or just walking, walking, walking...sometimes when I'm thinking too much I just have to take myself out of the house and be out amongst other people, even if it's just to walk through my neighborhood. It will get better, msh58.

msh58 · 03-27-2008, 07:54 PM

walking, walking to numbness, walking to calmness.

i seem to have to do that everytime i sober up, head out the door and just go till it happens, then head home. Usually at night. I haven't been sober for a long enough time in the past decade to just enjoy a walk. Always seem to just be trying to rid myself of something.

Going to really like the day i enjoy one for the sake of it.

msh58 · 03-27-2008, 07:57 PM

today came to this site

long work day, i haven't done any homework.

toad · 03-27-2008, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by msh58

walking, walking to numbness, walking to calmness.

i seem to have to do that everytime i sober up, head out the door and just go till it happens, then head home. Usually at night. I haven't been sober for a long enough time in the past decade to just enjoy a walk. Always seem to just be trying to rid myself of something.

Going to really like the day i enjoy one for the sake of it.

I lost my drivers license in December 1996 for ten years. I had not had one 4 years prior to that revocation. So..........I found myself afoot often. I live in a rural community about 3 miles from town, and my alcoholism and drug addiction had escalated to the point where I was isolating. My wife died of an overdose in 1995 and I had suffered from depression going all the way back to my return from Vietnam in 1968. In the early days of my recovery I smoked and I would isolate and stay alone until I absolutely had smoked every cigarette butt in the house. I then would be forced to walk to town to get smokes. I took note how my depression would leave as I walked the three miles to town. When I came back into recovery in 1998 I still had eight years before I could drive again. I got a bicycle. Bicycling and the exercise I received daily saved my life. Early on I began to see the benefits in my mental well being because of exercise. I rode over 40,000 miles on my mountain bikes in the next 8 1/2 years. Today I ride a 2007 Harley, a result of my sobriety. There is no way I could have done this drunk and loaded. I started jogging about 4 months ago, today I run about 2 1/2 miles each morning. It helps keep my mind focused on my recovery.

Walking is very very good stuff..........keep it up............toad

nan07 · 03-28-2008, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toad

In the early days of my recovery I smoked and I would isolate and stay alone until I absolutely had smoked every cigarette butt in the house. I then would be forced to walk to town to get smokes. I took note how my depression would leave as I walked the three miles to town. When I came back into recovery in 1998 I still had eight years before I could drive again. I got a bicycle. Bicycling and the exercise I received daily saved my life. Early on I began to see the benefits in my mental well being because of exercise. I rode over 40,000 miles on my mountain bikes in the next 8 1/2 years. Today I ride a 2007 Harley, a result of my sobriety. There is no way I could have done this drunk and loaded. I started jogging about 4 months ago, today I run about 2 1/2 miles each morning. It helps keep my mind focused on my recovery.

Walking is very very good stuff..........keep it up............toad

I don't know the exact science behind it, but physical activity increases the brain chemicals that are mood lifters. Endorphins? No matter how crappy I'm feeling, if I go for a good, brisk walk or go downstairs and work out, I feel way better than I did before. It's been a major contributor to my recovery.

nan07 · 03-28-2008, 06:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by msh58

walking, walking to numbness, walking to calmness.

i seem to have to do that everytime i sober up, head out the door and just go till it happens, then head home. Usually at night. I haven't been sober for a long enough time in the past decade to just enjoy a walk. Always seem to just be trying to rid myself of something.

Going to really like the day i enjoy one for the sake of it.

How fast do you walk? Maybe if you walk very briskly, head up some good hills in order to really get your heart pumping, it can brighten your mood a bit. It's the "work out" aspect that helps me to feel better. Biking is great too, if you have any good bike paths...there's a fantastic one near my house that goes all the way around a lake. Grab an ipod or walkman with some of your favorite music and head out. My brain chemistry got back to normal within a couple of months of this routine...I began noticing a difference after a week or two of sobriety and exercise. I really hope that things begin to look up for you soon...

Arpeggioh · 03-28-2008, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by msh58

I haven't been sober for a long enough time in the past decade to just enjoy a walk. Always seem to just be trying to rid myself of something.

Going to really like the day i enjoy one for the sake of it.

Eeek, get out of my head!

I'm back to lurking again, as I've done sporadically for a number of years...but this quote just jumped out and bit me.

I'm always going to "change my entire lifestyle:" quit drinking, quit smoking, start exercising, lose weight, eat healthy...and lately, as my quality of life spirals ever downward at an alarming rate, I'm realizing that small steps, as simple as a walk between bottles, would be a positive change. Same as coming here more often, just to read, if not post suddenly and without warning!

This is my forum, always has been, and I love what I read here. My time is drawing near; I'm clueless as far as a plan, but the day of reckoning is fast approaching...

Sorry to drop in so dramatically! I just felt inspired to mention my presence,

Arp

mike_mass · 03-28-2008, 10:46 AM

The secular part of my recovery involves Zen meditation (I think that qualifies), good diet, plenty of rest, stress avoidance, and common sense.

nolonger · 03-28-2008, 02:55 PM

hey Arpeggioh,
thanks for dropping in! Drop in again!
nl

msh58 · 03-28-2008, 07:09 PM

yeah, ditto nolonger for me too arpeggioh, drop in again and help us figure this sober life thing out.

Nan07-i walk slow most of the time, unless i'm really stressed. I was told long ago by a person i knew that i had slow motion nervous syndrome. They invented that disease on the spot for me. I pace slowly nearly all the time i'm not sitting down or completely focused on doing s

03-18-2008, 08:59 AM	#1 (permalink)
sekular Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 36	What is your daily or weekly regime when it comes to secular recovery? Just thought I would see what other people are doing to stay clean and sober in a secular world. It would be interesting to know clean times also because it is important to hear what new people are doing for their recovery and what people with some time under their belt are doing and how we can learn off each other. Any thoughts from anyone?
sekular Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 36

03-18-2008, 09:51 AM	#2 (permalink)
Alera SR's SMART Goth Mod Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: SoCal Posts: 1,868	I went back to school, completed my AA and am now studying the LSAT as I complete my BA. Trust me, you need a very sober mind to understand those logic questions on that test. I also check in here every morning.
	__________________ Copyright © 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 Alera The addiction will protect itself ... AT ALL COSTS.

03-25-2008, 02:38 PM	#5 (permalink)
msh58 Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 96	today, i've come to this site and tonight will be reading well into the night, probably rational recovery tonight.
msh58 Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 96

03-26-2008, 07:00 PM	#6 (permalink)
msh58 Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 96	think i'm going to be at this site every night after work. Just really helps seeing other people here. Reminders are everywhere why i shouldn't be drinking ever again as opposed to what my own brain is feeding me. i had the day off from work and reread the avrt part in the rational recovery book for part of it. emotions are coming back, i'm used to being deadened, been awhile since those were woken up. Found myself journaling just so i could get them out of me and look at them and see if i'm resembling something rational.
msh58 Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 96

03-27-2008, 07:54 PM	#8 (permalink)
msh58 Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 96	walking, walking to numbness, walking to calmness. i seem to have to do that everytime i sober up, head out the door and just go till it happens, then head home. Usually at night. I haven't been sober for a long enough time in the past decade to just enjoy a walk. Always seem to just be trying to rid myself of something. Going to really like the day i enjoy one for the sake of it.
msh58 Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 96

03-18-2008, 07:16 PM	#3 (permalink)
soidog Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: The Plains Posts: 24	I got a membership at a pretty nice gym and work out at least 4 times a week and sometimes 6 times a week. Its great for your health, confidence, and it helps me get to sleep every night (whereas previously I drank myself to sleep). Although I am not as in good a shape I was when I was in college, I am in the best shape of my life within the past 12-15 years. Keeping fit - and enjoying being fit - is an added incentive to keep off the booze too. I'm also doing a lot more pleasure reading in my free time as well.

03-27-2008, 07:57 PM	#9 (permalink)
msh58 Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 96	today came to this site long work day, i haven't done any homework.
msh58 Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 96

03-28-2008, 10:46 AM	#14 (permalink)
mike_mass Awaiting Email Confirmation Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Worcester Posts: 804	The secular part of my recovery involves Zen meditation (I think that qualifies), good diet, plenty of rest, stress avoidance, and common sense.

03-28-2008, 02:55 PM	#15 (permalink)
nolonger Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: . Posts: 303	hey Arpeggioh, thanks for dropping in! Drop in again! nl

03-28-2008, 07:09 PM	#16 (permalink)
msh58 Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 96	yeah, ditto nolonger for me too arpeggioh, drop in again and help us figure this sober life thing out. Nan07-i walk slow most of the time, unless i'm really stressed. I was told long ago by a person i knew that i had slow motion nervous syndrome. They invented that disease on the spot for me. I pace slowly nearly all the time i'm not sitting down or completely focused on doing s