Good job on staying sober this long while learning new, helpful,
healthy, affective ways to achieve success with long term sobriety.
We all start with the first day and from there we take one step at a time
building a strong solid recovery foundation to live our lives upon with
continuous sobriety.
When we are hungry, angry, lonely, tired which means H.A.L.T.,
to stop what we are doing, pause for a moment and take care of
these issues that can cause us stress or lead us right back into
old behavior or possibly to alcohol or drugs, prescriptions meds,
all that can be addictive or into our addiction.
In early recovery i had a little family, stay at home mom, 2 little
ones all trying to learn about balance and responsibility not only
to my family but also to my new recovery.
During the day if i needed a power nap that lasted maybe 15-20
minutes, i took it. Just to take the edge off and reenergize me enough
to finish my day and not interfere with night sleep.
If i was hungry, i made sure that i was eating properly, all good
healthy foods and lay off the coffee with has caffiene and would
interfere with sleep patterns at night.
Lonliness, well, i spent a many a days in AA meetings which
was the program of recovery taught to me 29 yrs ago and one
that I continue to use for my own recovery success.
My family, not into addiction, only me....they didnt understand
it or recovery like I did. I had to be around folks that were like
me with no questions asked. They understood exactly where
I was coming from because we all had been there, done many
of the same similar things in life before, during and after our
addiction.
So, recovery support was and still is extremely important in
staying connected to my recovery lifelines and in everyday
life situations that can be trying at times.
Like the situation we all are in today with this virus.
For me and countless others in recovery we know all to
well, that drinking when in any life situation wont make
it better. Only worse. so we dig deep within ourselves
and ask for help if needed.
If we are angry, we pause, step away from the situation,
turn to our recovery support to cool off and learn healthy
ways to solve it. If we stay angry from the past, the present,
it can lead to resentments that fester and make us sick
in heart, mind and soul.
We work to learn how to forgive others as well as ourselves
so that we can be the best people we can be today not only
for ourselves but for all those around us. Family, friends.
These are just a few lessons I learned early on and still
work on them today so that I dont fall back into old behavior
that would eventually drag me down or stop me from progressing
into the best person I want to continue being today.
To continue achieving many of life amazing gifts to appreciate
and never take for granted. Health, happiness, sobriety.
