Rowan

One of the tools I have had to learn in recovery is how to cope with stressful situations or strong emotions without taking a drink or popping a pill.

I thought it might be helpful to share with one another what healthy coping skills we have used as an alternative to drinking or drugging.

When I am stressed or am feeling depressed, I find it helpful to get to a meeting, or to talk to someone in recovery. I've learned how helpful it is just to talk to someone about how I am feeling. Walking the dog or doing gentle yoga while I burn incense has also been good. Taking a nap is also one of my favourite things! Above all, I remember that the dark feelings or stressful situation will eventually pass, and to just hang on.

Please feel free to share.

Tazman53

Prayer, meditation, working with others, sometimes I treat myself to something, there was a day that I did not feel I deserved anything even if I was buying it with my own money, now I kind of like who I am and as a result I reward myself with some chocolate chip cookies!!! LOL

parentrecovers

i read from my alanon lit and spend a lot of time weeding in my yard. i make a list of things i need/want to do each day and try to keep focused. i try to give to others. i stop and think of all the things i have to be grateful for each day. i take deep breaths. i take walks. i ask for help.

Anna

This is a great topic Rowan!

I love walking and walk a lot every day. It helps me when I'm stressed to get outside and move around. Also, music is a big thing for me.

stone

At only 2 months sober I have been lucky not to have the desire to drink come often. If it does, I eat something preferably chocolate and tell someone how I am feeling as that seems to break the spell.

I dont know how well I would cope if life threw me something big but I guess I would throw myself into more meetings and the whole AA thing.

How I am coping with my new sobriety is by AA, meditation, listening to audio-books, eating chocolate and sleeping when I need to. I am still very tired at 2 months sober.
Walking is good but I have been a bit slack on that lately and I really need to start doing yoga like I keep promising myself.

I have also made good friends here and they help me cope.

Astro

Thanks Rowan, some great suggestions from everyone. I burn incense while I'm exercising and when I go to bed. The good stuff from India is very soothing!

Rowan

I agree! Nag Champa is my fave but I also have some red indian incense that a friend got in Tibet it's wonderful.

parentrecovers

i got no incense! i'm getting some!

stone

Me too! I am obviously missing out.

Dee74

Sandalwood's a nice general one IMO...I recommend Frankincense....or Myrrh if you want that Catholic Churchy smell...or those red Tibetan ones

I'm still new at this...lots of good suggestions here...my only observation - which floored me LOL - is that stress will pass, even when you don't drink to run from it...

amazing

D

Rowan

yup 'this too shall pass' has saved my bacon many a time, Dee Dee.

Frankincense is wunderbar! A friend brought me back some of the real stuff from Egypt - it's very potent though! smokes the house right out!

Dee74

kewl...got some patchouli incense yesterday...inspired to stink the place out now, I think

D

cmc

Me too, Dee.
The coping skill I choose depends on what's going on with me. If I'm feeling sad I like to watch a comedy or reruns of old sitcoms. Perfume and/or incense always lifts my mood. If I'm really stressed I will start up my own little soduku marathon! It doesn't require much thought yet it distracts me from whatever may be bothering me at the moment.
I also like to garden or just walk outside and cut some flowers to bring indoors.

Dee74

sitcoms....yeah !

D

mikel60

Coping strategies... hmmm .. I think given my current difficulties one major strategy has been to visit here. There are always people facing difficulties far greater than mine. And what amazes me is that these people take the time to try and help me out. That's just awesome. Sharing at meetings helps as well. Also, a good wrassling session with my kids is a great stress breaker... as well as a reminder of how fortunate I really am.
Mike

pointmagnet

ahhh, yes humor really does help.

Have any of you seen that new HBO special with Bob Saget making fun of his old series "Full House" and also his stint on "America's Funniest Videos" ??

That is one funny show, albeit very profane.

We taped it so I think I'll go watch it now to get my head back on straight....

Rowan

That sounds like a funny show! I love to laugh.

gypsytears

Good topic Row . It seems that I do a lot of the stuff mentioned here already so I'll just include and add to the list in no particular order:

Yoga
incense
music
walking
HUMOR
TV/ entertainment/ reading
mass
shopping
chocolate
ice cream
cooking for fun and stress relief (chopping with BIG knives)


Where can I find chocolate infused incense? Atmosphere with no calories .

Rowan

you should market that chocolate! Stoney would buy it in bulk!!

Aysha

I didnt get a chance to read all the posts because I am tryiong to get my posts in before I leave tomorrow.

But this is what definately helps me.

I go somewhere quiet...Usually outside on my deck as there are woods and a creek running back there.
I sit in my adirondack chair and just close my eyes and just be "mindful". In the moment. Just listen to my surroundings..smell the scents around me. Even look around at the birds and stuff. Just take it in one sense at a time.
It is really zen like.
Or sometimes I just need to talk it out with someone like my aunt or my cousin.
Different things work for different people.
If I was near an ocean I would definately be sitting my butt next to the shore line and just chillin for hours staring into the horizon.