Article
Life's Puzzle
everything happens for a reason
We all roam this life knowing just a fraction of what someone else goes through. Early in my recovery I was released from the county jail system and sober just 7 months. My only exposure to real recovery were the AA meetings I led myself while incarcerated. I remember walking to a restaurant and had a mind so fragile, I was on high alert from a fight or flight perspective. I didn't even remember how to enjoy freedom and wanted to run away. I know no one knew that I hung on with everything I had and made it through that. Because I'm sharing it here for the first time. The freedom felt by processing experiences and correcting them is infectious. It's part of what sets Recovery Unbroken apart.
The early days of managing our sobriety is very testing. So is managing a mental illness on top of that. It's very easy to measure when we have a true panic attack, it's no joke. So we should also feel the peace that comes with the work we put in and toughness we exude to rid ourselves of panic and mania. Addiction certainly is a disease but what we choose to do with that realization is what separates the life lived limited and a life full of corrected experiences. Once we get used to putting our life's puzzle together we see that recovery must be a centerpiece. Understanding that our core memories may need work, our actions yield great results and we can tangibly measure success, that is what recovery looks like!
And these are my personal "go-tos" to refocus my mental health and sobriety.
1. Journal: No topic, just write for 5-10 minutes. This promotes a moving mind.
2. Reach out to 3 people randomly. Check on them, encourage engagement.
3. Create something/anything: Could be art, a written letter, a new looking resume or a fun social post.
4. Self-Care: You must be comfortable with yourself enough to take care of #1.
5. Gratitude/Meditation: I use Eddie Pinero and Jason Stephenson (free)
6. Counseling: I still see a counselor weekly. She has my back and also challenges me.
Let us know what makes your list at info@recoveryunbroken.com