Sharing healthy habits can help us deal with the pressures of modern living.
In today’s society the demands and expectations on women to have and do it all often feel unattainable. This can leave many of us exhausted, feeling depressed, with low self esteem, and feeling like we are never “doing enough”. For all of us, and particularly for women like myself who are in recovery and struggle with addiction and substance abuse problems, it is imperative that we engage in healthy habits. In this post I share some habits which have helped me to remain sober.
Meditation
I was one of those people who thought that meditation would not work for me, and was a waste of time. I could not have been more wrong! When I did try to meditate I would give up after only a couple of minutes because I could not quiet my mind. It was not until I started doing guided meditations that everything changed. It took some time, but guided meditation is now a habit I engage in once or twice a day. I have found that it helps to keep me centered and has helped me with my anxiety, depression, racing thoughts, insomnia, and generally with all aspects in my recovery.
Support Network
A huge part of recovery is connecting with other addicts and alcoholics in a 12 step-based program. This is because no one knows what it is like better than someone who has battled the same disease as us, and can show us a new way to live. The women in AA loved me until I could love myself. Those who had more time than me helped to guide me through my early recovery with their own experience, and the women who were in the same place as me in their recovery helped me to have someone who also know exactly what I was going through at that moment. One of the greatest blessings in my life has been my sponsor who took me through my steps. I am now able to help others and give back what I was so freely given. The fellowship and support I found in the rooms of AA and NA saved my life.
Staying Active
As many of us have when I was in treatment I spent hours on end sitting in groups and going to meetings. Don’t even get me started on the emotional eating that I did either! After two months in treatment I felt sluggish, tired, depressed, and uncomfortable in my own skin because the weight I had gained. I made every excuse not to go to the gym or engage in any sort of physical activity. This turned in isolation, negative self talk, and worsening depression. I am not going to lie the first couple of weeks were very difficult, but I started to see a huge improvement in my mental state. My depression had eased, I was eating healthier, and had more energy. Going to the gym went from something I dreaded to something I enjoyed, and looked forward too.
The main benefits that have emerged from me getting sober are the peace I have in mind, body, and spirit. I am able to show up for others, and extend a hand to other addicts and alcoholics. I have saved myself and everyone in my life from the pain I caused in my in my addictive addiction, and am able to make a living amends to them every day I am sober.
Learn more
To learn more about the author of this post you can visit: https://emeraldcoastjourneypure.com.
Read more about wellbeing in recovery via another guest contributor: Grow. Cook. Make. Mend: Changing Lives at Trill Farm.