It's difficult for us addicts to remain calm and peaceful when it seems as if the world is collapsing around us. And it might be difficult because before we got sober we had ways of dealing with difficult times: we medicated ourselves.
Drugs. Alcohol. Whatever it took to numb our brains and desensitize us.
However, today we can't use substances to stay calm. All that happens if we use is that we further destroy our lives and things get more complicated. But there are healthy things we can do.
For openers, we can start by talking to our sponsor. After all, most of the issues and drama that we encounter in our recovery is something our sponsor has already dealt with. A sponsor with any kind of time has many answers and suggestions to help keep us on track.
And something that works for me personally is a workout. A good run on the elliptical or 45 minutes with the weights can pump calming endorphins into our system - and endorphins are more powerful than opiates without the dangers of overdosing.
Another personal favorite is meditation. I do 30 minutes each morning when I first awake, plus attend a weekly meditation class at a local Buddhist temple. A recent study at Oxford University in England showed that 15 minutes of daily Mindfulness meditation is 20 percent more effective than depression medications. And with no side effects.
So there are safe places to turn when things get tough. We just need to be willing to use them.
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