Recovery is a Journey
"Oh my achin' Bones"
Medical science and very many persons' practical
experience says our bodies change every decade. For instance, if a male
is going to have a "beer gut" after being slim and trim their whole
life, no matter how they eat, it will probably first show up about age
30. Then, that 20/20 vision goes at 40 and the teeth start falling
apart at 50 and the arthritis kicks in at 60, etc. Drinking alcohol and
abusing drugs only speeds up the process. Accepting and coping with
these changes is not easy. It may even require some life-style changes.
And, it is hard to adjust at "our age." The truth is, it is hard to
adjust at any age. Dealing with life on life's terms is not comfortable.
And, it's not only our problems with health, it
is everything in life that requires our attention and our coping. So,
what can we do? First, how about talking with your counselor on a
routine basis. For those of you reading this who are not seeing a
counselor, this might be a good time to start talking more with your
sponsor, or seeing a therapist, going to church more, or talking with
your friends about the some important stuff and not just about the
superficial things in our lives. Here's a brief list of things to talk
about:
- Things we are worried about or that scare us.
- Things that create anger or just really bother you a lot.
- Things that seem to make us sad.
- And, how talking about the stuff that tends to excite or
energize us. Take some time to share how that helps you cope with life.
How are we coping with life? These are
troublesome times. Here are some questions to ask about whatever your
strategy is:
- Does the strategy work? How much does it work?
- If it generally doesn't work, why do you keep using the
same method of coping? Remember the recovery definition of "insanity?"
When we do the same thing over and over expecting different results.
- If the strategy does work, does it have a negative side?
- Is there a cost to the strategy? How high is the cost?
- When does the strategy work best? Does it always work, or
only sometimes?
- Are there any patterns to your strategies? Do the choices
tend to match any of the following coping styles?
- Do you tend to take action, face things head on, and try to
solve the problem?
- Do you tend to talk to somebody when you have difficulties?
- Do you tend to lie low, avoiding or distancing yourself
from the problem?
- Do you tend to keep difficulties to yourself?
- Do you tend to choose strategies with harmful consequences?
Rick B.
"Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but
in rising every time we fall."
Confucius
"Show me a thoroughly satisfied man and I will
show you a failure."
Thomas Edison
"Men are anxious to improve their circumstances,
but are unwilling to improve themselves."
James Allen
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Clinic hours on Saturday are |
OA - Overeaters Anonymous |
Coping Methods
Look at the list below and check the coping
methods that apply to you and your tendencies:
If you checked one or more boxes of these coping
techniques, please make an appointment to see your counselor.
Rick B.
Suggested Book List
"Thinking Person's Guide to Sobriety"
by Bert Pluyman
"Boundaries: Where You End and I Begin"
by Anne Katherine
"Addiction and Grace"
by Dr. Gerald May
"Healing the Shame that Binds"
by John Bradshaw
"The Road Less Traveled"
by Scott Peck
Come to Group
We are Meeting Every
Saturday from
8:30 AM to 9:15 AM
and
Every Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
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Mothers Against Meth-Amph. |