September: National Addiction and Recovery Month

This month marks the twentieth anniversary of National Addiction and Recovery Month; all across the nation cities are celebrating recovery with those who have been brave enough to take the road less travelled by staying clean and sober and to encourage those who are still struggling with their addiction realize there is hope, a way out.

When starting down the sobriety path, the best thing, in the beginning, is to start slowly, and make a few things a priori, and virtually non-negotiable. Once those things have been incorporated, a few more "sober living" activities and tools can be added. Sobriety, just like life itself, is a process, a journey. Viewing it as such, seeing it as an exciting sojourn makes it more achievable, psychologically. In fact, it's better to see it not as "sober living", but as "living', period. Because the tools we use to redirect our paths when becoming clean and sober are the same tools that EVERYONE needs to have a fulfilled, meaningful existence.

IN THE BEGINNING

So, you're just out of rehab, and are trying to readjust to life on the outside (or, you've hit your bottom, and have gone to your first AA meeting). A daunting task at first, there are some simple ways to get started, just a few principles to keep in mind before going forward.

1. Realize that you are important, that you have an illness, and as such, you need to take care of it, and take care of yourself. Be gentle with yourself. You didn't choose to become addicted. No one does. But now that you know you are, you can take care of "you" to keep it managed.

2. Maintain some semblance of order. This one is important, because many addicted people over the course of their slide into dependency have neglected certain aspects of their lives that needed tending. We live in an orderly universe. "To every thing, there is a season is an ingrained concept, I believe. As the earth goes through phases of rest (winter), awakening (spring), lush, verdant production (summer), and preparation for a well earned rest (fall), we as its inhabitants need similar structure. Here are some ways to easy yourself into routine.

a. Establish a regular bedtime, and regular awakening time. If you work for an employer, this is already established for you. If you are self employed, one of the things you like about that, of course, is the flexibility. However, flexibility in early recovery can easily fall into a "too much of a good thing" scenario. So, try to rebuild consistency by getting up at the same time every morning.

b. Try to give yourself time in the morning to journal, read something inspirational (this is imperative not only in early recovery, but for the long haul), pray, or meditate to get yourself mentally and spiritually ready to handle whatever is going to come along. We are not, as Goethe said, physical beings trying to live a spiritual existence, we are spiritual beings living a physical one. A subtle, yet profound difference.

c. Make your bed, and pick up after yourself. Again, these simple acts help rebuild self discipline, which can be sorely lacking early on. Most rehab facilities require that patients maintain orderly surroundings.

d. Go to meetings. Whether you are a member of AA or NA, or some other support group, going to these meetings will also add order to your day. The key is to stop living "randomly," and begin to thoughtfully think through your day. Mindfulness is an imperative. Your sobriety and sense of self esteem require it.

e. Try to maintain balance throughout the day.  Many people in recovery have discovered that incorporating the following in your every day life helps: meditation and/or reading inspirational literature (i.e., giving some attention to your spiritual existence), work, relaxation, and recovery work (going to meetings or talking to your sponsor).

And remember, there's not only LIFE after rehab, there is true LIVING. The principles are so simple, yet they are anything but simplistic. And, as those in recovery can attest to, the journey is worth what awaits at the end: contentment, acceptance, and the beginning of true peace.

By Rachel Stockton - rachels at foodconsumer dot org