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Friends In Recovery Answered
Question 1. How do you cope with ‘seasonal blues’ that
sometimes occur during long winter months?
What I do is branch out and use my mind in ways that I
am not accustomed to. I enjoy reading and watching
movies, so what I’ve done is completely change the “type”
of book or movie that I am engaged in. I generally don’t
watch science fiction, fantasy or animation, nor do I
usually read anything but real-life forensics and murder
mysteries. So I switched it up and watched some good
sci-fi, read the Twilight sagas, etc. and it truly helped
take my mind off of drinking! I got out of my old routine,
just like I did when I quit drinking!
~Amy A.
Moderate exercise releases endorphins. A diet that
includes lean meats, plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables,
plus water, and minus a lot of sugar, are all important to
keeping my mood from crashing. I do my best to get enough
sleep for my personal needs every day. I talk with my
Higher Power every day; I take my dogs out to hike the
hills near our home. I talk, text and e-mail people in my
support group, and from my drug rehabilitation program. Most of
all I remind myself that drinking or using is not an option,
because when I’m moody the thought still creeps into my
mind. Then I take myself to a meeting.
~Anna Lisa
I remind myself that I am not alone and there are millions
of people in recovery right along with me. I remember a
line from the movie “The Human Stain.” “Action is the
enemy of thought,” and then I get busy. I like to go to a
meeting or volunteer, especially when I feel I am struggling.
I open a bottle of sparkling cider and pour it into a
champagne glass and celebrate another day of sobriety. I
wake up and remind myself how good I feel physically and
the alternative was NEVER fun. I do something that
nurtures my soul. Happy New Year!
~Marianne
I go to more meetings than usual and stay in contact with
others in recovery. I need to remember where I came from,
and know I do not want to go there again. Continued drug rehabilitation is one day at a
time!
~Butch P.
I get outside, into nature and ENJOY the winter. I don’t
listen to the weather forecasters who put such a negative
tone to REGULAR WINTER WEATHER! We are very
fortunate, living in Oklahoma, to have four distinct
seasons. I say “Enjoy them.” I LIKE to walk in the snow
and hear it crunch under my feet, I LIKE to dress warm
and go out when all is quiet and just listen.
~Debbie C.
“Seasonal Blues” are a common occurrence even for “normal”
people. Fortunately, drug rehabilitation has taught me how to deal
with this. When all else fails, work with another alcoholic/
addict. Nothing compares to the feeling of giving back what
has been so freely given to me. My self worth as a human
being is infinitely increased when I am able to help someone
view a situation in a different light or suggest a tool to get
them through a tough moment. If you have 3 days you
have something to share with the man/woman walking
through the doors for the very first time. Get out of yourself
and get involved. If you are not comfortable helping
someone else there is always coffee to make or ashtrays to
empty. Just remember there is a light at the end and
the ONLY thing for sure is whatever is happening, good or
bad, it is going to CHANGE in time.
~Libby H.
“Seasonal Blues” for me could occur at any time of the
year, not just winter, but winter for me was sometimes the
worst. As I was able to learn some acceptance; the blues
seemed to subside. Learning to accept God’s will and not
mine was the key. Prayer and meditation is also helpful.
Every time I am depressed or agitated it helps because I am
trying to take more from life than I am willing to give. I
have to give away what the Twelve Step programs have
taught me or it just gets worse. I absolutely have to give
more than I take or it just doesn’t work. Getting out of
myself and doing something nice for someone else is the
answer for me. Maybe just carry someone’s groceries that
I don’t even know or volunteering for a community or AA
function is a pretty easy fix. Take a friend to dinner or just
tell someone “I love you.”
~John M.
Question 2. How can I learn to take myself less serious
and have more fun in recovery?
I have a job that I can have fun at, I talk to a lot of people
every day and I get to laugh. I really enjoy going to drug rehabilitation meetings
and seeing my NA family, going to birthday nights, NA
functions and dances. These kinds of things seem to get me
out of myself, helping the new comer which in turn always
helps me. I turn my day over to GOD and as long as I
keep the faith and make the right choices this takes a lot of
life’s pressures off my shoulders. This allows me the freedom
to live my life and live my program. I guess to sum it all up
I’ve got to turn my day over to God, have faith, and make
the right choices to the best of my ability. Staying open
minded, willing, honest and loving others allows me to enjoy
the fun moments in life that I used to walk right on by. All
in all Life is good today, and if you let God in your
life, Miracles will happen. Just for today I will not carry
the burden of life on my shoulders; I will turn life over to
GOD and let him walk beside me. I love you all.
~Tim P.
Continued drug rehabilitation is all about having fun and living life to the fullest.
I do know when I was out using nothing was fun or my
mood wasn’t great. Not everything is peaches and roses;
there are big bumps and challenges in recovery but at least
you can go about it with a better attitude. One of the many
things is to find hobbies that you like and go to meetings.
The people I see at meetings are happy and carefree, they
live a day at a time and live each day to the fullest. I am
still learning how to do this a day at a time.
~Gage K.
Go get some ice cream with a bunch of your recovery friends.
Go down by the railroad tracks out in the country of course
(so nobody calls the cops) and scream at the top of your
lungs for the whole length of the train at all your anxiety’s
and frustrations. If you don’t throw up, wet yourself, or
get ice cream coming out your nose from laughing so hard
then you can start a new tradition in your groups and see
how many people you can get to follow you to the tracks.
We have laughed so hard that sometimes the tears roll from
our eyes, but I guarantee you will feel immediate relief and
will remain clean and sober another day.
~Kim S.
I have been sober for quite some time and I still struggle
with this issue on occasion. My sponsor has been great about
this. He laughs at me; Oh I know that may hurt the feelings
the first few times, but I now can laugh with him. Sponsors
are great.
~Paul H
Don’t punish yourself because of the past and don’t worry
about the future. Live in today and be sure to stick with
positive people, go to meetings and get involved.
~John P.
I get together with other AA friends and go on a road trip.
We have a blast. Call someone and share a few laughs. Go
do something crazy or something you did as a kid. You
have to learn to be open to new friendships. We are not a
GLUM lot.
~Jeanie W.
Taking oneself too seriously is a common trait with addicts/
alcoholics. It’s also a sign that our sense of self is out of
whack. Self-centeredness and selfishness controls our
prospective of ourselves. The key to overcoming this sense
of self-importance is honesty. If we ask our Higher Power
for the ability to be honest He/She will oblige. In the
meantime we can improve our over bloated sense of self by
doing service and 12 Step work, particularly with others
worse off than us; by doing so we will experience
humility. Humility is a gift from our Higher Power that
enables us to recover in every area of our lives. Today as a
sober alcoholic addict, fun has a richer meaning. In the
old days it usually meant the experiences associated with
being drunk or high. Today by living one day at a time
and through God’s grace I am able to enjoy life on life’s
term. It’s no longer important that I have fun because I
experience contentment and serenity. I laugh more and I
enjoy the simple pleasures that life offers. It’s a gift to be
an alcoholic addict because it knocked me to my knees and
forced me to look up to the one with the answers.
~Bill C.
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