Recovery is one of the hardest things anyone will undertake. It’s a difficult and often lifelong journey, and its trajectory is far from linear. You might face setbacks, relapses, highs and lows. You could lose and reconnect with loved ones. Your addiction treatment courses may work, or they may not. Each person’s recovery path happens uniquely – but everyone can find meaning on that path.
Recovery coaches often discuss spirituality and recovery concurrently, but, in times like these, discussing exact meanings matters more than ever. As the world continues to adapt to the COVID-19 virus, many of our daily schedules are disrupted. Some of you may have to operate entirely out of your homes, or else balance childcare and work, or try to safely care for your elders. We can lose the perspective of recovery in times like these. Self-healing lands on the back-burner. But, now more than ever, you can take the moment to reconnect with yourself. It’s the time to remember why you undertook this recovery journey.
In The Rooms is here to help you re-establish that connection with yourself and stay connected with others. We have suggestions on how to cope with your recovery during quarantine and handle your stress during these stressful times. Our founders can address your questions about COVID-19 and navigating the website’s online meetings during this time. But even as you take all this in, take a moment and breathe.
Spirituality Heals the Mind
Spirituality in recovery receives many different definitions, but the consensus is the same: finding a greater meaning during recovery helps people successfully maintain their sobriety. Dr. Jason Brooks, former Chief People Officer at Addiction Campuses, said that “spirituality is more than just an ideology or a religious paradox. It’s an understanding and a connection to something that is bigger than us.”
One of the first steps in dealing with any addiction is uncovering the emotional cause behind it, or the situations that first drove you to use. Studies have shown that meditation, deep breathing exercises and the other fundamentals of spirituality’s mindful practices can literally reshape our brains. They can reshape the way we think.
“Research on mindfulness meditation indicates that qualities we once thought immutable that form temperament and character can actually be altered significantly,” Dr. Ronald Alexander wrote in Psychology Today. “By retraining your mind through mindfulness practice, you create new neural networks.”
Mindfulness Resources
The good news is that mindfulness resources have never been more abundant. Many universities offer free mindfulness resources for their students and the general public, including the medical school at UC-San Diego. These resources include guided meditation, breathing exercises, mindful poetry, videos, mindfulness resources in other languages, and links to additional research.
Meditation apps, including Headspace and Calm, have also made several of their guided meditations free for anyone to download and use.
Resources are also out there on how to limit your digital intake, and also how to mindfully navigate the internet when media coverage seems both overwhelming and alarming.
And please remember: you are not alone.
No matter how much social distancing happens, you have a recovery community around you. We are here at In The Rooms to help you through your recovery, and through this chapter of life. If you haven’t, sign up today and join our community. We look forward to serving you.
Photo by mali maeder from Pexels
7 Comments
Really helpful articles thank you
I am trying and somewhat succeeding at formulating a positive attitude in terms of living with the new normal
Thank you very much. That is so thoughtful and helpful. ??
Often I find myself placing my emotions on the back burner. I’m willing to face my addiction and start healing.
A lifelong habit was solitary decks making. This is also a tool that is used many times in a day. There are some habits from the recovery programming I do daily. These are like auto pilot: morning prayer, surrendering to reality, contacting Sponsees.
Self care is the ongoing change that is a requirement. Along with my daily reprieve. Whether speaking at meeting, online meetings, being of service to others these are daily mindfully. I have to start my day in within this framework.
The key is seeking my HP for what I need today. This involves everything so I don’t have the luxury of putting any part of my recovery on the back burner. No Addict/ Alcoholic has that luxury. Thanks for your 12 stepping me. GOD Yahweh is in charge always, never me. I screw up my daily bread, become hungry, and expect a outside saving solution still. Expectations whew!!! Arrogance…
I’m going to look into those meditation apps! Thanks!
Very helpful