Living Sober. Be Aware of Destructive Behaviors.
Living sober means that you have decided to face whatever life throws at you and that you are not going to mask your emotions with alcohol.
This means you must learn how to process emotions and find new ways to change your state of mind when you are in a place you don’t want to be.
The crazy thing is, that you can do a lot of different things in response to emotional stress, but some are good for you and some are very destructive.
I have learned through trial and error what helps you stay sober and what becomes more destructive and addictive behaviors, sometimes even worse than alcohol.
Here are 3 destructive behaviors I have personally turned to in the early years of my sobriety and had to learn the hard way how much damage they were causing me.
Overeating: I went from 140 to over 200 pounds after I quit drinking as I turned to food, specifically as a coping mechanism for depression and social isolation.
Excessive Shopping: I amassed almost 6 figures in credit debt in the first years of my sobriety while online shopping, mainly trying to satisfy boredom with new hobbies. Materialism soon set in and I sought attention from my peers based on an image funded with high-interest credit.
Hyper-religious: Early in my sobriety, I developed a heavy messiah complex. I rose quickly in the local church and my ego became drunk in the place of leadership. I held myself to a perfect standard as well as everyone around me and lost sight of grace.
These are probably the top 3 for me, but there have been many other addictive behaviors that try to rise up as an unhealthy de-stressor. Just think of everything you do to change how you feel and know that any of these can become a way to avoid your problems. There are, however, a lot of healthy ways to de-stress and you can easily identify ways to feel better without hurting yourself with over-indulgences and destructive behaviors.
Here are 3 healthy ways that I personally turn to when I want to feel better. These are things I have learned I can enjoy that change my state of mind and give me a sense of peace and groundedness.
Meditation: There are several ways to meditate, but I suggest an app like Insight Timer if you are getting started. There are countless meditations available from 5 minutes to an hour, depending on your time window. Even a short morning meditation can change the outcome of your whole day!
Sauna: Regular sauna sessions have become a strong resource for me. When you have a very long day and want to escape, a long hot sauna provides you with a relaxing getaway. Sauna at home is the best, if you can build or buy a home sauna I highly recommend the investment!
Running: I don't know another way to kick my ass like running does. I absolutely love the way I feel after I run for about an hour, and if I have time for a two-hour run, I will be relaxed for the next three days. You don't need to run fast, and I suggest watching heart rate instead of pace. Use the Phil Maffetone Method for best results.
There are many other things I can put on this list, like writing, meditation, art, music, therapeutic drumming, mindful walking, hiking, and swimming, but these are my top 3 at the moment.
Every person will have their favorite “go-to’s” and it is important to have a wide range of tools if you are going to be happy and Live Sober. Thank you for your love and support.
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We are FOR LOVE OF PEOPLE. WE ARE FLOP.
Chris Joy
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