Finding Joy in Recovery

     Did your addiction/s ever get so bad that you felt like you would never be happy again? I know mine did! I started using drugs in my late teens and didn't start my recovery until I was 37. During those decades of abusing my mind and body with harmful chemicals, I felt so much sorrow and despair. I experienced months on end where I would wake up everyday and feel completely lost and suicidal. Joy was a distant and long-forgotten emotion that would stay beyond my reach until I really got serious about getting sober. 

     I've mentioned before that my recovery hasn't been perfect; I've had a couple relapses since I quit using meth in 2020, but that hasn't stopped me from beginning to experience joy once again. Some days, it only comes in small doses and then on others, I feel it in abundance. I consider it a miracle that I can once again feel happy when, for so many years, hopelessness was my constant companion. You, too, can feel joy in your recovery, but it isn't easy to come by. Recovery is hard but so is living in active addiction. You can pick which "hard" you want, and I'm hoping you choose to start your recovery today if you haven't already. You can find joy!

    I may not have mentioned that I'm a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I will talk about Jesus Christ in this post (and in most of them, actually) because it is He that is at the center of my recovery. Trust me, I'm far from perfect but, fortunately, that's not a requirement to be blessed by the Savior. Doing my best to follow Him brings me true joy. In fact, one of my favorite acronyms is this:

    

    Following Jesus isn't always easy, but I testify that doing so will bring more light and joy into your life. It has for me! I'm not always great at emulating Him, but I notice on the days when I do try really hard, I have more peace and strength. I need the strength that He can give me to stay clean and sober, and I'm always grateful when He delivers me for another day from my addictions. When I put Christ first, I have the desire to love others more deeply and look for more opportunities to serve. In my active addiction, helping others was usually the last thing on my mind. My first objective was to get high and look for my next fix. Now that I've been able to put down the drugs, I have more time to help those in need. There are many ways to serve others; sometimes just stopping to visit with someone is a great act of service. It doesn't have to be anything magnificent to be of benefit to others and yourself. Try to do at least one selfless act of service a day, and before long, you will begin to feel joy and much satisfaction in your recovery. I wouldn't tell you this if I haven't experienced it for myself!

    Other ways you can serve and lift others include:

• taking a care package to someone who is ill
• video chatting with a relative you haven't talked to in a while
• giving someone a compliment on social media
• smiling and greeting people you don't know
• writing a letter to a loved one
• you can also go to www.justserve.org to find charity/service projects in your area

    Spending time to take care of God's other children not only helps them, it helps you. Many of my most joyful memories are of times I stepped away from my own problems and did a selfless act for someone. It was hard at first to change my selfish ways after I got clean, but once I started really putting others before myself, my life changed. I still have a lot of work to do in this regard, but the more effort I put into being selfless in my recovery, the happier I am! It can be that way for anyone. 

    When I put Jesus and others before myself, everything seems to fall into place. I find more contentment and have a deeper desire (and even time!) to take care of myself. Self-care is such a big part of my recovery, and it takes many forms such as meditation, time in nature, and even professional counseling. A person in recovery can't expect to make much headway unless he/she is taking time each day to decompress and find some peace. I do my best to take at least 10 or 15 minutes daily to do some self-care. If you're not in the habit of doing this, start small and take just a few minutes each day to do something that will calm you, even if it's just deep breathing. After years of relying on chemicals to make me feel good, I was hesitant and doubtful that something like meditation would help me find peace. I was used to the "quick fix" that my addictions provided, and it took time before I started reaping the benefits of rewiring my brain by using healthy coping skills. Be patient and consistent, and I promise that you will see what I mean. Here are a few things I do to practice self-care:

    ~Spending Time in Nature~

    I haven't met very many people who aren't positively affected in some way by nature. It has been such an integral part of my recovery. When I spend time outdoors enjoying the sky, plants, animals, and colors, I feel so much peace and gratitude. God has given all of us such a precious gift, and it would be shameful to let it go to waste. Get outside and get some sun, even if it's just for a few minutes. Sometimes it's difficult to get out the front door, trust me, I know! But I notice a huge difference in the way I feel throughout the day when I'm able to go enjoy the outdoors. Many people I know in recovery, including myself, use Mother Nature as a way to gain strength and better cope with all of the challenges that come with recovery. Take advantage of the fact that nature is free (or a lot of it is), and it can be beneficial to your well-being!

~Meditation~

    I can't stress how important it is to your recovery to take care of your mental health. I make sure to take time each day (even for 10 or 15 minutes) to meditate, and I'm certain I wouldn't be clean today if I didn't. Meditation can look different for everyone. I'm always looking for new techniques, and I frequently practice the ones that really speak to me. 

    Thanks to a friend's Facebook post, I came across a new technique that I've been trying for the past couple of weeks. It's part of bilateral stimulation therapy, and the method I'm using consists of listening to binaural tones and music, which means the tones alternate between the left and right ear. Click here for an example of bilateral tones and music. Remember it really only works with headphones. I always find a comfortable position with my eyes closed. When I feel my thoughts drifting, I bring my attention back to the tones and do it for as long as I can. Positive results like more peace and relaxation are always felt after I have practiced this. 

   

 Other ways I like to meditate and relax include:

•     Yoga (this is one of the techniques I practiced when I first got sober and still do today!)
•     Prayer and scripture study
•     Taking a hot bath

   Find a technique that really works for you. You will know which ones do and don't if you just take the time to listen to your body; it has a lot to say! Although you may feel results right away, remember that it takes time and doing self-care consistently before you really notice any changes. That's how it worked for me. When I first started practicing wellness, I was impatient and doubtful. I still wanted the quick relief that drugs provided and my body was fighting me big time, but I stuck with it until I really started seeing results. Treat yourself and take time to meditate today. 

~Nutrition and Exercise~

    

By the time I started my recovery I had harmed my physical body very badly with years and years of drug addiction. It had suffered from malnutrition and infection and was in dire need to repair itself. After three years of staying away from drugs, my body has healed in miraculous ways. My blood pressure was very elevated but is now normal without the use of drugs. My skin is glowing again and many scars and pockmarks have begun to fade. My eyes are clear and my hair has thickened. I feel better than I have felt in two decades, and I owe a lot of it to good nutrition and exercise. My drug of choice is crystal meth, and if it's yours too, you know how much havoc that can wreak on a body! I feel so fortunate that my body has been able to rejuvenate and restore a lot of the damage that was done to it. Of course, there is probably some permanent damage, but that doesn't negate the fact that today, I am healthy and strong. Please take the time and effort to eat properly and get some exercise each day; your recovery will deeply thank you for it!   

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    Many people in recovery have heard the saying "your addiction didn't happen overnight and neither will your recovery." It's so true! Please remember that it takes time to feel better, and joy may often feel out of your reach, especially in early recovery. Give it time and miracles will happen. They are happening for me! 

    You can find joy in reading the Scriptures. The Word of God has been a staple in my recovery, an iron rod to which I cling for safety, and reading it has brought me much peace and happiness. Some of my favorite scriptures about joy are:

• Psalm 30:5- "For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." 
• Galations 5:22- "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,..."
• and from The Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 2:25- "...men and women are that they might have joy."

    Don't be afraid to seek help if you are really struggling in your recovery. I feel that God has placed people on this earth who can specialize in helping us feel better such as counselors, doctors, or psychiatrists. In my early recovery (and sometimes still today), I used these resources to get my feet on the ground, and the benefits were invaluable. Make an appointment if you need to, especially before things get worse. It's always good to get ahead of negative feelings that linger for too long, especially suicidal ideations. Here are some resources you can use if you feel like you need a helping hand:

• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration or SAMHSA
  
• Suicide Prevent Resource Center
  
• Do a search for "local churches near me" 
• Visit The Church of Jesus Christ's webpage for many great resources to guide you to help and wellness

    Hang in there! Great things are in store for anyone on the path of recovery as long as they are serious about it. You can always email me, Phil, at comeandrecover@gmail.com if you need to reach out. You are loved and your soul is priceless in the eyes of God. God bless you all!