ARC Essentials –
The Recovery Checklist
Here is some simple and straight forward advice from me when approaching your first year in recovery. I wish I had this, however learning from my mistakes should help you on your path.
Use this reminder as a guide to help you stay on track and navigate any pitfalls in the days and months ahead.
What is an Addiction Recovery Coach?
An Addiction Recovery Coach is a term that covers many different roles. As a coach I believe that I provide invaluable support to people trying to overcome their addictive, compulsive, obsessive and destructive behaviors.
Think of it as a kind of “Life Coach” that focuses on helping people make smart choices and healthy decisions, with the #1 priority being not using alcohol or drugs or acting out in their addiction.
ARC Fitness adds the additional approach of introducing physical activity as a medium for recovery.
Withdrawal’s & Sleep
Quitting drugs and alcohol use is a positive step toward a healthy lifestyle, but it’s rarely easy. After prolonged use, the body becomes physically dependent on alcohol and certain drugs and withdrawal or detox is its response to the absence of the substance.
The withdrawal process often causes physical and emotional discomfort and can include:
So, you’re just a sort time into your sobriety, its going well however you knew this was going to happen eventually. The dreaded social event. The Wedding, Christening or 80th Birthday party you can’t miss.
The panic of socialising with people when you don’t drink any more can be paralysing. It can even cause some to avoid interactions with people completely. Unfortunately, such avoidance can affect your relationships with good friends and family who value your time and company.
“Tip the Scales” – Learning Balance in Recovery
“Me. I’m all or nothing, no middle ground here.”
Sound familiar?
Learning to find balance can be particularly challenging in recovery
(trust me I am still practicing almost 8 years later)
You see, leading a balanced life means avoiding extreme highs or lows. It forces you to pay attention to those compulsive tendencies that many of those who experience dependence own.
In recovery we then have a tendency to focus on or obsess too much on one activity, such as exercise or work. When these scale tip too far in one direction, it can trigger the urge to turn back to old behaviours to cope.
Because you’re worth it!
So, you have gone and got yourself sober – Brilliant Achievement by the way!
Maybe you spent time in a detox or rehabilitation center, maybe you had 1-1 therapy or maybe you just bit the bullet and went it alone.
Whatever path you chose to get there, YOU put the work in, YOU got yourself there. So, you should be feeling great, right?
Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for people in recovery however to struggle with low self-esteem, robbing them of the joy sobriety brings. Instead of joy, familiar feelings of unhappiness, unworthiness, and generally feeling unsatisfied rear their ugly heads and make staying sober in the long run a challenge.