addiction Archives - Page 10 of 27 - Enlightened Solutions

Setting Intentions – Helping Ourselves Recover

Written by enlightened solutions on August 17, 2018. Posted in 12 Step Program, Addiction Recovery. Leave a Comment

Setting intentions is a powerful way to connect with yourself and ground yourself in your recovery process. You might have heard the term “set an intention,” but how do we go about doing it?

Get Clear

Many of us with mental health issues, addictions and emotional challenges can find ourselves confused and overwhelmed, about everything- who we are, what we’re meant to do in life, what we want out of life, why we have the problems and issues we have. We don’t know if we can recover, and we feel like our minds and hearts are a mess. It’s so hard to know what to do for ourselves when we’re in that place.

Take time, often, to get quiet within yourself. This is a huge challenge for a lot of us. Our minds race. We feel lost and scared. We can’t get our thoughts together. Learn how to meditate, listen to meditation music, give yourself time for solitude, go for a walk in nature. The more we can get quiet within ourselves and find peace within ourselves, the more we can hear our inner voice, or intuition- what some believe is our higher power communicating with us. As we practice strengthening and listening to our intuition, we will receive guidance on how to proceed in our healing journey. We can find lessons in everything- painful experiences, difficult relationships, mistakes and regrets. Over time, as we process these lessons, we start to know more instinctively what we want for ourselves and how we can do better for ourselves.

Decide What You Want

Do you want to be free from your toxic relationship? Do you have relationship drama you really don’t want to deal with anymore? Do you want to take better care of yourself mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually? Do you want to stop your addictive behaviors?

Set Your Intentions

Write them down, read them to yourself, repeat them out loud. Return to them often. Here are some suggestions.

I set the intention to:

-be at peace.

-respect myself and the people around me.

-allow only respect in my life.

-meditate and exercise regularly.

-practice self-care regularly.

-follow my spiritual practice.

-think, behave and act in my best interest.

-prioritize wellbeing in everything I do.

-be true to myself, my highest self.

Try including intention setting as part of your regular spiritual practice. New moons are especially powerful times to set intentions. You can use a journal specifically for your intentions, you can meditate and pray on them, you can record them and listen to them on repeat. Allow your intentions to help you move through the healing process and manifest your recovery.

Holistic healing is a huge part of the work we do at Enlightened Solutions. Your recovery is important to us. Call (833) 801-LIVE.

Gaming Addiction

Written by enlightened solutions on August 16, 2018. Posted in Addiction, Recovery. Leave a Comment

As we know, addiction can take on many forms. Addiction is essentially the nature of the relationship we have with a drug or behavior; we can have addictive relationships with just about anything. Gaming addiction was recently determined by the World Health Organization to be an actual disease. Gaming addiction functions like any other addiction in that it can become an obsessive, compulsive and self-destructive behavior that people struggle to maintain and control. Just like other addicts, they may try to hide their addiction out of embarrassment and shame, and similarly, they often know how toxic it is for them but struggle to quit. It goes beyond the harmless fun of enjoying playing video games as a hobby and crosses into dangerous territory where the gamer’s life has been dramatically disturbed by gaming. With addictions and mental health conditions, our lives become unmanageable and unbearable, and eventually we know we have a life-changing decision to make- seek recovery or continue to self-destruct. Gaming is no different.

Gamers often find themselves so consumed with the challenges of the games that they forego the regular social activities they once enjoyed. They isolate themselves and don’t keep in touch with friends and family. This self-imposed isolation can contribute to feelings of depression, anxiety and loneliness. Like many struggling with addiction, gamers will stop taking care of their responsibilities, such as going to work and paying bills.

As they become more consumed with their games, their attention to self-care decreases. Their health might decline, as they are often not eating well or paying attention to nutrition. In addition, sitting for hours on end puts considerable strain on their backs, legs and feet, and impedes circulation, causing all kinds of health problems. Gamers often forego sleep and therefore add exhaustion to the list of detrimental health effects they’re incurring while gaming.

Gamers’ minds become overstimulated by the constant lights, sounds and images of the video games, which can cause various health problems including anxiety, hypertension and insomnia. In addition, with long hours of gaming and little or no sleep, their minds don’t get the proper rest and rejuvenation they need to function healthily. The subject matter of games is often violent and aggressive, which can cause some gamers to be increasingly agitated, restless, anxious, angry and even hostile with the people around them.

Video games can become the distraction that fills an emotional void for people that they may not have even realized was there. Instead of facing our traumas and fears head on, as addicts we tend to bury them underneath toxic and self-destructive behaviors. As we get deeper into our addictions, our shame and embarrassment grow, and when we feel bad about ourselves, we are inclined to use- contributing to the cyclical nature of addiction.

If you’re struggling with any form of addictive behavior, reach out to Enlightened Solutions for support. Call (833) 801-LIVE.

Changing our Subconscious Soundtrack

Written by enlightened solutions on August 15, 2018. Posted in 12 Step Program, Mental Health. Leave a Comment

When we’re able to consciously observe our thoughts, we can determine what self-destructive thought patterns and limiting beliefs we’ve been developing. The soundtracks of our subconscious minds are often negative, critical, cynical and judgmental. They are constantly judging us, other people, and the world around us. When we’re not conscious that this voice is coming from our ego mind, which is often wounded from trauma, we allow it to run rampant and wreak havoc on our mental and emotional health. We feel depressed, anxious, scared, angry, ashamed and sad, and we often try to drown out the voice with our drugs of choice.

The voice that tells you you’re not good enough, that other people are better than you, that you’re a failure, that you haven’t accomplished enough, that you’re unworthy and broken – that voice is not coming from your higher power, or from your heart or soul. It’s coming from your ego mind, the part of your mind driven by the ego, or sense of self. A common problem many of us share is that the fears stored in our subconscious mind cause our egos to function from a wounded place, rather than from a healthy place. We interpret things through a lens of feeling threatened rather than secure. Since the subconscious mind stores our emotional pain and governs the vast majority of our daily thoughts, behaviors and decisions, we’re usually living with subconscious soundtracks that make us act out of fear rather than love.

Try monitoring your thoughts for a day. Write down the major recurring themes your mind tends to return to the most. You might find that many of the themes are negative and fear-based.

What would it feel like to change that subconscious soundtrack? It might feel liberating! Let’s try it.

Consciously start repeating affirmations throughout the day- as well as when you first wake up and as you’re falling asleep- that reflect positivity, love, joy, healing and growth. “I love myself. I am happy. I am fulfilled. I am blessed. This is a beautiful life. I am perfect the way I am.” Use whatever affirmations resonate with you and make you feel good.

Our subconscious soundtrack tends to be exhausting and all-consuming. It can really drain us of our life force energy. Your new affirmations will bring you a lift, and as you continue to repeat them, you’ll have more positive energy, hope and optimism. You will start to feel more grateful and more joyful. It will become easier to reach for the thoughts that feel better. Rather than focusing on the troubling thoughts and trying to force them to go away, create new thought patterns and reinforce those with repetition. The more you practice, the more the new beautiful thoughts will replace the old depressing soundtrack.

The community at Enlightened Solutions can help support you through the healing process. Call (833) 801-LIVE.

What Am I Actually Afraid Of?

Written by enlightened solutions on August 10, 2018. Posted in Addiction Recovery, Sober Living. Leave a Comment

Those of us with mental health problems, emotional challenges and addictions often have troubling issues we are facing simultaneously. They can cause us all kinds of inner turmoil as well as relationship conflict. We get so wrapped up in these issues that we don’t think to take a look at the underlying fears. We focus on what’s on the surface, such as recent occurrences and temporary circumstances. For example, we might become consumed by the latest argument we had with our partner rather than addressing the fears that fueled the argument in the first place. When we look deeper at the existing fears, we can face them head on, and as we work to heal them, the surface issues will improve. Here are a few common issues and the fears they represent.

Insecurity

When we feel insecure within ourselves, it can touch every part of our lives: our self-love, our confidence, our body image, our sense of security and groundedness. It can make us lose faith in ourselves and our potential. We might feel insecure about the mistake we made last week, or the new haircut we hate, but deep down what we’re really afraid of is inadequacy. We are afraid we aren’t good enough.

Arrogance

Similarly, when we are arrogant and put other people down, we are often insecure and so afraid that we are inadequate that we compensate by trying to make ourselves seem more confident than we actually feel. We aren’t happy with ourselves, so we try to bring others down to make ourselves feel better.

Jealousy

When we feel jealous in any relationship, whether romantic or not, we are often afraid of being abandoned or rejected. We fear losing their love. We fear losing their attention or validation. Our sense of security has been threatened. We might fear we are inadequate or inferior to the person we feel is robbing of us that love, attention and validation. Sometimes more than anything we fear being alone.

Envy

Envy hits us when someone else has something we wish we had- an accomplishment, a personality trait, the family we always wanted. We feel threatened by other people’s happiness and success. We might become bitter, resentful, even mean-spirited. We might ask ourselves things like “why do they have that, and I don’t? What’s so great about him?” Again, this comes down to fears of inferiority and inadequacy, but it can also indicate fear of failure, fear of not being happy or fulfilled, fear of not having the life we want.

Looking at the fears beneath our issues is an important step in the healing process. Our issues are often just symptoms. They are manifestations of our fears. When we focus on the underlying fears, we come closer to finding real healing solutions.

We can all use help looking at our deepest fears. Let Enlightened Solutions offer you their support. Call (833) 801-LIVE.

Suggestions for Starting Therapy

Written by enlightened solutions on August 9, 2018. Posted in 12 Step Program, Addiction Recovery. Leave a Comment

Starting therapy can be a real challenge for many of us. Sometimes even just the thought of it can be so scary it stops us from trying. We struggle to get the process started. Sometimes we don’t know where to start. Here are some suggestions to help.

Ignore the naysayers

A lot of us have friends and family that will try to dissuade us from therapy. “Why pay someone to do what a friend can do- listen to you complain?” Actually, a therapist can do a lot more than just listen, and therapy can help you do much more than just complain about your problems. Therapists can provide guidance from their years of experience dealing with similar issues. They can help you to look at the underlying issues, rather than just your temporary circumstances. They can listen from the perspective of wanting to help you get better. Sometimes our friends have our best interests at heart but because of their own stuff can’t see the bigger picture, and sometimes they don’t actually have our best interests at heart.

Find the Right Person

Not every therapist is going to be the right one for you. Try different therapists until you find the right fit. Feel empowered to interview them and ask them whatever questions you might have. You can ask what kinds of issues they usually focus on with patients. You can ask what kinds of therapeutic techniques and healing tools they’ve used. For example, do they specialize in CBT? Do they believe in holistic health? Can they help you find a psychiatrist should you need medication? If you feel like a therapist won’t be a good match, or makes you uncomfortable, don’t be afraid to try someone new. Do they talk more than they listen? Do they interrupt you or make you feel unheard or misunderstood? Trust your instincts. Hold out for someone you feel can be part of your recovery team. We often know instinctively when someone is or isn’t a good fit for us.

Get Help

Ask for recommendations from friends, family, your doctor or clinic, your health insurance, community advocacy organization, help line or referral service. Sometimes when we’re really depressed or actively using, we can find logistical things like scheduling and dealing with insurance very overwhelming. When we can’t get out of bed, making phone calls can feel impossible. Some of us wait until we’re already in crisis to start looking for a therapist, and then it’s even harder to get the process going. Ask someone for help, and then let them help you.

Believe in Yourself

It’s scary to look at our stuff. It can be terrifying. Therapy is meant to help you work through painful things. Be brave and believe in your ability to get better. Believe you deserve to be happy.

Therapy can be hard. Enlightened Solutions wants to help. Call (833) 801-LIVE.

Why We Have to Believe in Ourselves in Order to Recover

Written by enlightened solutions on August 8, 2018. Posted in 12 Step Program, Addiction Recovery. Leave a Comment

Our addictions and mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety, have a way of taking over our lives and our psyches, causing us to feel ashamed of ourselves and to feel undeserving of happiness. We lose our sense of self and purpose. We have a hard time believing in ourselves at all. We can go through the motions of getting help, we can even go so far as to start therapy or to check ourselves into rehab, but if we don’t get to the underlying feelings of self-worth, our recovery won’t be genuine, and it won’t last. Being in recovery doesn’t just mean abstaining from our drug(s) of choice. Just as importantly, recovery means working on the mental and emotional challenges that come with our addictions. Many addicts share the commonality of carrying excessive shame, not being able to forgive themselves, and losing faith in themselves.

We’ve all done things we’ve regretted and been ashamed of. Sometimes the difference between happy people and addicts, and people with mental/emotional problems, is their ability to forgive themselves for their mistakes and wrongdoings. They are able to feel guilt without letting it morph into all-consuming shame- the feeling that you are a horrible person, that you are inadequate, unworthy, or undeserving of love as a result. They are able to let things go and move forward. Addicts and people with mental/emotional health issues, however, cling to their shame and carry it with them for years, sometimes most of their lives. Sometimes their shame causes them to hate themselves so much they become self-destructive, racking up more mistakes and regrets, causing them to accumulate even more shame. They bury their shame under their addictions, unhealthy behaviors and toxic thought patterns.

To recover and to be happy, we have to believe in ourselves. Having self-forgiveness can feel impossible at times. We feel like we don’t deserve to be forgiven. We have to believe in our ability to work through that process, though. We have to be able to start telling ourselves things like, “even though I have regrets, I believe in my ability to change. Even though I’ve made some devastating mistakes, I believe in my ability to get better.” Depending on where you are in your recovery, the words “I forgive myself” might feel too loaded and too unrecognizable, too heavy and too sad. Try simply saying “I believe in myself.” Invoke the feelings of what it would be like to believe in yourself and keep affirming it until you start to feel a genuine renewed sense of hope and confidence in yourself. When we believe in ourselves anything is possible, including full recovery.

The community at Enlightened Solutions offers therapy, mentoring, connection and friendship. We help each other to believe in ourselves. Call (833) 801-LIVE for support.

Do Something Good for Yourself Every Day

Written by enlightened solutions on August 7, 2018. Posted in Addiction Recovery, Healthy Living. Leave a Comment

The idea of making time for self-care can be daunting. We feel like we don’t have enough time, or we feel like there is so much to do, it would be selfish to make time for ourselves. The truth is, the more we can find balance and take care of ourselves, the more we can give to others, and the less likely it is that we will burn out. How would it feel to set the intention to do one good thing for ourselves every single day?

The demands of daily life can be so overwhelming, the last thing we want to do is add more obligations to our already full schedules. If we can carve out even just a little time, however, we’ll start to see huge changes in our mental and emotional wellbeing. Chances are we’ll feel less stressed, reactive and overwhelmed. We might be more patient and more present. We’ll enjoy the small, beautiful moments on a more regular basis and pause to feel grateful for the blessings we’re experiencing in those moments. Incorporating just one small act of self-care on a daily basis can do wonders for your mood and emotional resilience. You might find appreciating yourself feels so good you’ll want to find ways to add more self-care to your daily routine.

Here are some thoughts:

Commune with Nature

Nature’s healing benefits are transformative. Taking a few minutes to listen to the wind in the trees or to sit by the ocean can be soothing and help calm an anxious, restless mind. Find a nearby park or body of water, take off your shoes, and let yourself feel more grounded and centered.

Meditate

Taking on a meditation practice might sound daunting in and of itself, but once you’ve practiced even a little, the calming effects of meditation will be something you look forward to. Pick a mantra or affirmation, focus on your breathing, or do something meditatively i.e. focusing on one thing with intention, like walking or cleaning up.

Solitude

Give yourself some alone time. Take a bath or read a book before bed, go for a walk in the morning, pause on the porch before coming in after a long day. However you can do it, give yourself time to recharge. Always answering the demands of daily life, we get little time to ourselves.

Some of the emotional stresses that can contribute to depression and anxiety can be alleviated by focusing time on self and self-care. You deserve it, and the people around you will benefit from a calmer, more present, happier you. You’ll be better able to focus on the tasks at hand, and more prepared to deal with whatever comes your way.

Learning to prioritize self-care is something many of us struggle with. Enlightened Solutions can help. Call (833) 801-LIVE for support.

Why Do We Avoid Therapy?

Written by enlightened solutions on August 6, 2018. Posted in 12 Step Program, Addiction Recovery. Leave a Comment

Many of us have a hard time getting the help we need because we avoid therapy, for multiple different reasons. Even though we know therapy might be beneficial, even when we’re desperate for help, we postpone finding a therapist. Addressing our deeply rooted fears and emotional blocks is so important for our mental health, but understandably we avoid it. Here are some of the reasons why we avoid therapy.

We’re afraid.

Plain and simple. We’re afraid to face our stuff- our issues, our problems, our pasts can all feel like… a lot. Too much sometimes. Where to start? We might be nervous to talk with a perfect stranger. Sometimes we feel embarrassed and ashamed about the painful things we need to talk about. The truth is, that painful stuff- that’s what therapists are there to help with. Be brave. The right therapist will never make you feel judged and will work with you to address your stuff at your own pace.

That being said, some of us have had-

Bad experiences in therapy.

Many of us can say that the therapist we love came after a few we didn’t. Some of us have even had traumatic experiences with the professionals we trusted, where our trust was betrayed. Maybe we felt judged, criticized, misunderstood or violated. This can be extremely traumatic. When you feel ready and you’re open to it, the right therapist can provide a safe space where you feel comfortable talking about difficult things, including past experiences in therapy.

We don’t want to get better.

Not too many people would admit that they want to stay depressed, but many of us subconsciously don’t want to be happy. Whether it’s because deep down we don’t love or value ourselves, or because we feel we don’t deserve to be happy, for many of us the comfort zone of depression can make us stay in that place. Therapy is one of the many self-care practices we don’t prioritize. Sometimes staying stagnant is easier than doing the hard work of recovery.

We don’t know where to start.

Some of us have never tried therapy before and aren’t sure how to start the process of looking for one. Some of us have done therapy but have discontinued and find ourselves trying to start the process all over again. Starting therapy can be overwhelming and daunting. We feel intimidated by the whole thing, so we procrastinate, make excuses, and continue to put it off.

Enlightened Solutions includes therapy in the recovery process. We’re here to help. Call (833) 801-LIVE.

Human Nature – It’s All “Normal.” What Can We Learn?

Written by enlightened solutions on July 31, 2018. Posted in Addiction Recovery, Sober Living. Leave a Comment

When we judge ourselves and each other, and when we have expectations for how we should or shouldn’t behave, we’re often forgetting one really important concept- that of human nature. Human nature is expansive and all-inclusive. It encompasses all the different and unique variations of humanity. When looking at other people’ behaviors, as well as our own, many of them leave us feeling baffled, confused, angry, sad, horrified. Human nature is all of it. Human nature is objective- everything that is in our nature to do, feel, think and be.

Everything is normal, so to speak, because everything we do as humans makes up the big picture of what human nature is. That means that all of our behaviors are “normal,” even the ones we don’t agree with. Al of our fears are normal and common, even when they are irrational. Everything you’ve ever done or experienced that made you feel embarrassed, guilty or ashamed, is normal. It’s all “normal.” Human nature includes our mental health problems and addictions.

This is very far removed from how we usually perceive things. We judge everything a person does, has, thinks, feels, is. We assess situations based on what we think we would do, hypothetically. We judge people based on how we think they should be. We view things from our narrow perspectives, not realizing that our viewpoints are limited to our personal experiences and not taking into account that human nature is much broader than that- not to mention that when we judge, we are acting from a place of fear.

When we judge others, it is often because we judge ourselves, and these other people represent something reflected in us- whether that is a behavior we can’t admit to, a fear we carry, something that triggers us, or some aspect of ourselves being mirrored back to us.

When we judge, we reject, and that means we’re potentially missing out on important information and teachable moments. We can learn something from everyone and everything, from every experience, every story. Mistakes hold lessons when we are open to them. Relationships, including the unhealthy ones, teach us so much about ourselves and each other, about life and the world. We receive all kinds of guidance and wisdom from our experiences and from other people. When we are willing to give up our expectations, assumptions and preconceived notions about how things should be, how people should be, and how things should go, we open ourselves up to learn so much that we can apply to our own healing journeys.

The community at Enlightened Solutions has helped many people with their healing and recovery, and many of us have personal firsthand experience. We understand. Call us at (833) 801-LIVE.

The Law of Attraction, Mental Illness and Addiction

Written by enlightened solutions on July 18, 2018. Posted in Addiction, Mental Health. Leave a Comment

What we focus our attention on grows. When we focus on our complaints, we are left with more to complain about. When we focus on what we’re grateful for, we find more things to be grateful for. When it comes to mental health and addiction, a huge part of our recovery is working with how we feel about ourselves as people, as people who are unwell, as people who are struggling. We carry a lot of shame, regret and embarrassment. We feel we can’t live down our pasts.

As we work to heal our self-image and grow in self-love, we have to change how we talk to and about ourselves. The Law of Attraction says that what we focus on we attract, what we emit we receive. If we focus on healing and recovery, and align ourselves with those energies, we are more likely to heal and recover. Self-talk is huge. Choosing our thoughts and words consciously goes a very long way.

Constantly thinking or saying “I’m an addict” tells yourself, the people around you and the universe that you are an addict, that you believe you’re an addict, and in a way implies energetically that your identity is your addiction and little else. Repeating things, mentally or out loud, such as “I’m too depressed to do anything,” “I’ll never get better” or “I’ll never change” keeps you depressed, blocks your growth and sets you up not to be able to change. It stifles your capacity and your potential, not to mention draining you of your energy and motivation to do the healing work. These negative words and thought processes don’t reflect healing or the recovery process, and they don’t invite in the people, tools, resources and solutions that can help you.

Try affirming “I am healing” instead, and “I am learning how to be at peace.” Affirmations work best when they are framed in the affirmative rather than the negative. For example, “I am healing” or “I am recovering” will help you to manifest your healing and recovery, while saying “I’m not going to drink alcohol” reinforces the idea of drinking alcohol, making your energy more likely to attract the drinking of alcohol.

When we learn that we are able to consciously manifest what happens in our lives and that we can change everything by changing our energy, we can begin to direct our words and thoughts differently, for the sake of inner peace, wellbeing and progress.

Learn new healing solutions and manifest a life you are happy to live. Enlightened Solutions can help. Call (833) 801-LIVE.

Tag: addiction