All the Ways We Recovery
The Sugar Sober Support groups were at it again this week! We talked about ALL THE WAYS WE RECOVER. Remember: there is no such thing as a “one-size-fits-all” approach to addiction recovery. Whichever treatment path you choose, be sure that it has everything you need to help you achieve a successful recovery. There are many challenges to recovery. Addiction takes many forms and treatment is difficult to access for many. Addiction is a lifelong illness and needs lifelong treatment. Many times, there is a trauma component AND this is a brain/gut disease.
Dr. Kelly of Harvard has found it takes 4-5 years before someone with addiction seeks specialized treatment, another 8 years before an individual can exhibit a consistent sober lifestyle, and another 4-5 years for the risk of relapse to fall below 15%. RECOVERY TAKES TIME!
Some people have used therapies like biofeedback, cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, rational emotive behavioral therapy, EMDR, EFT, and motivational enhancement therapy. Some folks use acupuncture, massage, reiki, body code, emotion code, EFT (tapping), and more!
People have joined free groups with 12-Step formats like OA, FA, CEAHOW, Greysheeters, SCAA, and All Addicts Anonymous. They have joined other groups like She Recovers, Smart Recovery, Women for Sobriety, and this group! Finding a “homegroup” allows you to get to know others who return to that meeting week after week.
Some individuals choose to participate in a therapeutic group, work with an addiction counselor, or find a coach and/or personal trainer that can help them manage their recovery. Some use self-help books, podcasts, YouTube videos, and more to help facilitate the recovery process.
Participants made special mention of practicing radical honesty and radical acceptance, telling others of their secret hiding places or secret grocery bags they bring home from the store. Members acknowledged their terminal uniqueness and that maintaining membership within a group of others who also identify as having Sugar/Carb/Food Addiction is helpful to their recovery.
Using tactics like ordering groceries online and having them delivered or picked up curbside has been helpful. Focusing on self-care, allowing the grieving process, joining a gym/adding movement, moving away from the “all or nothing” thinking, studying menus ahead of time, keeping a “life or death” perspective, practicing gratitude for taking the steps that have been taken over the years.
Focusing on what is going well, planning/preparing/protecting their abstinence, doing things that stabilize the central nervous system (yoga, meditate, walks), avoiding the scale, managing hormone levels, putting all medical professionals on notice: NO GLUCOSE IV, seeking accountability, and having a spiritual element round out what participants had to say. Some people weigh and measure their food and AVOID weighing/measuring their body. Folks reduce stress and find places, programs, food, and ideas that fit.
At the end of the day- what you do to recover MUST WORK FOR YOU! It will be a mixture of many things and it needs to be sustainable! Recovery is multifaceted and ever-evolving. When things stop working for your recovery, ask for help and make the changes needed for your continued progress. As a wise woman in the group said, “DO SOMETHING!! NOT NOTHING!!”
Be sure to leave a comment!! How do you RECOVER?