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Now that the pandemic has passed, people are getting out and going to pubs and restaurants again. There is a festive feeling in the air at almost every site. This stems from the fact that we have been secluded for so long.  However, the return of life's pressures coincides with the gradual reopening. What does this signify for drinking habits? Is post-pandemic healing a stepping stone to substance abuse and addiction? What is the best way to proceed?

Anxiety is an illness that can cause symptoms of restlessness, nervousness, and anxious feelings. It is acceptable to feel anxious from time to time, but persistent, chronic worry or fear is not something you should live with on a daily basis.  This feeling of intense worry could be a side effect of the medications you are taking. One such medication could be steroids. Injecting steroids without a doctor's permission can trigger several side effects, including an elevated risk of anxiety.

Living in zen doesn’t mean you need to stop talking. On the contrary, zen is a state of mind you create within yourself. We think we can’t live without something too often, but if we give ourselves a chance to enjoy the silence, we can.

Before you strive for perfection, forget perfect. Drop your baggage, leave self-defeating thoughts or people behind, and ready yourself for healing.

The past few years show we need to learn how to respect others with different opinions. Unfortunately, our tolerance for others’ thoughts about government isn’t what it once was. Too many people are arguing over who is right or wrong. Family and friends either stopped talking to each other or have cut all ties. We have choices to cope with the divide over politics or any other controversial subject.

Addiction recovery is a life-long journey, and it is expected that an individual will be coping with its unique effects throughout their life. While one may have taken time off from work to attend a detox program or residential treatment program, they will still need to balance their life in recovery with their professional life after graduating from these programs. Learning how to balance the two is a testament to one’s growth in recovery.    However, it is also a skill that needs to be practiced. There are strategies that an individual can employ to begin balancing their newfound life in sobriety with their full-time employment.

Entering substance addiction treatment is similar to entering a foreign culture. We don’t know the language, customs, or what to expect. Likewise, sobriety is like entering a foreign country.   Foreign cultures ask us to extend ourselves beyond our comfort zone. We need to become comfortable with being uncomfortable. Change occurs somewhere between “I don’t think I can” and “I did.” Substance addiction treatment takes place in the same space. When we don’t think we can handle another truth or revelation yet remain committed to our treatment, we open ourselves up to the moment of realization. We realize we are stronger than we thought, not broken, and can move forward without our old comfort zones. We can strive to go farther, learn more, and break out of old habits.   Old habits can include people, places, and things. Once we complete substance addiction treatment, we have the knowledge we learned and, even so, often went back to our old lives. We can choose to fall back into our former way of life or use the strength we found in treatment to move forward.

Anger is a natural response to some situations. For example, in the heat of a stressful or hurtful moment, we can use our anger to endure what we are experiencing. However, uncontrolled anger is destructive for your physical and mental health.

Gaslighting is a complicated form of manipulation that an individual may use to alter the perception or thoughts of another. However, it can also be tough to identify. Identifying gaslighting tactics and understanding their intended effects are crucial in ensuring that one’s opinions, will, or identity are not compromised at the behest of others.    Gaslighting is used as a tactic to increase one’s control over another and does not lend itself to healthy relationships. The feelings of self-doubt that arise can compromise many different aspects of one’s life. Identifying standard gaslighting techniques or recognizing a change in one’s thoughts can all be vital in overcoming these attempts and moving towards a confident, self-assured mentality.

Everyone is afraid of something. Some, however, have phobias, an extreme fear of an object, place, thing, or person that can cripple their ability to function in certain situations. Phobias are a type of anxiety disorder that most people will experience at least once in their life.

Finishing substance addiction treatment is a great accomplishment, and you deserve to feel proud of yourself. By deciding to find the path to a healthy, balanced life, you chose to commit yourself. Don’t break that commitment to yourself after you leave your treatment program. The steps you take following the completion of treatment are essential in your dedication to remain sober.

We need to break out of our comfort zones to grow. Being comfortable in being uncomfortable isn’t a cliche. It is a way to motivate ourselves.