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The path of recovery can be incredibly bewildering and yet undeniably fulfilling. Our process is always changing, showing us what we need to see to grow. It also propels us into the crux of what it means to become truly alive. To be alive is often a beautiful and yet a heart-breaking experience as it means we are awake and aware of everything that life throws at us; all of the beauty, pain, reasons we wake up, and all of the reasons we sometimes cry ourselves to sleep. While being awake in life is a gift and worth it, this does not mean that it will not come without its share of challenges. Sometimes shame, guilt, confusion, anger, and doubt can control life quality before seeking help and recovery. Such thoughts can linger, creating self-deprecating belief systems, and it can become confusing to practice humility and grace on the road to recovery. Watching a loved one struggle to find balance can be difficult, too. However, there are effective ways to help support a loved one and keep them walking the recovery path.

It is important and necessary that we seek help and guidance on any healing path. Whether it be from a physician, therapist, addiction counselor, or mentor, having guidance and support throughout our process is undeniably essential. Self-reflection is also necessary, as only we can truly know and understand ourselves and what our needs are. There are many ways to take care of ourselves and provide our body, mind, and spirit with what we need. Creative outlets are just one way to connect with oneself to self-soothe, reflect, and express.

It is common to feel like an outcast from your inner circle when you first enter treatment and recovery. The causes are varied. Perhaps loved ones also have alcohol or substance use disorders, or all your friends hang out in settings where alcohol is readily available. Maybe you are simply not aware of many sober activities in your area. Many people who are early on their path of recovery have yet to experience any kind of sober experiences before having the experience of becoming sober themselves. It is important to note that there is plenty to be experienced in a sober lifestyle. Though the normalcy around alcohol is rampant, life in recovery can be delightful, healthy, exciting, and fulfilling.

One of the hardest things about getting sober initially is re-establishing all of our relationships with activities we once loved. Perhaps you had a weekly routine of going to the pub with your friends, or watching football games and drinking beer with your family or going out for a drink after work. Our lives are not only changing because we have stopped consuming substances our bodies and minds have relied on, our whole routine and past-times that once gave us pleasure have to be completely revamped. It can be a scary and lonely time, but you are not alone.

Trauma is defined in many different ways depending on the objective of the definition. It has been described as merely a disturbing or distressing event or as in-depth as emotional and psychological trauma resulting from extraordinarily stressful events that shatter our sense of security. As a result, our brains’ responses shift and affect how we navigate our way through the world. Psychological trauma often leaves us struggling with uncomfortable emotions, traumatic memories, and anxiety or depression that won't go away.

According to the National Center for PTSD, approximately 60% of North Americans experience at least one traumatic event in their lifetime. Trauma is often defined as a “deeply distressing or disastrous event.” Though this accurately describes a great deal of traumatic experience for many people, it can also be the result of systemic oppression, repeated childhood physical or psychological abuse, or an ongoing subtly distressing experience.  Though a traumatic experience is often thought of as an event, it is usually much more. It merely begins with an event that then snowballs into a mental structure that shapes how we see and perceive the world. Some individuals who have experienced trauma will develop PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder, a condition marked by intense, disturbing thoughts and feelings related to a traumatic experience that lasts long after the traumatic event has ended.

In any mental health or recovery program, a big focus is not only on overcoming unhealthy behavioral patterns but replacing them with new healthy ones. Humans are habitual beings, and we tend to thrive on routines, rituals, and patterns. It is why the major cultural traditions and spiritual organizations of the world have always been rooted in ritual and repeated experience. The human brain is programmed to work in patterns.  Our brains reflect what we experience in conditioned mental structures. The majority of our deeply constructed beliefs about the world, ourselves, and others grow from our experiences and up-bringing. To replace belief systems or behavioral patterns that are no longer working for us, we must replace them with healthy patterns that will.

One of the most dangerous ideas surrounding mental health disorders, addiction, and recovery is that we should be strong enough to conquer our problems on our own. This idea stems from the harmful ideas culture has around success, productivity and independence, as we have turned away from the communal mindset and more towards a hyper-independent one. Human beings are biologically built for connection. To be hyper-independent is a trauma response on its own.

It is a well-known fact that physical activity is good for your body and your mind. In most holistic-based therapeutic approaches, such as Ayurveda or Chinese Medicine, movement practices are encouraged daily to nourish the whole being. Science has proven what traditional health practices have always acknowledged; the connection between the mind and body is undeniably strong. On the surface level, how we feel in our bodies will undoubtedly affect how we think in our minds. The patterns that we hold in our bodies are inherently connected to the mental structures that govern our everyday perception of life.

Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine healing modality that is well known for its healing properties as a holistic practice and has been scientifically proven to aid in healing a variety of illnesses and disorders. Thin needles are used to stimulate various points on the skin's surface which activates certain organs, systems, and body parts. Addiction treatment and recovery programs have started to incorporate the practice to complement traditional treatment programs.

The traditional 12-Step Program finds its origins from the very well known Alcoholics Anonymous program, or AA, which has been hailed as the standard for recovery from nearly any type of addiction. The Alcoholics Anonymous model of 12 steps and 12 traditions is one of the oldest treatment programs around. Though it was initially developed for alcohol, its steps and traditions are used with all kinds of addiction disorders worldwide.

The concept of boundaries can be somewhat bewildering, as the word itself seems to insinuate that we are trying to separate ourselves from others and the world. However, boundaries in relationships and life are a way of nurturing ourselves and others in fulfilling ways, rather than in a draining and unhealthy manner.