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counseling to get past a great loss

Sometimes things can get to be more than you can handle. I know this from my own personal experience. I suffered a great loss and after a year of trying to cope with that loss on my own, I knew that it was time for me to reach out for some help. I was missing work, didn't want to do much of anything and just didn't feel like myself. I started seeing a counselor each week, and it has helped. If you are struggling to recover after a loss, this blog may be able to help you find the help you need to get past it.

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counseling to get past a great loss

Tips For Staying Calm While In Recovery

by Jessica Mason

If you have just started to take the first steps towards sobriety, chances are good that any sort of stress is going to feel as though it's about to destabilize your efforts at recovery. Whatever substances you were addicted to are going to seem far more tempting when you are feeling sad, angry, or simply anxiety-riddled. As a result, it is in your best interest to keep your anxiety to a minimum and maintain serenity as much as you can. Problems are always going to crop up. Here are some ways that you can manage your anxiety and stay calm while in recovery.

1. Influence Your Brain Chemistry

One of the reasons why your cravings for your particular substance might have kicked into high gear when you were stressed out is because your brain chemically physically changed and is unbalanced when you become anxious. You are going to need to rebalance this chemistry. Before, you used your substance to get your emotions numbed and your brain relatively balanced. Now that your substance is no longer an option, you are going to need to get your brain into a state where it is more easily balanced by something less potent than a substance. 

To help with your brain's chemistry, practice relaxation throughout the day. Set reminders on your phone to do deep breath exercises and listen to soothing music for three to five minutes or however long works for you. This will help your brain stay more consistently relaxed and will help you practice being able to get your brain into a relaxed state when you are not under stress so that it is easier to do so when you are under stress.

Second, focus your brain's energy so that it is less focused on craving your substance and more focused on useful things for you, such as getting you through a stressful moment. When are stressed and simply throughout the day, ask yourself what you most want to do with the current moment that is going to help you and put all of your energy into doing that activity. 

2. Strengthen Your Cortex

Your cortex is the part of the brain that is in control of interrupting the flow of chemicals that start whenever you feel stressed. You want to strengthen this part of the brain in order to shut those chemicals off so that you don't revert to using your substance. You can do this by going online and looking for games and puzzles that deliberately strengthen the cortex and by eating a variety of fruits, vegetables, and vitamins that will provide your brain and body with the nutrients that it needs to function appropriately.

For more information, talk to a company that specializes in helping people get through recovery, or go to this site.

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