Being that today is Valentine’s Day, I thought it would be a good day to talk about managing uncomfortable emotions in recovery. Valentine’s Day can be a difficult day for a variety of reasons. Often, it’s a day where people tend to be struggling with uncomfortable emotions. It may be dealing with being single and not wanting to be, realizing they are in an unhappy relationship, thinking about relationships that have been damaged beyond repair, or some other difficult feeling. It can be incredibly hard to sit with these feelings and not drink or use to escape them.
Holidays in general tend to be difficult in recovery, especially in early recovery. What can we do to help make this day easier? I typically it’s helpful to think about what you are truly needing in the moment. I find Valentine’s Day is often a day where what we are really wanting is connection. Maybe that means calling your sponsor, going to a sober support meaning, or spending time with family and/or friends. That said, it could mean needing to respect your body’s impulse to do the opposite and spend some extra alone time today. I think asking the questions of: “what am I really feeling”? and “What do I really need right now”? Can be a huge help in preventing relapse and really address the issues we are struggling with rather than masking them with drugs and alcohol.
Being that today is Valentine’s Day, I thought it would be a good day to talk about managing uncomfortable emotions in recovery. Valentine’s Day can be a difficult day for a variety of reasons. Often, it’s a day where people tend to be struggling with uncomfortable emotions. It may be dealing with being single and not wanting to be, realizing they are in an unhappy relationship, thinking about relationships that have been damaged beyond repair, or some other difficult feeling. It can be incredibly hard to sit with these feelings and not drink or use to escape them.
Holidays in general tend to be difficult in recovery, especially in early recovery. What can we do to help make this day easier? I typically it’s helpful to think about what you are truly needing in the moment. I find Valentine’s Day is often a day where what we are really wanting is connection. Maybe that means calling your sponsor, going to a sober support meaning, or spending time with family and/or friends. That said, it could mean needing to respect your body’s impulse to do the opposite and spend some extra alone time today. I think asking the questions of: “what am I really feeling”? and “What do I really need right now”? Can be a huge help in preventing relapse and really address the issues we are struggling with rather than masking them with drugs and alcohol.
Being that today is Valentine’s Day, I thought it would be a good day to talk about managing uncomfortable emotions in recovery. Valentine’s Day can be a difficult day for a variety of reasons. Often, it’s a day where people tend to be struggling with uncomfortable emotions. It may be dealing with being single and not wanting to be, realizing they are in an unhappy relationship, thinking about relationships that have been damaged beyond repair, or some other difficult feeling. It can be incredibly hard to sit with these feelings and not drink or use to escape them.
Holidays in general tend to be difficult in recovery, especially in early recovery. What can we do to help make this day easier? I typically it’s helpful to think about what you are truly needing in the moment. I find Valentine’s Day is often a day where what we are really wanting is connection. Maybe that means calling your sponsor, going to a sober support meaning, or spending time with family and/or friends. That said, it could mean needing to respect your body’s impulse to do the opposite and spend some extra alone time today. I think asking the questions of: “what am I really feeling”? and “What do I really need right now”? Can be a huge help in preventing relapse and really address the issues we are struggling with rather than masking them with drugs and alcohol.
Questions about dealing with recovery from drugs and alcohol? Feel free to get in touch!