Those of us who live with mental health disorders and addiction often have lived lives that were out of control. Often, a crisis occurred, and we ended up in a hospital or a treatment facility for addiction. While there we had a taste of wellness. The ideal idea is to carry this taste of wellness with us when we are discharged. Many of us sought treatment on an outpatient basis. We learned what some of us call tools to help us in our recovery. Some of us joined support groups to help us manage our disorders. Many of us learned to take life one day at a time. Many of us learned to turn to some form in which we understood God to be. We recalled a day in our lives when we were desperate and said, “God help me”. Not knowing who, what, or how, we just prayed. Something happened and we received a taste of wellness. Many of us still carry this wellness with us after many years of one day at a time living. Our lives are not perfect and we don’t always have it all together. Still, we are well.
Some people who live in recovery from mental health disorders and addiction are now drinking water. Many of us who liked to drink alcohol had no sense of drinking it in moderation. We stopped drinking alcohol and we started drinking coffee. We found we drank a lot of coffee. It created bouts of anxiety and we found it difficult to sleep. We switched to decaf. It helped. We then started drinking water. It helped too. We found that we could fill a water bottle at home and carry it with us. We started saving money and helping the environment. Water is good for us. The hand to mouth is a natural action and the water is soothing to drink. It detoxes the body. We can still have a cup or two of regular coffee a day. A bit more of decaf if we choose. Drink water. Two liters a day.
Sometimes people living in recovery from mental health conditions and addiction feel like they’re less than other people. It’s a sub conscious judgement of ourselves as we compare ourselves to others. They are natural thoughts for us. We are told by people who live in one day at a time recovery we are no better or no worse than any other people. All people are equal. All people are worthy of love and belonging. I know that some people are better at some things than others. That doesn’t matter. We are all human beings. A recovering friend told me that they were not the person they want to be, and they were not the person they ought to be, but they were damned sure that they were not the person they used to be. It’s about a little bit of growth day by day by day.
For those of us who have lived in an unreal, or perhaps delusional world, will find much joy in reality. Mental health conditions complicated with addictions can often take us away from the real world of love, friendship, and freedom from the bondage of self. Awakening from a world in which we are held hostage, and being able to to be responsible for our health and well being is a great joy that we can find one day at a time. Some days can be difficult but reality can bring with it reasonable happiness and in this we can be happy, joyous, and free. We will discover the real self that lives within us. This is the self that has the courage to reach out for help to live in the joy of reality, and has the gratitude to try and give back to try and help others.