Connect with people who understand what you are going through, seek advice and surround yourself with support. We're free, anonymous, and professionally moderated 24/7.

47,612Members
1,358,869Posts
1,400,000Visitors

Walking on the road to recovery ........ 🤔

TeejSenior Contributor28 Nov 2017, 8:40 pm AEDT

Walking on the road to recovery ........ 🤔

Hmmm. Where to start? I’m not sure starting with a metaphor that brings mixed emotions is perhaps the best way to title a new thread, but just now it feels apt.

@NikNik has put up her picture of recovery up in the past. At first I hated it because I wanted that nice straight linear line (expectations) ......the one where the magic wand comes included 😯😝

So now that I’m finally accepting the reality that the road to recovery doesn’t exist on google maps (and there isnt a magic wand), I'm left with having to make it up as I go along.........and if there was one there wouldn’t be a measurement of how long the road was 😏

Please feel free to join in and tell your stories too of the good, the bad and the ugly of recovery.

😊💜

354 replies

251 - 260 of 354

1...25 26 27...36

In response to: Walking on the road to recovery ........ 🤔

Sans911Senior Contributor24 May 2019, 7:55 pm AEST

Re: Walking on the road to recovery ........ 🤔

I'm taking this straight from dbt @Teej so I hope it helps. If not, there's other things that can be done.

Can you name your emotion?
Take a step back from it, and observe it in its entirety. Don't judge the emotion, but accept it for what it is.
Feel the full emotion, as a wave, coming & going.
Dont try to block it, push it away, don't hold on to it, don't try to increase the emotion.
Watch the emotion like a spectator or observer.
Don't act on the sensation of urgency. Remember all the times in the last few weeks when things have been different.
Describe your emotion by saying, I have the feeling of _____, rather than I am ____.
Notice other feelings that may be happening at the same time.

Let me know if this is useful @Teej

In response to: Walking on the road to recovery ........ 🤔

Sans911Senior Contributor24 May 2019, 7:57 pm AEST

Re: Walking on the road to recovery ........ 🤔

Great suggestions @Faith-and-Hope

In response to: Re: Walking on the road to recovery ........ 🤔

Sans911Senior Contributor24 May 2019, 8:04 pm AEST

Re: Walking on the road to recovery ........ 🤔

If you have urges this might help @Teej

Delay, delay, delay the urges.

Rate intensity of the urges from 0-10.

Set the timer for 15mins and try some to delay the urges. Maybe F & H's suggestions.

Make your distractions as pleasant as possible.

Also make sure your distraction is opposite to the intention of the urge.

Write out the pros and cons of acting on the urge.

Check your urge intensity after 15mins. If it's the same or higher, go back to the start of this exercise.

If it's come down... carry on with your day.

Hugs and hugs @Teej

In response to: Re: Walking on the road to recovery ........ 🤔

Faith-and-HopeSenior Contributor24 May 2019, 8:08 pm AEST

Re: Walking on the road to recovery ........ 🤔

As are yours @Sans911 . I haven’t done dbt to be able to quote bits and pieces as you so beautifully have, but I was actually coming back to the thread to ask about cbt and dbt recommendations from those who are more knowledgabke about these things than me ......

I am happy to sit back and learn.

💜 @Teej

In response to: Re: Walking on the road to recovery ........ 🤔

TeejSenior Contributor24 May 2019, 8:12 pm AEST

Re: Walking on the road to recovery ........ 🤔

@Sans911 , @Faith-and-Hope

thanks.

@Sans911 I kind of knew the DBT stuff but I realised that I become so physically paralysed. My freeze is kind of debilitating. I walked the dog this morning but just couldn’t get off my bed this afternoon. I’ve been here ever since waiting for time to pass and I guess therefore the urges. I keep thinking that this is not a reasonable way to live though in that I’m supposed to work and things eventually.

Ive only just had enough concentration to start a jigsaw puzzle. @Faith-and-Hope

@Sans911 how long do your urges last. I know it’s different for everyone.

In response to: Re: Walking on the road to recovery ........ 🤔

TeejSenior Contributor24 May 2019, 8:15 pm AEST

Re: Walking on the road to recovery ........ 🤔

And thank you both @Faith-and-Hope , @Sans911 this is grounding me a little. I put in a call to the help centre earlier but was on the phone to the lawyer when it was returned. I then lost the plot after that phone call to be able to connect again with the helpline.

In response to: Re: Walking on the road to recovery ........ 🤔

Sans911Senior Contributor24 May 2019, 8:23 pm AEST

Re: Walking on the road to recovery ........ 🤔

My urges come on very quickly @Teej and Ihave to act quickly before I loose control. The length of time I have urges really depends on the level of distress I'm in, whether it can be managed by me or a helpline, whether the helpline makes it work. worse, and also what is happening the next day.

Last year I had something happen to me that was overwhelmingly overwhelming. I wasn't at home. I was interstate for a conference. I couldn't sh so I had no options but to use a helpline or go to hospital (not anyone's fav place). I made 4 calls to a helpline that night, so my urges lasted almost five hours.

Other times I have can get on here, get support and my urges can go within 15 - 20mins. I'm getting better now at bringing an end to them sooner.

In response to: Re: Walking on the road to recovery ........ 🤔

TeejSenior Contributor24 May 2019, 8:33 pm AEST

Re: Walking on the road to recovery ........ 🤔

Thank you @Sans911 🙏. More questions 😳. When you wake up the next morning when you haven’t acted on the urges do they ever return? I’m pretty sure most times as long as I sleep I can be better the next day. I think I’m scared that I can’t handle this by myself now. I didn’t ever think I’d get this far to be going through it.

In response to: Re: Walking on the road to recovery ........ 🤔

TeejSenior Contributor24 May 2019, 8:36 pm AEST

Re: Walking on the road to recovery ........ 🤔

I think I just named this emotion. It is fear @Sans911 . I happen to suck at fear just quietly.

In response to: Re: Walking on the road to recovery ........ 🤔

Sans911Senior Contributor24 May 2019, 8:41 pm AEST

Re: Walking on the road to recovery ........ 🤔

As long as I can calm down my distress and possibly have someone support me through it, the urges don't come back. With the event I described above, the urges were on and off for days until eventually I sh to shut down for a while.

But yes, as long as I can go to sleep, and also have something to do the next day to distract me or look forward to helps to stop the urges. I noticed when you gave into your urges @Teej you possibly weren't concerned what was happening the next day. That's just an observation though, not a judgement because I don't know how you felt about it.

If I had something on the next day, especially if someone was relying on me, that was a protective factor.

251 - 260 of 354

1...25 26 27...36