Yes more Signs and Symptoms

I know that you may feel that this segment is going on and on , however I believe that knowledge is power, and in that end the more one is armed in aspects you can recognize to be a danger to your sobriety the better. It is better to be forewarned than to gain the knowledge from hindsight. So in that vein here are some more symptoms and behaviours you need to alert for.


LOSS OF STRUCTURE:
Daily routine becomes haphazard. Regular hours of retiring and waking disappear. Inability to sleep, becomes oversleeping, Not keeping appointments becomes more common social planning declines, a feeling of being rushed and/or overburdened, large blocks of inactivity without knowing what to do, failure to follow through on plans and decisions knowing what to do however unable to overcome feelings of frustration, fear, anxiety and tension. The loss of a daily structure can be disturbing to anybody; everyone does better with a daily routine. However it is more essential to those in early recovery, as structure and a daily routine creates feelings of stability and balance, both of which are a necessity in early recovery to create a healthy lifestyle.


LOOSING HOPE:
This usually starts when a plan fails or an expectation of some sort falls through. Followed by idle daydreaming and/or wishful thinking, where the ability to concentrate fades and concentration turns to fantasy. The “if only syndrome” becomes more common in thinking and speaking, more and more fantasies of “being rescued from it all”, coupling with “An Immature wish to be happy” where the desire to be happy” and everything to be well , becomes a common thinking, although without defining what is necessary for happiness or well. Here it is vital to reach out to your support system, to meetings, to understand that life is full of ups and downs, that if it were not for the rain who would appreciate the sun. Let your support system help you through the down times, because there will always be down times. That is the cycle of life.


ADJUSTMENT TO BEING CLEAN:
This comes in many forms, more than I can mention here, although I will go through some. Overcome with feelings of shame, remorse, loss, humiliation, fear of... These are just feeling, I have never known a feeling to kill anyone, I’ve known many who died running from a feeling. Write, talk to your support system, and get it out. It is amazing how much power these feelings can lose when out in the open to the light of day, yet bottled up in the “hamster cage” of our minds they have immense power. You will go through cycles of just plain arability for what seems like no reason; you will have periods of arability with family and friends just because. It is OK you are adjusting to feeling, this will pass apologize and spend time reading, writing, exercising or quiet meditation. If it persists over long period of time months and increases consult a medical professional, otherwise it is just normal adjustment, don’t worry. You will also experience periods of no appetite and periods of overeating, just adjustments usually an attempt to stuff feeling that are uncomfortable, Issues that you will deal with as your recovery progresses. As well there will be periods of insomnia where it seems you can’t shut your brain off, attempt some light reading nothing too deep or that takes a lot of concentration, attempt meditation, watch T.V do some of those chores you been avoiding, clean the house/apartment. Most if not all of this is just the brain and body detoxing more deeply and adjusting to a new pattern of healthy living. You are on the right track. It is nothing to be overly concerned with. As long as you handle it properly. Being worried and running away will more than likely result in relapse.


Remember God does not create garbage