I’m writing this highly aware that the holidays are upon us and we want to be festive and jolly.  I’m aware that no one wants to hear a downer or be a downer.  All that awareness however is so superficial because what I am most highly aware of is the stress, temptation, and isolation of the holidays for many.

I’m also highly aware that many folks are going through something related to deep-seated habits or addictions.  New Year’s resolutions are rolling in and sadly, 85% of folks fail to achieve their goals and quit by January 11th.  If you are going to go “cold-turkey” on any habit, alcohol, drugs, sugar, TV, shopping, social media and more, you need to prepare yourself for your habitual mind and it’s cravings to rear their ugly dragon head.  If you are in recovery, it’s time to firming establish boundaries and guard against relapse.

Here’s a beautiful list from “Willpower’s Not Enough, Recover from Addictions of Every Kind” by Arnold Washton and Donna Boundy.  It will help you to hear in your head who is doing the talking and driving…is it you?  your higher self?  or is is the dragon?  Buy the book.  It’s worth it.  buy here>>>

Checklist:  (from page 216 of the book…copy it and keep it handy to check in with)

A. Am I experiencing any of these negative moods right now?

Angry, depressed, anxious, nervous, lonely, guity, ashamed, scared, inadequate, humiliated, embarrassed, rejected, abandoned, bored, emply?

B. Am I experiencing any of the following high-risk factors?

  • Urges and cravings
  • Impatience
  • Overconfidence
  • Expecting too much of myself or others
  • Blaming others
  • Defiance
  • Defensiveness
  • Desire to indulge in myself
  • Exhaustion
  • Feelings of giving up
  • Inability to have fun without my habit of choice
  • Feelings of neediness, deprivation, overstress
  • Feelings of elation but off balance
  • Feelings of invulnerability to relapse
  • Doubts that I’m really an addict or have a deep-seated habit that could become an addiction
  • Fantasies about controlled use
  • Feeling sorry for myself
  • Wanting to be cured
  • Feeling like a hopeless case
  • Romanticizing the good times on my habit
  • Feeling overconfident
  • Feeling like celbrating
  • Feeling cured
  • Feeling justified in getting high
  • Feeling plagued by painful memories
  • Relapse dreams
  • Wanting magical solutions to my problems
  • Being harshly critical of myself
  • Thinking maybe I’m not addicted anymore
  • Planning to drop out of treatment, recovery or support
  • Dwelling on past mistakes
  • Putting myself in high risk situations
  • Acting impulsively
  • Focusing on someone else’s problems or recovery
  • Dwelling on past mistakes
  • Throwing myself into a new relationship in an obsessive way
  • Not putting my recovery first
  • Not exercising, eating properly, getting enough sleep, having fun, taking care of myself.
  • Lacking structure
  • Allowing stress to build up
  • Lying
  • Isolating
  • Not talking about my problems with anyone
  • Using other drugs, activities or people as mood-changers
  • Rationalizing
  • Rejecting suggestions of others in recovery
  • Saying what other people want to hear, but feeling otherwise
  • Cutting corners in my recovery program

If you have checked any of these things, know that you are at risk.  Observe your thought patterns.  Separate the voices in your head through this process and interrupt the thoughts with mantra, affirmation, and positive choice making.  Through this process you will observe yourself honestly and stay the path.  This checklist is very good for bringing awareness to yourself.  You can’t deny the checklist whereby you can deny your thoughts.

I think it is very interesting to note that these are the stereotypical and common thought patters of addiction.  They are not your unique thoughts.  It’s a patterned behavior typical of this disease.

If you want help establishing routines, nutrition, meditation, yoga, mantra and meditation, The Elemental Cleanse starts in January or join our ecourse anytime.  It’s a loving way to gently release toxicity from the body and mind and be supported on your path.  Om, Pamela

 

OTHER POSTS RELATED TO HABITS & ADDICTIONS

*The sole purpose of these articles is to provide information about the tradition of ayurveda, yoga, and meditation. This information is not intended for use in the diagnosis, treatment, cure or prevention of any disease. If you have any serious acute or chronic health concern, please consult a trained health professional who can fully assess your needs and address them effectively. Check with your doctor before taking herbs or using essential oils when pregnant or nursing.