You just know it when you see it. Consistency, accountability, healthy routines. They are the roots of recovery, and after witnessing both long term sobriety and chronic relapsing from my addict loved one over the years, I think I know when I see the game changer, not the game player.
For those of you who think your addict loved one does not deserve another chance- think again. We never know when, which time, or in what environment the light bulb will go off and the addict suddenly transforms thoughts, actions, and attitude.
I love to see the transformation from down-and-out and disengaged from life, to living a holistic life and making daily decisions of higher consciousness. This is a little hard to do as an addict, but seems to come quite naturally when you take the heroin (or whatever the substance is) out of the mix.
As I always underline, when you are eclectic in your recovery approach, you will find benefit from an array of modalities, activities, and practices, all contributing to success. We practice a family recovery lifestyle which incorporates, but are certainly not limited to, the following;
Daily oil pulling- Our whole family does this ancient Indian practice, which constitutes swishing cold pressed sesame oil every morning. The health benefits are numerous, not to mention cleaner straighter teeth and smaller gum pockets.
Fruit and vegetable juicing- barely a day goes by that we are not cutting and pressing a mix of celery, ginger, lemon, grapes, apples, carrots, and whatever berries we might have. Pure nutrients, immediate energy, and juicing your meal gives your digestion a rest.
Sage Smudging- this is an American Native practice which involves purifying the home and thanking the universe and the inhabitants of the universe, and expressing gratitude while balancing the energy.
St. John’s Wort and Ginkgo Biloba– these are considered natural depression medications. St John’s wort is particularly effective for depression, particularly for mild to moderate symptoms without the side effects often associated with drugs. Ginkgo Biloba improves neurotransmitter production in the brain and helps bring oxygen-rich blood to the brain to improve functioning and also may help fight feelings of despair.
Meetings– Regardless of your recovery approach, everyone can benefit from meetings which can provide inspiration, support, and friendship. I don’t suggest relying on meetings exclusively- they are a piece of the recovery puzzle. There are now other groups out there besides AA for those of you who want the fellowship, but don’t care for all of the AA philosophies.
Employment- going back to work after being in treatment on and off, can be a difficult transition to make. Keeping the flow, being on time, and earning, are now becoming part of the natural rhythm of recovery.