Day 1 Letters: L.R.

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Day 1 Letters are letters written by clients to their younger selves on their very first day of recovery. Share in their wisdom and knowledge gained.

If you are on Day 1 of your recovery, embrace the hope for a brighter future. These letters are posted with client approval and have been anonymized.

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“I know you are in a bad space right now and while you may not want to listen, I have techniques that helped me when I was there.  Back then I was looking for anything to take the pain away and any suggestion people offered I tried it.  So, with that: I know you feel horrible.  I know your guts are churning and your mind is racing, and you can’t eat nor sleep. You feel alone and unloved. Lost. Depressed. Suicidal. I lived it. Trust me. A few times.

Hey man…. It will get better.   Each day it will get better.  You may not be dancing with daisies soon but the horrible pit you are in will end.  And it will probably end quicker than you think.  Probably two weeks.   I look at the dark times like having the flu or norovirus.  You want to die when you are in it but in time you feel better.  Sure, you may feel fatigue or have a cough for a while, but the absolute low will pass.  Again, this initial feeling will pass.  That low is also a biological function of the body missing the feel-good hormones and chemicals.  Stressor chemicals are taking over.  So, if you can get separate your mind from your body that will help.  It’s not the easiest but I have learned to look at myself as two people.   The physical and the mental need to be compartmentalized independent of each other.  Hard to do at times.   LOL. But beneficial.

Now with knowing what’s happing and why, there are some steps to take that will help you move through pain.

EXERCISE.  Ideally something aerobic and outside.  If you get your respiration and heart rate up your body will forget the other stuff going on and give your mid a rest.   It will not be interested in what is going on if it’s just trying to get enough oxygen.   Exercise as often as you need.  Anytime you are getting in a bad place.  We humans are also designed to be outside.  Your body will respond in a positive manner. 

JOURNAL.  Get your thoughts out of your head and put them on paper.  Your brain is going to race and be jumbled.  No one wants to hear your crap and if they do listen there is a good chance, they will keep you in the mud longer.  Empty all the stuff in your mind on paper.  And in time you can look back and read what’s was going on and you will say.  "Man, I was crazy and in a bad place”
You won’t even recognize the person that wrote in the journal

GROUP/ THERAPY.  Find a good therapist to help you get through your stuff and join peer group of people going through the same thing.  Your will get tips, practices, and skills that you should use.

RESPECT THE PROCESS.   Don’t try a quick fix to end the discomfort.  Sit with it.  Understand what’s happening.  Use the tools you will learn in therapy or group.  Build new relationships with yourself and others.   You will hear the word PROCESS a lot.  Follow the process.   Just drink the Kool-aide 

VOLUNTEER / NEW HOBBY   Once the initial crisis has passed and you are feeling better fill your time with something positive.  So many others have it worse off than you.  Give back

DISCOVER.  You are going to be different on the other end.  Take the opportunity to try new things.  Keep evolving.  Who you are today isn’t who you were nor who is it who you will be.
Be better you will like yourself more.  Time is precious

LIFE IS A RIVER.  IT WILL TAKE YOU WHERE YOU NEED TO GO.  YOUR RESPONSIBILITY IS NOT GET HUNG UP ON SNAGS AND TO TAKE CARE WHILE RIDING THE RAPIDS.