addiction recovery

For me this has actually been a lifelong lesson. Amazing how 8 words of advice have been so hard for me to put into practice at times. Sadly in my life sometimes its taken for my body (and/or mind) to scream so loud that its been deafening enough for me to pay attention, yet I have found that even this can ebb & flow.

These days I'm pretty proud of how I’ve been taking care of myself. Its been basically 3+ years of very serious physical and mental struggles and I've learned that in the big picture no one else can take care of me and only I can deeply feel it when I don't.So I guess you could say I’ve been falling in love with myself!

*I've been eating much better (lots fruits, veggies & nuts especially...yet I love my milk and chocolate!)

*I’m exercising &/or doing home PT religiously. My spinal injuries have been part of that screaming voice quite a bit although its getting quieter, and as I told my first PT “I’m only going to get out of this what I put into it!” I've been at the gym regularly which is so empowering (plus its a really social place with great staff & members and I find it soooo mentally uplifting when I leave…knowing I'm taking care of myself)

*I actually was counting ounces of water I drank for a long while however now I'm doing great with that and carry bottles everywhere

*My holistic practice dropped off...then I found Box Breathing which I did before bed for awhile and I'm trying to get back to that, however I’ve found just stopping to breath and ground even for short moments throughout the day really makes a difference

*My spiritual practice is earth based and simple and so my church is nature and I pray to Great Spirit…my level of gratitude and reverence are stronger than ever!

*Now sleep...I will have to plead the fifth if I want to make other people happy about when I sleep, when I turns screens off, how much sleep I get etc…my stretch now is getting ENOUGH sleep and I'm exploring what my body can best function off with less meds. I've been very surprised how much less, yet in doing so I have maxxed myself out a lot recently! (its 6:00 am now, the birds are chirping as my music is lower. As a musician and deejay in college I never stopped being nocturnal. When I worked at the beach I always saw sunrises!!!... Then I went to sleep😉

Bottom line…

Life is a beautiful blessing, its a glorious day today, I got to see Mom & family for four days and that was good for my soul….and I'm going to keep smiling

Listen to your favorite music for a bit today
Go outside and wiggle your bare feet in the dirt
Eat a scrumptious piece of fruit or rich chocolate
HUG A FRIEND OR LOVED ONE…  or many…all day long!
(or a tree if you get out there and don't want to take your shoes off!

#MentalHealth #BipolarDisorder #BipolarDepression #Bipolar1 #Bipolar2 #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #Disability #Selfcare #COVID19 #AddictionRecovery #Addiction #Arthritis #Headache #Migraine #Anxiety #Eczema #InsideTheMighty #Trauma #ADHD #Cancer #RareDisease #ObsessiveCompulsiveDisorder #BrainInjury #BackPain

Feeling a lot of gratitude lately for my life, my addiction recovery, my mental health, getting through 26 years with a narcissist, post divorce, and just feeling blessed! Gratitude changes everything!

This is one of the best hacks I ever learned for my mental (and physical) health.
I hope in some small way, this is helpful for you.
#PTSD #MentalHealth #AddictionRecovery #BorderlinePersonalityDisorder #BipolarIIDisorder #Anxiety #Schizophrenia #Depression #ChronicFatigueSyndrome #Lupus #CeliacDisease #ADHD #Autism

As I recover from persistent depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and perfectionism, I’ve found that my perspective has changed numerous times—shaping how I interact with myself, recognize my limits, consistently ask for help, prioritize my health, grow my empathy for myself and others, build community, and even foster my creativity.

Even though the process has been challenging and uncomfortable, I’m learning that it’s OK to make mistakes and express emotions like frustration, anger, and annoyance—without seeing them as negative or believing they make me a bad person. I’m still figuring out where I feel at home in the world and how to explore love more freely, but I’m willing to keep going because I know I deserve it.

What about you? How has your perspective on recovery changed?

#CheckInWithMe #ChronicPain #ChronicIllness #Depression #Anxiety #MentalHealth #Recovery #EatingDisorder #EatingDisorderRecovery #Addiction #AddictionRecovery #SubstanceRelatedDisorders #PTSD #ComplexPosttraumaticStressDisorder #Selfharm

#BorderlinePersonalityDisorder #Anxiety #ADHD #MentalHealth #BipolarDisorder #AddictionRecovery #Addiction #PTSD #Autism #Fibromyalgia #CeliacDisease

I hope you all have been having a great new year, and are staying warm and safe. Honestly, I myself have been struggling and I wanted to share what I wrote about my current experiences living with bipolar disorder. I will share more about the other challenges I have been dealing with over the last year that have all combined to feed into my emotional & mental struggles in a future post.

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There is a roulette wheel in my head…

…and sometimes it just won't stop.
The ball keeps spinning, never settling in a slot
I look to my right and see black
To the left I see red yet I’m stuck on the track

I feel like a hamster spinning in his wheel
For hours into the night until I can't feel
My legs should have been tired hours ago
Yet I didn’t notice anything so lost in the flow

I'm trapped on a spinning merry-go-round
Going up and down to the cacophony of sound
My horse hugs the pole, and I can't feel my butt
It doesn't seem to matter as I am stuck in a rut

I'm on a race track speeding round and round
Hurtling at high speed, almost off the ground
As I'm going so fast totally out of control
No brakes, no down shift, just on a crazy roll

I'm in suburbia driving in circles on a roundabout
Yet I can't see the exits and make a turn out
Circling around, my steering wheel is stuck
I speed up, I get dizzy, this is just my luck

It seems in these cycles I’m always alone
I hide, avoid and ignore, never pick up the phone
It is a lonely place yet my history proceeds me
I'm so ashamed to be weak and desperately needy

Then there are the mountains to climb
I hike really fast I'm having a great time
I sprint to the top emboldened & inspired
With unlimited energy when I'm totally wired

Yet what goes up must come down
And I tumble and tumble smack to the ground
There is absolutely nothing left of that energy
Its suddenly pitch black dark  and I can't see

There are poker games near the roulette wheel
I'm a winner, it's destined, I’m a real big deal
Bid big on a pot the chips are all mine
Then I go all in and moments later I find

My hands are empty, I completely lost it all
My savings are gone as I took the fall
I slink out the door can't even afford a ride
Won't call a friend, and break through my pride

The hamster on the wheel has fallen to the ground
Can't get up although I ‘m desperate to be found
Once again on the ground I just can't move
Lost my momentum and fallen out of the groove

The park has way since closed and the merry-go-round is shuttered dark
Yet lying at the foot of my horse
I lay lost without a hint of my spark
I noticed the the paint is cracked & faded
It shows its age, is it all overrated?

My cars battery died in the middle of the track
Under the hood my wiring was way out of whack
Can't start up again as I’m just stuck in place
It looks like its destined I’ll never finish the race

I often wonder when will these cycles ever end
Will I ever find balance or just have to pretend
Like I have for decades… everything is just fine
While I’m shut down, lonely and lost in my mind

I need to embrace support available to me
Ditch the shame & pride so others can see
What's really going on as I struggle inside
It certainly has not helped me to run and hide

Can I accept support, admit when I'm so down
Or I’m high in the clouds lost to be found
I don't need sudden riches, today I ‘ll just survive
I've found the glory & blessing that I'm still alive!

Moshe Mark Adler
21st February 2025

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(the photo is mine - I have been exploring nature photography)

#MentalHealth #Depression #Anxiety #Bipolar2 #Bipolar1 #BipolarDepression #BipolarDisorder #ADHD #ObsessiveCompulsiveDisorder #Addiction #AddictionRecovery #PTSD #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #SocialAnxiety #Disability #Grief #DistractMe #CheckInWithMe #ParkinsonsDisease #Headache #Migraine #IfYouFeelHopeless #Trauma #COVID19 #InsideTheMighty #MightyTogether