Going into the fall season has sparked reflection and inspiration in my mind. I have watched the leaves change so quickly and effortlessly, the school campus become anticipatory, and a slight buzz in the air as temperatures begin to drop. It is both so exciting and so scary at the same time. Everybody is experiencing a new school year, a change in the seasons, and the hope of a new beginning.
As exhilarating as it all is, it can be uncomfortable to go through transitions, especially when you have struggled with mental illness and are working to stay in recovery. However, the beautiful thing about change is that it brings so many new opportunities for life. Stepping into change can be what leads us to become whom we want to be, inspire us to start something new, and find what our true passions are in life.
Yet, to be present with change and take control of the transitions we fall into, it is imperative that we continue to choose a recovery lifestyle and state of well-being. Here are some of the best guidelines for staying in recovery as we face change and transition.
- Be aware of inner turmoil and urges increasing
After going through a period of reforming thought processes and stepping into recovery, I found that the need to control is at the heart of all addictions and eating disorders. When going through a transition, our daily lives change, and we are often triggered by the sudden disruption to routines. We begin to grasp ways to control life again, which can often turn to engaging in unhealthy coping behaviors that provided a sense of control in the past.
We might look to control the size of our body, escape reality with substances, find a calculated measure for exercise, or any other form of destructive behavior.
Being aware of this onslaught of urges is crucial to planning for how to combat urges and old thought patterns. Having this awareness allows us to be truthful with ourselves, put protective boundaries in place, and prepare for any challenges we face.
These provide us avenues to seek support and be ready for any attacks on recovery.
- Intentionally create space for self-care and self-love.
The key to living a life in recovery is embracing the self and finding love for your being. Whether it is recovery from an eating disorder, addiction, substance abuse, or self-harm one must remain in a mindset of self-acceptance.
As simple as this sounds, it can be very difficult when tied to maladaptive coping skills to fill the hole that is within our hearts. But we do not need to be so far removed from the fact that we each hold value and deserve love.
When presented with change or a big transition, it is important to maintain space to engage in self-care activities and lean into self-love. These kinds of activities may look different for everyone, but their goal is the same: to allow ourselves to exist in a space full of acceptance and care. These things are meant to fit what you need at a specific time in life.
Here are some ideas to start:
- Journal (gratitude, daily lists, reflection, feelings, etc.)
- Spend time outside
- Spend time with good friends
- Call family
- Clean your room
- Take a shower
Whatever you choose to engage in that makes you feel grateful and full of joy that you are alive is a great place to start practicing self-care during a season of change.
- Be honest.
One of the most important aspects of staying in recovery is BEING HONEST – with yourself, with your support system, and your accountability team. When going through transitions, it is even more important to be honest about how you are feeling, the struggles that are coming up, and the urges you are facing.
A big aspect of recovery is allowing ourselves to feel what we are going through, accepting those emotions, and moving through it in a healthy way. Yet we cannot do this if we are denying the fact that we are struggling, resisting the need to feel emotions, and hiding our internal struggle from those who support us.
There are many places to seek support and accountability in recovery. Many college campuses have recovery groups and mental health resources; therapists, dieticians, and psychiatrists are a part of your recovery team – they are there to help guide you and support you; friends and family are necessary means of connection; recovery groups are available virtually and in person (AA, NA, EDA, etc.)
Being truthful with yourself and with those surrounding you with support is necessary to ground in the fact that as life around us changes, we are still who we are, and we are not alone.
- Remember why you are in recovery.
When I returned to the “outside world” after treatment, I started to live life differently. I experienced many things for the first time because I became truly present and engaged in all that life has to offer. Returning to college was one of the hardest transitions because I was moving out of my home, put into a new environment, and more triggers presented themselves in an uncontrolled environment.
Despite the big transition, the new set of triggers, and the onslaught of comparison to others, I have been able to remain in a recovery lifestyle because I constantly remind myself why I want recovery. I remember the abundance life has to offer with new connections and friendships, the opportunities to be successful in school, and the ability to walk with Jesus as I am called to.
It is helpful to write these things out and journal about them to remember their place in life. It also illuminates any areas I might be neglecting, leading to a decline in mental health. This is a great place to start if you are feeling untethered from your reasons for recovering.
Remembering why you started recovery and having daily engagements with life to remember how sweet it is can be pivotal when remaining in recovery.
Despite how difficult it is to step into a transition period in life, there is a great amount of gratitude, love, and joy that can come from it. It strengthens our story in recovery and shows how steady we can be within ourselves.
There is change happening around us every day. Yet we can remain rooted in our foundation with self, recovery, and God. Our minds may try to convince us otherwise, but I encourage you to empower yourself with the ability that comes with living life free from disorder and addiction.