Welcome to Monday. On Friday I had the opportunity to visit a dear friend. It has been several years since we had seen each other. He rents a place in Gays Mills, Wisconsin surrounded by several acres of land. We went on a long walk and discussed family, religion, and politics. He and I share similar political views, and discussing the upcoming election was refreshing.
I have written in previous posts about the importance of healthy relationships to the Recovery journey. My friend is one of the people who mentored me through a difficult period in my life. I write about this in more detail in my book https://superhumanbeing.net/
Yesterday my mental health posed a struggle for me. I was working on a puzzle, which helps me mindfully regulate my mood. I felt anxious and sad, and there was some guilt and shame mixed into the equation. What do I practice when I find myself experiencing these emotions?
I become curious to find the reason I am feeling this way. I believe it has to do with the gastrointestinal challenges I have been having since recovering from pneumonia earlier this year. Despite the doctor’s efforts, we have been unsuccessful in coming up with a solution.
There are other times when my mood poses a problem and despite my efforts, I cannot identify why I am feeling a certain way. When this happens I become scared and wonder if I am coming out of remission (mental health does go into remission similar to physical health). This fear coincides with past incidents when I entered into a deep depression. The other variable for me to consider is the change of seasons. It is common for us to experience a dip in our mood during this time of year. The term for such a change is, “Seasonal Effective Disorder”.
Sharing this with you serves two purposes. First, those of us in Recovery know there will be days when we experience a sudden drop in mood. When this happens reach out to a support group member, schedule time with a therapist, exercise, do mindfulness, etc. Show compassion and kindness toward ourselves and know we are safe. Second, by sharing with people what it is like for those of us in Recovery you will gain a greater understanding of what life is like. In turn, you can offer compassion, kindness, empathy, and listen to the person you have a relationship with. You do not need to fix us or solve our dilemmas. Your presence and listening are a gift to us.
Take a moment today to enjoy nature. For many of us, the colors are approaching their peak.
Superhuman Being
Peace
Larry
email: ljw@superhumanbeing.net
website: https://superhumanbeing.net/
