Read the official newsletter of Community House Winter 2021!
This issue includes recent photos from Community House outings and events, client led interviews, Un-Common Art, Spring 2021 schedule, and Ask Christina.
Ask Christina: New Years Resolutions
Advice Column Ask Christina, from The Common Thread Vol. 1, Issue 5, Pages 2-3
New Years’ Resolutions are ways to experience freedom from the habits that make individuals feel “stuck”, and resolutions increase self-esteem to love the self. Focusing on the self is the most important aspect to maintain recovery and freedom from “hang-ups”(unhealthy habits) that can hinder a person’s quality of life. Individuals can focus on their strengths and improvements to maintain long- term recovery. The recovery process of mental health can improve within months or years of managing behaviors or habits, and recovery means something different for everyone to make New Years’ Resolutions.
The personal change of lifestyle(s) can affect individuals when the New Year is approaching, and the question becomes: how can New Years’ Resolutions bring positive change for them to adapt to a new beginning? The first step is writing a specific goal they are willing to change, and it can be broken into small steps into a complete goal. For example, if someone wants to become physically fit, he or she can walk five to ten to fifteen minutes. It’s important to start small, so the goal is more attainable to achieve, which makes it manageable in long-term or short-term goals.
What happens if a person falls short of reaching a goal in recovery? Alcoholics Anonymous or other recovery meetings stress the importance of “Progress not perfection”(
Adult Children of Alcoholic/Dysfunctional Families, p. 52). People are not perfect when changing and it requires practice changing a habit to produce results in recovery. It takes thirty days to change behaviors while reaping positive consequences, such as mental, emotional, or physical health. The important part is to get back on your feet and try again, which is to not give up when challenges arise.
New Years’ Resolutions can produce anxiety with many people adapting to change. It’s important to start small when reaching a goal and taking “baby steps” when applying the skills needed to change a habit. For example, a person with anxiety can start breathing techniques to calm anxiety, and then, he or she can use meditation while using deep-breathing skills. It is achieving small outcomes that will lead to success, which will achieve better results than achieving a huge goal and reaching a stress level that is overwhelming.
Recovery of New Years’ Resolutions can happen within months or years of changing a specific habit, and the process of recovery is different for everyone maintaining the new habits at a moderate pace. The challenge is to change for the self rather than for others to achieve breaking an unhealthy habit, and self- love is a concept that is important for growth to become mature. It Involves focusing on strengths and weaknesses in recovery and using experience to achieve these goals.
I realize that there is not perfection, but progress, as an adult in recovery for mental health and addictions. In my recovery, it has lasted years of recovering from mental illness and addictions that is a process of healing through negative experiences from the past. It helped to receive a healthy support system to surround myself with loving professionals and personal friendships. Unhealthy friendships or relationships are the key that held me back from recovery, which affected self-esteem, confidence, and self-love. Self-destructive behaviors are allowing people in my life that would emotionally harm me. I have learned to keep my peace and set boundaries with others that would hold me back from growth. It is important to develop assertive skills and demand respect as an individual from others, which teaches people how to treat me.
My recovery has grown in “baby steps” to break free from addiction, and I have not completely overcome addictions, but I improve daily by peeling back the onion like removing layers of the root of the problem. For example, I can have an accountability partner to “check in” daily when I feel tempted to give into an addiction. The important part of recovery is being willing to work towards goals of personal growth, honesty, and forgiveness of yourself. Even when I have learned from mistakes, I forgive and love myself by speaking encouraging words,such as positive self-talk. I have realized that I am human, and it’s okay
Reference:
Adult Children of Alcoholics and Dysfunctional Families. (2006). World Service Organization,Inc., United States. ISBN- 13: 978-0-9789797-0-6.
Resources:
AA, Adult Children of Alcoholics and Dysfunctional Families, NA, Codependency meetings, etc.
ACA
CODA
Love Addicts
