Once we are freed from active alcoholism and addiction, we often feel a new clarity and vibrancy come over us. No longer beholden to our disease, we see the world a lot more clearly after working our 12-Steps and becoming a member of the recovery community at Jaywalker Lodge. We find inner peace no longer a stranger, we are able to think more clearly, and our emotions are steadier and less volatile. Yet, just like waves, our emotions sometimes come and go, and that newfound sense of clarity may not always be with us. Sometimes we can get overcome by fatigue and a “fog” settles over the new pair of glasses through which we see our life in recovery. Perhaps we let ourselves get complacent, as we misplace our gratitude for the wonderful things in our life. We get used to them, and forget the days when we prayed for what we have now.
This is normal, and it just happens sometimes. Life can throw us curveballs or get monotonous on occasion, which is a natural part of the ebb and flow of life. It doesn’t mean the 12-Step recovery program isn’t working — it doesn’t even necessarily mean we’re doing anything wrong. It might just be a sign that we’re getting lax in the maintenance of our health in one or more areas of life. On top of all our daily responsibilities, we also have to care for our mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health.
When the Fog Rolls In
Sometimes we find ourselves overwhelmed by exhaustion or fatigue, and we enter into a half-present, unfocused fog. Perhaps things just haven’t been going how we expected them to. Perhaps we’ve been working too hard or spinning our wheels in certain areas of our life. We already know that the recovery program at Jaywalker Lodge teaches us how to rely on our higher power for energy and direction, just as it gives us the tools to access that power. Returning to the spiritual toolkit for rejuvenated clarity and guidance is never a bad idea — the answer may be just a prayer, meditation, or 12-Step away. We can always pick up our kit of spiritual tools and get moving again, no matter how often or how long ago we got sidetracked.
However, it might be helpful to note if we’re working against ourselves. Sometimes we can persist in recovery and growth work while subconsciously setting ourselves up for difficulty. Then we do the spiritual work and wonder why it isn’t working. It’s like accidentally having a cup of Sleepytime tea first thing in the morning and then getting stuck wondering why we aren’t waking up! That may seem like a silly example, but sometimes when we let our mental or spiritual condition get foggy, we may do things nearly as ridiculous. Discovering whether or not we’re working against ourselves takes honest reflection and thorough inventory. We often do not realize how we’re accidentally sabotaging ourselves.
Getting Back on Course
When we aren’t taking proper care of our mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health, we can slowly get moved off course. Life can sometimes be demanding, sometimes chaotic, and sometimes monotonous. In any of these circumstances, we can lose interest, become complacent, or get that feeling of fatigue, like a fog washing over our minds. Perhaps work takes a lot of our time. How easy is it to get so caught up in our job that we don’t do our 12-Step work or hit our regular meetings? Is it reasonable to expect to feel spiritually and mentally fit when we’ve been overworking our minds and underworking our spirit?
The simple answer is no. If and when we are beset by a foggy or tired state, we owe it to ourselves and the people around us to investigate the potential causes. If we aren’t keeping up with our normal 12-Step routine, that’s always the first best place to start. Are we meditating regularly to keep our minds clear and be present in the now? Is there something bothering us that we need to take through the 12-Steps? From there, it gets pretty basic. Are we getting enough sleep? What can we do to get better sleep? Are we eating poorly? Are there some healthy choices we can start making? Sometimes taking better care of our most basic human needs can give us a helpful boost.
Of course, this can seem like a lot to manage and balance. We alcoholics and addicts aren’t so great at managing our own lives. It’s right there in the 1st-Step. But we can work the program at Jaywalker Lodge to the best of our ability and develop a living and working relationship with our higher power. Re-tuning ourselves to that energy, gratitude, guidance, and direction can help us sort out what small changes we need to make and what small actions we can take to shake off the fog. This will help ensure more stable momentum in the foggy times, but we still can’t predict or plan for every season of life — sometimes things just happen. Putting in the effort to make sure we stay connected, growing, grateful, and active in our 12-Step program, relying on our higher power, and taking decent care of ourselves can help us weather those unpredictable or tiresome times in life.
Alcoholism and addiction can have massive negative impacts on the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being of those who suffer from these diseases. Thankfully, there is a solution, and it provides incredible healing, growth, and positive change in these same areas if you are ready to engage in it. Jaywalker Lodge can show you the way. If you struggle with alcoholism or addiction and earnestly want help, but find yourself unable to maintain or achieve recovery, we are ready to change your life.
Call us today at (866) 529-9255.
As Chief Executive Officer Bill provides leadership and manage all day-to-day operations of Jaywalker Lodge, an extended care residential addiction treatment program for adult men.
