Escape with sobriety intact

As the years go on and drinkers look for more mature excuses to justify alcohol abuse prior to sobriety, many turn to a relatively true nuance that drinking provides escape. ‘I self medicate, or I drink to escape work, stress and the pains of existing in this world’. Its somewhat valid when you consider the constant bombardment and stress people can be under from responsibilities upon them by today’s environment of commercialism and constant connection. It could be kids, poverty, disease, other family or a career that renders a relentless stress on the mind which seems like there is just no escape, no way to turn it off except for going numb, turning the switch off and tipping back a cool one.

It almost sounds like a good idea when you look at it the calming effect until as those of us in recovery realize, you start to analyze the total package. It quickly becomes apparent that the short term gain, isn’t a gain at all and it leaves us sick, weaker and poorer in many, many ways.

This still leaves us with the original predicament of how do we escape what we perceive as a relentless turmoil of the mind. Coming to terms with the nature of humanity and learning to live with our being is a wisdom that will serve us well in this regard and is available through many routes. That escape, throwing in the towel or however one might look at it, is available through one’s own control at any time, to simply do as was always done with the drink, but without the drink, with alcohol in it that is. Turn off the switch in your mind to those thoughts that no longer merit your attention in the day, at not wine oclock, but rest oclock, or meditate oclock, or run oclock. Remember that escape is there and substitutions are a fantastic option in recovery for bad habits.

Nature bathing is a popular nomenclature for mixing mindfulness with the art of being outdoors. Whether its a small courtyard, a mountain meadow, a breathtaking lake or any of the wonders of the outdoors, going outside when the need to escape strikes and being present in this world heals us in so many ways. So next time you think you need to escape or self medicate, or you hear someone else needing the same, go for it. There is no reason to abstain from a wonderful needed practice of release. It will be all that more powerful and beneficial while thriving in sobriety. Your recovery will thank you for it and in fact it will actually strengthen your resolve going forward as you do it more and more, yearning for it more in more in replacement of an old habit that used to steal your life’s precious time.