Favorite Head Clearing Activity

[sandnsea]

I think this group won't work unless we have some neutral-type topics. I'm afraid to post too much of anything because I don't want to screw up anybody else's sobriety.

But this is pretty non-threatening. What do you do when you're going through the crazies?

My favorite, a long drive and loud loud loud music.

Second favorite, write a list of every crazy thing in my head. Organize it. Then look it over and say, no fuckin' wonder I'm goin' nuts!!

[KitchenWitch]

1. I try to remember to breathe

If I can get my breathing on track, I find that the crazies tend to leave.

[RetroLounge]

2. I call up a recovering friend to talk about it

and within minutes we're laughing too hard to crazy anymore...

:D

RL

[A-Schwarzenegger]

3. I don't believe a person has the power

"to screw up anybody else's sobriety."

The "crazies" is a pretty broad category. I use different
tools for different problems but in general like Retro
I confide in another recovering alcoholic. Could be on
the phone, could be at a meeting, could be sharing at a
meeting if appropriate. If it gets really crazy, I even
sometimes get drastic and (like you, sandnsea) WRITE!
Not to analyze my feelings (I wdn't want to try to organize
them) but to get them out, to ex-press them. Just so it's not a
useless spew, I put it in the context of giving it all to
my Higher Power. I write first, in my own words, that Hey,
I'm going to unload a lot of fear and rage and resentment
and whatever may come out, please take it and do with it what
you will, and then unload until the poressure starts easing,
and maybe even keep writing until I'm drained, and I really
mean unexpurgated and no censor and no self-judgment, and
then when I'm done (usually only take a few minutes if I'm really
in touch with what's at the root of the feelings) I wrap it up
with a "Thanks for taking this crap and basically once more
freeing me from the bondage of self." Then maybe I'll feel so
good I can stop thinking about myself for a minute or two and
call somebody else to see how they're doing & even sharing in
there about what I just did to work the steps.

[yardwork]

4. I remember the acronym HALT

I try not to let myself get too "Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired."

Most of the time if I am feeling especially tense and anxious I realize that I have at least one and usually more than one of those going.

I've also noticed in others - in and out of recovery, whether or not they are alcoholics or not. Being "Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired" makes everybody more fragile. I remember this when my loved ones get on my nerves. Proffering food usually works wonders!

[NMDemDist2]

5. I take 30 second "time outs"

take a deep breath, say a little prayer, remind myself that I don't have control of everything (nor do I need it), make a gratitude list

rinse

repeat

[RetroLounge]

6. Hate to say it, but sometime the best thing

is stepping outside and having a smoke...

RL