Quote:
NA Just for Today
December 28
Depression
“We are no longer fighting fear anger guilt, self-pity, or depression.”
Basic Text pg. 26
As addicts, many of us experience depression from time to time. When we feel depressed, we may be tempted to isolate ourselves. However, if we do this, our depression may turn to despair. We can’t afford to let depression lead us back to using.
Instead, we try to go about the routine of our lives. We make meeting attendance and contact with our sponsor top priorities. Sharing with others about our feelings may let us know we aren’t the only ones who have been depressed in recovery. Working with a newcomer can work wonders for our own state of mind. And, most importantly, prayer and meditation can help us tap the power we need to survive depression.
We practice acceptance and remember that feelings like depression will unquestionably pass in time. Rather than struggle with our feelings, we accept them and ask for the strength to walk through them.
Just for today: I accept that my feelings of depression won’t last forever. I will talk openly about my feelings with my sponsor or another person who understands.
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Depression is part of grief and a part of healing when we come into recovery. The loss of our drug(s) of choice which have left an big void in our world and we can no longer reach for it to cope with life.
There is clinical depression that needs medication to bring our life into balance, but normal depression doesn't need a pill to take it away if you apply the 12 Steps and apply the program as a way of life. They tried to put me on an anti-depressant for years, but I found that for me, they were mind altering and prevented them from being me. I have been on so many I lost count. I am feeling guilty about taking the Lyrica that my doctor prescribed, and I like sleeping and not having pain, but don't like the number it does on my head and I seem to be getting more and more headaches and a loss of mental thought. I have trouble getting the words out to say what I mean. I am really considering going back to the pain and dealing with it, instead of not feeling mentally capable.
