When I first got into recovery, I heard people talk about having the 'halts' .... Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired, Serious. When I notice I have one, two or more of these, I need to take action.
Hungry? Eat something! If your tummy is rumbling, it generally means you need food! So eat something! I know that sometimes when I'm hungry, I am also a bit angry, so having a snack can fix two issues at one time!
Angry? I was told to 'hit my pillow'! It won't hurt the pillow, yourself, or anyone else, and it will help to get expel at least a little of that physical tension that comes with anger. And Tell someone you're angry, and why. And if there's no-one around to tell, then put pen to paper, or fingertips to keyboard. Get it out of your head and SHARE it. A problem shared is a problem halved.
Lonely? Call someone. Telephone therapy, we call it in 12 step recovery. Invite someone over to your house, or go to their place. Or maybe find some sort of activity to engage in with others. Volunteer work or paid work or both. Find something or somewhere where there are people whom you can connect with.
Tired? Sleep. Or at least lay down somewhere quiet, with no distractions, where you can close your eyes and just switch off. Even if it is just for 10 or 15 minutes. Sometimes that little powernap can make all the difference.
(too) Serious? Have a laugh! There are some great videos on YouTube; funny animal videos are my favorite! There's one that's a 'translation' video of a cat vs a printer that is just so hilarious! It does have a bit of swearing in it, so be mindful of what can come up. But it gets me laughing out loud every time! Life is too short to be serious all the time, and laughter is the best medicine! Or I also like going to the newsagent or supermarket and pausing in the greeting card section to read the funny greeting cards. They too can be really funny.
Anyway, enjoy your Saturday night everyone. I'm heading out for a reunion dinner now, with some old workmates.
Take care. Love Mel. xo
