Managing anxiety in early recovery: Tips for A Calm Mind

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Managing anxiety in early recovery: Tips for A Calm Mind

19 April, 2024Articles, News

The Practice of living consciously is the first pillar of self-esteem and creates a calm mind which helps with anxiety in recovery. It’s about taking control of your life, about thinking about your decisions rather than making them without thought about having a life that I want rather than settling for the one that befall me. It’s not something you can change over-night. Living consciously is a Lifestyle, a skill an art.
It’s not something you do once, but a habit that you form for the rest of your life.

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Be conscious!! Think about everything you do. Make conscious choices rather than doing thing without thinking. Consciousness is our basic tool for successful adaption of reality. The more conscious we are in any situation, the more possibilities we tend to perceive, the more options we have, the more powerful we are and the less anxiety we have in recovery. It means seeking to be aware of everything that bears on our action’s purposes, values and goals. Practiced consistently, mindfulness is an orientation, a discipline, a spiritual commitment.

Why is Living Consciously so important?

There is a story which illustrates this about two Zen monks: Tanzen and Ekido were once travelling together down a muddy road. A heavy rain was falling. Coming around the bend, they met a lovely girl in a silk kimono and sash, unable to cross the intersection. ‘Come on girl’, said Tanzen at once. Lifting her in his arms, he carried her over the mud. Ekido did not speak again until that night when they reached a lodging temple. Then he could not restrain himself. ‘We monks don’t go near females’ he said to Tanzen, ‘ especially not young and lovely ones. It is dangerous. Why did you do that? ‘I left the girl there on the road’ said Tanzen. ‘Are you still carrying her?

Every day we make choices to be responsible toward reality or evading it.

Even if we are not aware of those choices, they do add up and create a reputation we have with ourselves. Sometimes there are some discomforting facts we are faced with and we make decisions to ignore them. I know that there are issues in my life, but maybe they’ll work themselves out. I know I drink or drug too much, but It’s not that bad and I can stop on my own.

By avoiding these facts and ignoring them, we are, in essence, betraying ourselves. Living consciously is not about seeing and knowing reality for what it is, but it also means acting on what we see and know.
Staying unconscious can seem very inviting – we don’t have deal with the problem and we don’t have to face uncomfortable feelings, we don’t have to take chances….. but at what cost?

Deep inside we know that we are ignoring something important, and it is our self- esteem that suffers as a result. The purpose is the same: To escape anxiety and pain. We all feel anxious some time. A certain amount of anxiety helps to keep us more alert and focused. Too much anxiety is unhealthy and detrimental to our lives, relationships and recovery.

Tips for a calm mind

Create a mindfulness mantra

As Eckhart Tolle says, “Realize deeply that the present moment is all you have.” Every morning I remind myself that my new life starts today, which helps me step into the now and connect more deeply with the present moment and separate myself from the worries of my mind.

Remind yourself you’re not your thoughts

Whenever a negative thought occurs in your mind, simply identify it as a “thought” or “feeling” and move on. You’re not scorn or regret, and you’re not self-doubt or anger. You’re separate from your thoughts and they’re separate from you, so why dwell on them?

Accept that thoughts arise naturally

And if you can’t change them, then why bother trying to replace them with different and “better” thoughts? Don’t beat yourself up over something you can’t control, but don’t ignore them either; simply move past them and choose not to identify with them, even as they cloud your mind.

Breathe

Take a long breath through your nose and breathe it out through your mouth. This can help to calm you and remind you that your thoughts are a small part of the infinitely vast world around you.

Thank someone in any way you can

Even the small act of saying “thanks” to a cashier can reconnect us with the present moment, and it can also prevent us from becoming stuck in our own thoughts, which block us from enjoying life as it comes.

Smile at a stranger

Smiling helps focus our attention outward to the people around us, and by reconnecting with this gratitude for others, we can connect more deeply to the present moment and remind ourselves to simply be.

Go for a nature walk

Go for a walk and fade into the environment around you, and listen for sounds you’d otherwise have missed.

Keep a daily gratitude habit

Keeping a gratitude journal helps pull us away from the stress of the day. It also forces us to appreciate life as it comes and find the good in every day.

Leave your phone on silent all day

You can also turn off your phone’s notifications, as these can be distracting and pull you away from the present moment. Your messages will still be waiting for you there later when you’re ready to go through them.
Turning your ringer off can also stop each disruption from clogging your mind and stopping you from the peace of mind you could be having throughout the day.

Eat slowly

Focusing on the texture and the taste of what you eat can help remind you that while all feelings are temporary, it’s important to truly experience the moments as they come, rather than letting them pass you by.

Drink tea

Tea can help calm your nerves and slow down your thoughts and connect you more to the present moment.

Take a bath

Baths can help you relax by forcing you to take a step back from the bustle of the day, and they can be a great way to let your worries fall away as they fade into the heat of the water.

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