The ABCs of Emotions in Recovery

Do you sometimes have trouble dealing with your emotions?
In recovery, this is one of the biggest challenges.

Whether newly sober or sober for ages, it can be difficult to manage the storm of feelings that seem to threaten to submerse you.

Here are few tips to help you ride out that storm.

Acknowledge that you have a feeling....you are not the feeling.

Then, ask yourself.....

1. What is triggering this feeling? (A) Often it's a situation that has occurred before.
2. What are you thinking about it? (B) Your belief.
3. What are the consequences of your beliefs? (C) Do you feel worse than you want to? Do these thoughts lead to destructive actions?

Remind yourself, that:

1. Your thoughts may not be based on fact. They may be exxagerated or habitual ways of thinking.
2. If you think your thoughts are far-fetched, irrational, or just exaggerated, dispute them, or detach from them.
3. Ask yourself : what do I need here? Validate the need and come up with a healthy way to meet that need (now or in the future).