Sleep

I was recently asked about my recovery program, particularly my method of managing stress and worry. It is a little unorthodox so I decided to make it a little easier to understand by drawing a diagram.

Seriously though, stress and worry are often the precursors to relapse so it is unfortunate that these are also two things in which alcoholics and addicts excel. There’s an old country saying that may be true for some, “Worry is like a rocking chair--it gives you something to do but it doesn't get you anywhere.” But for those of us in recovery, worry and stress actually do take us somewhere… a very bad place.

Click “Read more” to continue…

A few years back I heard an interview with the Gibb brothers about the origins for the lyrics to the song Holiday. Searching the internet I could not find any mention of it, but if I recall correctly they said there was no particular meaning to the words- they just tried to make the song “work”. Well work it does, part of the allure of this haunting and cryptic song is that it seems to demand a serious, maybe even a dire interpretation that belies its title.

So what in the world does a puzzling Bee Gees song have to do with addiction and recovery? You’ll have to click “Read more” to find out…

A very common complaint of alcoholics and addicts in recovery (and out) is the inability to sleep on a set schedule. This lack of sleep and another tortuous night alone with nothing but our thoughts are just as dangerous to recovery as an old friend with a bottle or a dealer with a new marketing scheme. Sleep deprivation can cause stress, compromised reasoning ability, and even bring about depression.

On a flight out of Chicago today I had the pleasant experience of sitting beside a psychiatrist that specializes in sleep disorders from the Birmingham Children’s Hospital. I took the chance to ask her advice on how those of us in recovery can improve our chances of getting a good night sleep and she gave me these three tips.

Read more below the fold…