What are /r/REDDITORSINRECOVERY's favorite Products & Services?

From 3.5 billion Reddit comments

Do service work, ask people to go for coffee, ask questions about themselves. Outside of meetings there are a few options: volunteering, pick up a social hobby, join a community group (meetup.com, eventbrite.com etc.). The fundamental mechanism of friendship is reciprocity. Pay attention and care about people, eventually you will make friends.

Get and (try) to read this book.... Secrets of the Temple: How the Federal Reserve Runs the Country.

It is 800 pages of pure insomnia-busting prose, your brain will literally execute a HALT command to end the misery. I've never made it past page 49. Now all I have to do is think of the book and my brain shuts down completely. It really is that horrible.

> it actively damages people's chances at recovery.

How are you an authority on AA and its effect? I submit to you that you don't know anything about recovery other than your personal warped views that you nurse in your mind full of spite and anger. Anyone who reads your posting history will learn that you are not happy, joyous, or free, and misery dogs your every step, yet you somehow think that you have something to offer people who suffer from alcoholism and other addictions. Here's some news for you: the only thing you have to offer is an example of how not to do it.

I am sorry about what happened to you in the past, and I am more sorry that you continue to be controlled by it. Since you refuse to have anything to do with the AA program of recovery, I suggest you read Victor Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning (1946). His experience in a concentration camp during World War II taught him that we often cannot control what happens to us, but we can learn to control how we react. Perhaps his experience and advice will help you find some kind of peace. In the meanwhile, you are not only not helping people who come here seeking help, you are actively harming yourself by insisting on making your anger and resentments the centerpiece of your life and keeping it constantly in your mind.

And I comment on your threads because you spread the disease, not the cure.

There is a line at the beginning of the book 'Alcoholics Anonymous' which states that, 'We are over one hundred men and women who have recovered from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body."

I think you've got the gist of it in your own definition of recovery, but mine centers around the idea that, first, I have reached a state of hopelessness about my own mind and body, and second, that I need help in order to escape that hopelessness.

Since 'hope' is such an indefinable state of being, one does not necessarily need to be addicted to a substance in order to be hopeless - one only needs to recognize that self-reliance has failed, a dead-end has been reached, and that the solution is to admit defeat, and reach out to others for help with the process of rediscovering hope in one's own life.

One of the books I read many years ago that I re-read in recovery, with fresh eyes, was "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" by Robert Persig. It is a tale of a man's journey through discovery, loss, hopelessness, and re-discovery, that very much resonated with me as I undertook my own transformation.

I hope this helps.

I had a 500mg/day habit of oxycodone, here's what I did to help DT:

1. Drink Yogi brand Kava tea, 2-3 teabags, it will help so much.
2. Take a warm bath two (or more if you want) times per day.
3. Smoking cigarettes helped me, although that's not exactly "good".
4. Listen to very relaxing music.
5. If you have the chills, use a warm compress, use a cold compress if you have warm feelings. 6.You know that feeling when it's cold out and you have warm blankets and you cuddle and feel tingly? That feels amazing while detoxing, so get a few blankets and cuddle yourself up.
6. While you're laying down, listen to rainy mood, it makes everything better.
7. Try going to an NA meeting four or five days in, it will help. It saved my life.

Withdrawal lasted 1 1/2-2 weeks for me, I promise you, it does get better.

Edit: For some reason this comment just won't format correctly..argh..

Congrats. Depends on how much "freedom" to outside amenities. Smokes sometimes can be like gold, so maybe 30 cartons to start. Lighters too.

Books, pens, writing pads or a journal. Maybe some cards or something to write people though they probably have something for you there. Figure out how to work buying things, like toiletries and the above mentioned items if available.

On books, bring one or two lighter reads. I've been to two different ones and at least early on it's a good chance you'll have homework and other activities to keep busy (also resting when you can). Personally I'll suggest some books that aren't specifically recovery books, but are helpful with the journey:

The Road Less Traveled, Scott Peck Sermon on the Mount, Emmet Fox (AA big book was largely inspired by this) Man's Search for Meaning The Spirituality of Imperfection A Joseph Campbell Companion - I liked Campbell anyway, but took this one time. A lot of excerpts from him, most are focused on life's journeys.

Make the most of it. Best wishes.

There are a few things that can have a measurable, clinically significant effect on anxiety and depression.

One is using a DBT workbook. It's not as good as working with a trained therapist, but it does have a significant, demonstrative effect.

Here is a commonly recommended workbook:

https://www.amazon.com/Dialectical-Behavior-Therapy-Skills-Workbook/dp/1684034582/ref=asc_df_1684034582/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=366299527575&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=15146749454454416526&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvq...

There are pdfs out there too. And other workbooks.

1. Exercise

Whatever you like. Yoga, gardening,,walking, weightlifting, tennis, chopping wood...whatever

1. Spend some time outside in the sun. Preferable in the morning.

I have found that a 15 minute walk around the block to be enormously beneficial to maintaining a stable head.

Any one of these would be helpful.

Sitting outside for 15 minutes counts.

Haha, nice Always Sunny reference. I'm sure you'll find something suitable.

If you want a cool list of hobby ideas, check this out: http://www.filedropper.com/60-hobby-ideas-v2 (it's for people who are quitting video games, but same idea)

How about a book? I just finished a good one about shutting down intrusive thoughts to open up your life. It’s really good! Have a peek here maybe?

Bring earplugs in case you get stuck in a room with a snorer. Not the foam kind, the rubber plunger kind, they're easier to put in and work way better:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07ZSZQD22/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_QAR5EJM6Y3MDXDG57V9E

my mom wrote a book about her dealing with my addiction and choices I made. It's more of really how she had to just turn me over to God, and how she couldn't let me keep destroying our family. It's not really about what I went through as much as it is from a single mon's perspective and how she needed to just trust God to take care of her son. It's a short read, a little over 100 pages, but it's very inspiring and shows that there's nothing too hard for God. I've been clean for a little over 23 years now and volunteer in recovery. It's called "Closing The Door, But Not My Heart" https://www.amazon.com/Closing-Door-but-not-Heart/dp/0692406387

There's a great free course on Coursera from Emory University called The Addicted Brain - for anyone who really wants to get into this. From it I learned that there can be a 50% genetic component to addictions - which doesn't mean you're doomed to be an addict if people in your family were. It can mean however that your body was born with greater susceptabilities to certain chemicals that others may not share on a biological level. This can be specific to different substances as they act on slightly different parts of our brains. For example some people's acetyl choline receptors will produce a stronger reaction to nicotine and thus they (if they take up smoking) will be more likely to become smokers for life, and some people will have an unpleasant reaction to alcohol because of their genes and will therefore be less likely to develop an addiction to that substance.

For all of you AA Big Book people out there, you may remember in the Doctor's Opinion the part where it talks about the body of the alcoholic being as abnormal as his mind. There is a physical component.

I got my boyfriend a special coin for his 4 years :) he loves it and carries it with him in his wallet. there’s a really nice one on amazon here’s the link they have all the years. MyRecoveryStore Silver&Gold 1-50 Years Alcoholics Anonymous Medallion AA Coin Capsule Included (Year 5) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B088GRNNH3/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_60F4ECQFC68YZGDJTBT2?psc=1

Here's one: https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLnNvdW5kY2xvdWQuY29tL3VzZXJzL3NvdW5kY2xvdWQ6dXNlcnM6MTc2MTAzNDE4L3NvdW5kcy5yc3M&episode=dGFnOnNvdW5kY2xvdWQsMjAxMDp0cmFja3MvNzc2MTkxNjkz

Here's mine: https://anchor.fm/recoverysortof/episodes/CoroNAvirus-and-Recovery---The-Ultimate-Survival-Guide-For-Continuing-Recovery-During-Strange-Times-Sort-Of-ebhp1r

And I know there's another onei listened to, but I can't find it right now. There's probably many more.

There’s a really good young people’s meeting here in Hawaii held on Zoom. I know it’s not quite the same online as it is in person, but it’s really good. Here’s the link if you’re interested (:

https://zoom.us/j/81551429291

Slack is a group chat tool: https://slack.com/

It is used pretty universally in the tech industry as a work thing, but is also used socially for all kinds of special interest things. It is basically a slick web layer a company put around an older chat system called IRC (which is what r/stopdrinking is using if I recall correctly).

yes - mainly my confidence with girls was shot as well as my ability to socialize normally. i am finally feeling more confident in myself an starting to feel normal in those situations again, but i also feel like i lost some of my best years (25-32) to try and find a life partner or whatever. I went to AA for about a year and while it helped me stay sober - especially in those first 90-180 days, after a while i felt like it was doing more harm then good and i found myself second guessing every decision i made and really just making me have low self esteem in general - so i stopped going and began to feel better about myself after a few months. IDK everyone is different, but we do recover.

Also - yea on the boring front, totally agree. you gotta take up some hobbies even if you suck at them at the beginning (i am guessing you have lots of free time right now). Exercise, eat healthy, and pick up a few hobbies - whether its water color painting or learning an instrument or photogaphy or chess or IDK whatever. find something to occupy your time with that you can also see yourself get better at over time.

Id reccomend the book atomic habits:

https://www.amazon.com/Atomic-Habits-Proven-Build-Break/dp/0735211299

​

this book helped me get into a daily routine which is super important for ppl in recovery, better than anything i learned in AA, NA, Smart Recovery, etc.

​

Good luck to you and as i said we do recover, 2 months clean is nothing (not saying that in a bad way, its an amazing achievement - just saying give yourself time and be patient with yourself and try and build out a good healthy daily routine and sprinkle in some new hobbies). IDK i am no medical professional, but in my experience most medical proessionals know jack shit about recovery.

This Big Book app is awesome for accessing Zoom meetings. When you click on the Meetings button, it shows you and gives you a live link to, multiple meetings in progress right now. It also gives the schedule for meetings not happening now.

Right at this moment, for example, there are 3 Spanish meetings, a meeting in Mumbai, and a global men's meditation.

AA Big Book

😊🙂😎

Modafinil was my gateway to harder drugs, but...I have bipolar tendencies and it gave me euphoria. The doctor who wrote this book says in it that modafinil is actually used successfully off-label to treat meth addiction, but that he’s had a couple of patients who got high off it and they were both bipolar. Talk to your doctor about this, especially if bipolar runs in your family.

Do you have a daily check-in where people can discuss what is going on in their life that may impact their recovery? Discuss the role of prayer and meditation and what if any experience they may have had. Perhaps you could read a portion of The Miracle of Mindfulness by Thích Nhất Hahn and then discuss.

I can understand that. Is it possible though, that you needed some time off from those things because you had a more pressing issue to focus on? Many people drift away from things, even things they love, in early recovery (which can be more than a year, definitely) because they are prioritizing their life and sobriety first.

Now, it sounds like you are in a better place. I think it is understandable you would have needed some distance from those things for a while. Now, you sound ready to return to these things.

I recommend "The War of Art" by Steven Pressfield, since people are recommending "The Artist's Way", which I also really like.

I don't really understand that logic tbh. You don't take an anti-depressants because you're sad, you take them because you're depressed. It's a legitimate medical condition. Sadness is an emotion, it comes like every other, often out of our control; you can't be happy all the time. Emotions ebb and flow. I commented because you sound very much like me two years ago. I told my therapist no to anti-depressants because I had legitimate reasons to be depressed. In hindsight though I was off-base. Everything in life is a matter of perspective. Every situation and circumstance can be viewed through a myriad of emotional prisms. I've been wealthy, dating, with great friends , etc. and miserable and I've been broke, unemployed and alone and completely content.

I only got better when I let go of my ego and decided being my own councilor had merely fucked up my life. The only suggestion I'd offer you is to read The Power Of Now. It might change your outlook. Dismiss it as new age nonsense if you wish.

I hope shit improves for you though.

It's not so much a recovery related book but more of a spiritual and self improvement read. "Think and Grow Rich." - I've read it like 6 times and it really changed my life and changed my perception on not being a victim and taking control of my life. Hope you like it :)

My "BAM" moment wasn't so much a "hallelujah" as much as it was a "duh." I simply realized that my conception of a deity/creator, built up over many years, DIDN'T WORK.

The main idea was that my conception of God could be discarded, and another conception built up using a different approach. Other people had formed a conception of God which worked for them. Why not find what worked for me?

For informational purposes, my conception of a higher power was taken from:

• Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein
• Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Persig
• The Book of the Subgenius by J.R. "Bob" Dobbs
• The Principia Discordia by Malaclypse the Younge

Unorthodox, to be sure, but hey, I'm sober today - Hail Eris!

What I think is that folks that classify doing the program of Alcoholics Anonymous as only the fellowship have missed the mark.

If one does not engage in the inventory process that is steps 4 & 5 & 10 & 11, then one is not actually doing Alcoholics Anonymous.

I had to go through 2 sponsors until I met a third that had a process of analysis, one might say psychiatric-like-analysis, that is the process of taking inventory and sharing that inventory with someone else.

We do it for fun and for free but basically it is the psychiatric analysis that Freud, Jung, David D. Burns, M.D. took from the ancients. Some really early philosophers said something like, "The un-examined life is not worth living" and so we examine our lives. We check the results of the experiments that we've run and try new things where we didn't like the results. It might serve all of us in recovery to take a moment or two and study the origins of psychiatric analysis and how it has changed over the years.

I would also like to put a plug in for therapeutic drugs. I've met some folks that are off their meds and realize that some folks have congenitally present problems that can't be AA'd away. There are folks that need to be managed.

I wonder just how many folks in AA actually do inventory like it is laid out in the book? Maybe 5 to 10 percent? Maybe.

check out the book recover! it is exactly what you are looking for.

http://www.amazon.com/Recover-Thinking-Reclaim-PERFECT-Program/dp/0738216755

seriously awesome book, it has a ton of work you do in it its not just a book to read.