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Feeling Again: The Wild Ride of Emotions in Early Recovery

So, you've made it through rehab, and the fog of active addiction is starting to lift. Congratulations, you've taken a huge step. But now, you're faced with a whole new kind of overwhelming - your feelings. All of them. At once. It's like someone flipped a switch and suddenly you're drowning in a sea of emotion. This is the rollercoaster of early recovery.

Why the Emotional Tsunami?

In active addiction, drugs and alcohol were your go-to coping mechanism. You used them to numb out uncomfortable feelings, to celebrate, to deal with stress...basically, to avoid really feeling anything. Now that you're sober, all that's left is...feeling. It's like the volume on your emotions got cranked up to 11. Dealing with difficult emotions is one of the biggest recovery challenges because drug and alcohol use often begins as a way of coping with...

Enter Emotional Intelligence

Emotional intelligence (EQ) is like having a superpower in recovery. It's the ability to recognize your emotions, understand what they're telling you, and realize how your emotions affect people around you (MindTools). Think of it like having a roadmap to navigate the emotional minefield of early recovery. People with higher EQ tend to do better in recovery (A social work study on the effect of emotional intelligence factors on recovering people addicted to drugs).

Building Your EQ Toolbox

So, how do you start building this emotional intelligence? Here are some tips to get you started:

Get to know your emotions: Take time to really tune in to what you're feeling. Name those emotions - are you anxious, sad, frustrated? (How to improve emotional intelligence in 9 steps)

Journaling: Write down your feelings. Seeing them on paper can help you process and understand them better.

Practice mindfulness: Mindfulness is like a superpower for your emotions. It helps you stay present and focused, rather than getting caught up in emotional reactivity.

Seek feedback: Ask trusted friends, family, or a therapist for their perspective on your emotional responses. Sometimes others can see things we can't.

Learn healthy coping skills: Replace old, unhealthy coping mechanisms with new, healthier ones. This might be exercise, meditation, creative pursuits...anything that helps you manage stress and emotions in a positive way.

The Bumpy Road Ahead

Learning to navigate your emotions in early recovery won't be easy. There will be ups and downs, and sometimes it'll feel like the downs are winning. But here's the thing - every time you face a difficult emotion and find a way to cope with it healthily, you're building strength. You're proving to yourself that you can do this.

Early recovery is a time of massive growth and change. It's uncomfortable and sometimes downright painful. But it's also a chance to rediscover who you are beneath the addiction, to learn new ways of coping, and to build a stronger, more resilient you.

So, buckle up and take a deep breath. The ride of early recovery might be bumpy, but with time, patience, and practice, you'll learn to navigate those emotions and find a sense of peace and well-being you never thought possible.-Belle-