STRESS

Definition of Stress: a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or demanding circumstances.

Synonyms of Stress: strain, pressure, tension, nervous tension, worry, anxiety,, difficulty, trauma, suffering, pain, grief, etc.

These notes are from recovery in AA and/or related 12 Step programs. Readers are encouraged to click external links for more detail. We hope you find them helpful.

Love in fellowship.

Inevitably, there are times of stress in our lives, no matter how long we’ve been in recovery. During stressful times, we can rely more heavily on ou
r support systems.

Affirming that the events taking place are a temporarily uncomfortable part of a good, solid plan can help. Our most important focus during times of stress is taking care of ourselves.

Self-care may not come as easily during times of stress. Self-neglect may feel more comfortable. But taking care of us always works. –The Language of Letting Go/Melody Beattie | More…

No one can avoid stress
I know and use tools to move away from stress rather than perpetuate it.

No one can avoid stress, yet we can help ourselves out of it by not getting stuck going round and round inside it and feeling victimized by being stuck. As abuse survivors, we may even be addicted to the adrenaline high of crisis, to protecting our anger, and to the wariness that comes as a natural response when we feel threatened.

But we rarely experience deep pleasure while in a stressed condition. We deserve a release from the rush of adrenaline and the imperative for self-protection.

I counter stress from various approaches.
I talk out what is provoking me with a friend.

I do yoga or some other exercise that takes me temporarily outside of my problem and gives my body another focus. I take a few quiet moments to make contact with my higher power and open myself to the flow of this wisdom. When I return to the stressful problem, it will still be there but my ability to work with it will be altered. –Daybreak/Maureen Brady | More…

When we reach a stressful time in our lives, our vision
gets narrow. We fail to see the options and possibilities we have.

Spiritual people strive to keep one eye on the horizon, even in a worrisome situation.
They breathe deeply so they do not tighten up or close off the world.

They return to the relationship they have with their Higher Power, trusting the process to carry them through and they open their eyes to quietly take in the possibilities before them. –Touchstones | More…