Here are some gentle reminders to help you feel grounded and emotionally supported, especially during moments of distress or uncertainty.
1.
Sometimes things may not happen in the way I want them to, or as I think they should. The timing seems off and the wait, much too long. My patience begins to wane and the doubts creep in and take over. I think that what I hope for is not meant to be.
I forget that whatever is happening is exactly as it should be. Once I remind myself of this, I am reassured that there is a perfect order in the way my healing is unfolding. This seemingly long repair and renewal process is taking me to a state of wellness. It is right on schedule, perfectly timed and brilliantly orchestrated.
And so, I relax. I wait… and I wait… While I do so, I gently shift my focus from worry and the dreaded “What if…” thoughts. Instead, I pay attention to the precision and effortlessness of nature… that simplicity I often take for granted. In doing so, my belief and trust in the innate intelligence of my body and its ability to heal are reinforced.
I think of spring – how long and dark the winter can be, and how it often seems it might last forever. But then the day finally arrives when the buds begin to open and the flowers start blooming. At the same time, hope finds its way back into our hearts.
I am comforted when I think that no matter how dark the night, dawn always comes… that on the greyest, gloomiest day when it seems as if the sun forgot to rise, it is shining somewhere behind the clouds. In the same way, I know that while I cannot see it happening, my healing is taking place.
And so, today, I choose to acknowledge the vitalizing and renewing force of nature. I am empowered by this awareness and I let go of any need for control. I am patient, hopeful and strengthened, knowing that just as spring comes after winter and dawn comes after night, this challenge will end with my recovery.
Sending healing thoughts and wishes, Baylissa
2.
As you prepare to navigate your way through this day, do your best to not allow the negative aspects of withdrawal to make you discount any good there may be in your life. Don’t let this challenging chapter of your life make you conclude that you have a bad life. Yes, there are many things that are painful, devastating even, and definitely ‘not right’ in your life now, because of withdrawal, and the pandemic, but they will both come to an end. While you patiently wait, see what you can find to be grateful for.
And no matter what emerges next, no matter how many times you stumble and fall as you endure the symptoms and await recovery, you must keep picking yourself up and you must keep pressing on. It might not be tomorrow or next week or next month, but the time is coming when you will notice improvements and things will get better. Even if aspects of your life other than withdrawal are difficult right now, there is so much to look forward to, after withdrawal is over, you must keep holding on.
When withdrawal is over you will be so proud of yourself. You will look back on these times and wonder how could you have doubted your strength and resilience. You will look back and realise just how courageous and heroic you have been. You will look back and see that refusing to give in to withdrawal, refusing to give up, has transformed your life in the most remarkable ways.
Sending healing thoughts and wishes, Baylissa
3.
Please don’t be apologetic for feeling sad or crying. You aren’t being weak or too sensitive. You aren’t being melodramatic. You are experiencing one of the most difficult life challenges as well as one of the saddest global events of a lifetime.
Expressing your emotions means you are being authentic and true to your feelings. It is okay to be vulnerable. Suppressing your feelings will not make them go away. They will instead be expressed in other unhealthy ways.
Anything that stifles you weakens you. Being strong means allowing yourself to feel how you feel and to express these emotions. And by giving yourself this permission, you will be comfortable with asking for help during the times when the burdens of withdrawal become too heavy. This is an act of courage and self-compassion.
Sending healing thoughts and wishes, Baylissa
4.
I know that at times you wonder, how will you find the strength to go on. Know that the strength within you has already brought you this far, and it will take you the rest of the way.
Being strong means that no matter how frightened, weary and emotionally and physically drained you may be, you keep going… taking one step at a time, with acceptance and determination, until you make it to recovery.
It means allowing yourself to waver, to have meltdowns, to be worried about all the bizarre things that are happening, and to let the tears flow on the days when it all becomes too overwhelming.
It means picking yourself up when you stumble and fall. It means staying focused on your healing and on recovery, no matter how much the withdrawal voice tries to discourage you and make you despair. It means being patient with the process.
Being strong means holding on tightly to the faintest glimmer of hope – one heartbeat, one moment, one hour, one day at a time – trusting that every new day brings you one step closer to saying “goodbye” to withdrawal, and believing that the day will eventually come, when you are able to put this experience behind you and usher in the new dawn of your recovery.
I know how difficult this is for you. Don’t doubt your resilience or ability to make it to the end. You are doing well. Stay strong.
Sending healing thoughts and wishes, Baylissa
5.
There may be days when you feel uncertain and doubtful. This is normal… a part of our humanness. If you are feeling overwhelmed, fed up or even angry, try not to be self-critical. The most effective way of dealing with those times when you just can’t be bothered to encourage yourself or to make the effort to “be positive” is to just observe how you feel, tell yourself it is okay and normal to feel like that, take a few deep breaths and make peace with the way things are. In other words, don’t resist your authentic feelings. Just accept them.
Then gently remind yourself of all you have overcome, including other days when you felt the same. Think of how far you’ve come and how strong, courageous and resilient you are. And you do this because it is true; not because you are trying to get rid of the feelings. That’s all you need to do. Nothing more.
Soon enough you will once again begin to feel confident in your ability to cope with whatever the day brings and believe again that you will be okay. Then you will notice a shift in your energy – that it has become lighter and calmer. This is how powerful acceptance is.
Sending healing thoughts and wishes, Baylissa