Steps on the Road to Recovery

Steps On the Road to Recovery for 14 to 20 Sep 98.

Published Last Week. A daily hint published each day since June 1996. This is past my second year anniversary since starting this site. Page Down for the next days that are added a day at a time. I have moved to http://recoverybydiscovery.com and this daily page is now here at https://www.recoverybydiscovery.com/daily.htm . I would appreciate any feedback, questions and suggestions that you have.

What I am going through now is the DSM-III-R Desk Reference a "disorder" at a time and commenting on the spiritual and recovery aspects. The DSM is what the American Psychiatric Association uses to label symptoms to facilitate communication in their community. Unfortunately, the labeling from the DSM can shut down communication with those seeking temporary assistance and spread the stigmas of mental illness. The DSM can also bring some comfort by telling some that others have had the same experience. I am adding additional comfort by pointing to some ways to start getting out of the "disorders". I am not writing about cures. I am writing about how the cure process works over time. Instantaneous cures can be as traumatic as the original event that generated the disorder or illness. Instantaneous cures do not do us any good when we get the same disorder back since we have not changed the thought system that caused the disorder in the first place.

14 September 1998

"296.2x Major Depression, Single Episode" is a single episode without

mania. Just like a illness that strikes once and is heard from no more. The negative

energy that comes out of our unconscious to strike physically or mentally is still the

same process. Actually, it can be easier to clear mentally than physically. When it

strikes physically, we still need to clear it mentally.

"296.3x Major Depression, Recurrent" is when our negative energy comes

in reoccurring episodes. This illness can be challenging since we rob ourselves of the

very energy would get us back up. So, one technique is to stay down and fully feel

our depression. I did for a long time knowing it would pass, just not when it would

pass. In the mean time, I would have been better off if I knew how to do positive

self talk and about Effective Prayer for Personality Types and to "Relate Without Anger".

15 September 1998

I already wrote about the next subject, panic. I continued here and here. Now

I am following with variations from the DSM. "300.21 with agoraphobia" is one

subtype of Panic Disorder. This is where there is a fear of a specific situation. For

example, fear of crossing a bridge or going through a tunnel. By definition there is

something in the unconscious that is connected with a bridge or a tunnel. When the

reminder, a bridge or tunnel, is thought of, or shows up, that activates energy from

the unconscious. That can be good news. That can be a key to recover unconscious

energy when someone is ready to deal with increased energy. Not being ready can

just be a way to cope with not being ready for part of our energy.

16 September 1998

"300.01 without agoraphobia" is just ordinary panic disorder without knowing

what unconscious fear is involves. Sometimes this is more scary, since this is fear of

the unknown. The blessing in disguise is that we do not know what the fear is from

and can clear it by just letting it go and just watching the process. The challenges

come in when the mind tries to manufacture a reason for the fear by connecting the

fear with the environment that we are in. Fear is a great warning feeling, but when

we have searched for a cause and found that we are safe, that is the time to go to

where we know we really are safe and to let the feelings pass. When we do, they

will be there to warn us in the future, or let themselves go.

17 September 1998

"300.22 Agoraphobia without History of Panic Disorder" is fear(s) of

something happening. This is having panic about situations that could produce

panic symptoms. Fear is one of our resources that can become our friend instead

of our enemy. Some examples of agoraphobia fears are of leaving home, being

embarrassed, traveling. We all have some level of fears of something happening.

We all do not live some part of our dream because of our fears of failure. We

also all do not live some part of our dream because of our fears of success. So

we are in our comfort zones. Our challenge is to expand our comfort zones.

I spent most of my life pushing my comfort zone about my shyness. My

short story on how I overcame my shyness is here. I pushed my comfort zone

until I finally received spiritual help. I always was, I just did not realize that. I

would have got over my shyness a lot sooner, if I had known what I know now.

But, I was not ready to know what I know now, then.

18 September 1998

Another break from the DSM "disorders". Today this is about a link I am

adding with their own words. "Magic Stream Journal ...a guide to emotional

wellness: Magic Stream is a self-help and mental health resource. Extensive

references for mental health professionals, consumers, family members and

individuals seeking self-help information and an aid to personal growth.

Combining an holistic approach to health, nutrition, and psychology with

emotional wellness, Magic Stream seeks to provide a well rounded resource

for wellness. Our philosophy is to do what we can to take care of our self

both physically and mentally, make our self stronger, accept our self as we are,

and seek help when it is needed." I added this to my links of links on my links

page.

19 September 1998

"300.23 Social Phobia" is about a fear of being socially embarrassed. We

all have this to some degree. We do not want to appear socially inept to some

extent. Even those that are acting that they have no social consciousness are

covering up some social insecurity. This is all to say that this is an ordinary

fear.

Then we have a number for ordinary fear, "300.29 Simple Phobia". The

source of the fear is not as significant as the form of the forgiveness, assertiveness,

consciousness, and teamworking we use to overcome the fear.

20 September 1998

"300.30 Obsessive Compulsive disorder" is about obsessions and

compulsions. Obsessions are just our repetitive thoughts. Compulsions are

just our repetitive actions. Of course there can be both together. Of course

we all have some level of both of these. Repetitive actions are just habit loops

and we all have our collection of habits. Repetitive thoughts are just thought

loops and we all have our collection of thought habits. The problem is only

a problem when the problem is a problem. Problems are only life challenges.

So, how to face the challenges of obsessions, our repetitive thoughts. One

way is to neutralize one negative thought loop with an opposite positive thought

loop. That is not to say that once balance is achieved that there will not be

some clean up work to do, it is just that the clean up will be easier from a

position of balance. Another way to transform a thought habit is look at what

the thought is and find more and more important ways to carry out that thought.

For example: Let us say that the thought is "I need to lose weight." A more

important way to lose weight would be to give my excess weight to my lord

most high within. So I could transform this thought of "I need to lose weight"

to "I am giving any of my excess baggage to my lord most high within." by saying

this thought until the need to lose weight goes away and the responsibility and

authority for transforming my baggage is totally in the hands of my lord most high

within.

The opposite of the thought that "I need to lose weight." could be "I am at

my perfect weight at all times." There is nothing to prevent us from using both

techniques at the same time except ourselves.

I Foster Discovery and Recovery,

Michael Foster, M. A.

Recovery Skills Coach

"Learn HOW to recovery by discovering the blocks you need to remove and the actions you need to take and what you need to let go of as your blocks to your blessings."

From my book in process, The Spiritual Cookbook (Generic Recipes for a Better Life)

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I started my daily page, because it is useful for me to look for some recovery tip or secret each day for my spiritual growth. we and I only need one secret to work on and let it work on me each day. They are secrets because they are usually the opposite of what the majority of society teaches. They must be secret because they are not commonly used. A friend of mine once said "Common Sense is not much in Common.". Now that I have grandchildren I am also writing for them. I would have really liked for my grandparents to have passed on what they learned.

I am including Sunday as it is my formal day of learning the lord most high's secrets. If you would like ask questions, or contribute some of your wisdom, or want to make some comments or want to vote for which day to put on my tip of the month page or tell your success stories, click Michael Foster, M. A.

14 August 98