Steps on the Road to Recovery

Steps On the Road to Recovery for 19 to 25 Oct '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://www.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.

19 October 1998

Last week I was continuing writing about some of the symptoms of Generalized

Anxiety Disorder [GAD]and some hints on what to do at first. What one does later

is a matter of how much we are getting in contact with our intuition and guidance

from our lord most high within. The first symptom this week is the third symptom

out of eighteen to qualify us for GAD. That symptom is "restlessness". Who among

us has not been restless at some times. The difficulty is when this symptom is

continuing. Then we need to start finding about our extra energy. Some times we

can just sit and get to know more about our energy. Other times we can learn about

flowing with our extra energy. In both cases we are starting to learn to value our

energy and ourselves.

20 October 1998

The next symptom is "easy fatigability". One can ask ,how easy. Actually I know

a lot about fatigability. That was my major symptom as a child along with not hearing

in my left ear. I was easily fatigued and had no second wind because part of me

was disassociated . That happened because of my birth trauma of forceps being used

with much force. My remedy was to reassociate with my energy over a longer time

than the original wound. It is easier to clear a trauma over a longer period and when

we are ready to forgive. Part of forgiving is also getting to where we are grateful.

This symptom is about low energy reserve. Some of the other symptoms are about

low energy or high energy. It can be very useful to look at symptoms from an energy

point of view. We can experience spirit in moving and potential energy.

21 October 1998

The next symptom is "shortness of breath or smothering sensations". One of the

low energy symptoms. Been there and done that. A lot of times I had pushed the

boundaries of my breath and over time I believe that helped. When I was going

through smothering sensations it was challenging to just watch the process as I

waited for my breath to return. Interestingly I found I could do without breath for

longer than I thought I could. What the smothering did was bring up any issues

that were in my unconscious about smothering in the past. There was some feeling

that I had done that before, but with out knowing where or when.

22 October 1998

The next symptom is "palpitations or accelerated heart rate". I certainly had

that happen a lot of time when I was recovering from bipolar. What I found was

that my heart was gaining energy for the next step in my recovery. My challenge

was to just do nothing and be grateful for my process. This was definitely a lot

different approach than my world taught. What I noticed happening was that there

was cooperation going on between my spirit and my body. They were both

conspiring to get me well. Not the way that the doctors and others thought I

"should" get well, just the way I was getting well.

23 October 1998

The next symptom is "sweating, or cold clammy hands". This is

another symptom we have all had. This is one symptom I remember

a lot when I was recovering from bipolar. This is one of the symptoms

of fear. I knew there was nothing rational to fear and yet I was going

through the symptoms of fear. Going through the symptoms meant

clearing the irrational symptoms.

Just like we need to clear our irrational thinking like Rational

Emotive Therapy teaches and Cognitive Therapy teaches, we need to

clear irrational feelings. Letting the feelings clear by themselves is

one of the ways that works. Another way is "Focusing". Another

way is Inner Child Work. Tomorrow I will add some material on that.

24 October 1998

The Inner Child Work I am writing about is using metaphors to talk

to the inner child and to help the inner child grow up. The most

profound work I have seen is by David Grove. You can find some

references to his work at http://www.devco.demon.co.uk/ . I have

personally been in his seminars a couple of times and found his work

to be of great importance. When opportunities come up in coaching

to assist at the metaphor level, I have seen very amazing results.

When you are interested you can try the following at amazon.com.

I'll add them tomorrow to my therapy books pages.

Resolving Traumatic Memories : Metaphors and Symbols in Psychoteraphy

David J. Grove, B.I. Panzer / Hardcover / Published 1989
Our Price: $19.95 (Back Ordered)

Resolving Traumatic Memories : Metaphors and Symbols in Psychtheraphy/Book & 2 Cassettes

David J. Grove, B.I. Panzer / Hardcover / Published 1989
Our Price: $49.95 (Special Order)

25 October 1998

When you are interested in finding more about David Grove you can

send your inquiries to: David Grove Seminars, RR 5, Box 125aa, Eldon,

Missouri 65026. USA and 1-800 - 222-4533. Like all excellent therapy

I find the same golden thread running through all of the therapy that works.

I find respect, spiritual themes, peaceful loving acceptance and assistance.

I find all of these in David's work and teaching. That is why I feel this is

a good ending for this week and day of Sunday.

May the peace of the lord most high within all of us grow until we find

all is at peace.

I foster Discovery and Recovery and the Life of Your Dreams,

Michael Foster, M. A.

Mental Health 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)

If you would like a free monthly newsletter with coach's hints on a single subject, click RBD's Free Monthly Newsletter Registration Form.

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