Recovery from the Inside Out
Let’s face it, in active addiction the last thing on your mind is “Am I getting all the healthy nutrients my body needs daily?” The only thing you’re thinking and wanting to put in your body is alcohol and drugs on a daily basis. In fact I know from my past the last thing I wanted to do was eat. It would ruin the good buzz I was so desperately needing. Then that day comes that you’re ready to stop the insanity so you check into a rehab.
You’re on your way to recovery, it’s not easy. Not only is your body going through detox cleaning out all those dreadful toxins, but you will need to start learning about addiction, coping skills, and getting involved with whatever group that you find that suits you. So much is happening with your body, the withdrawal process can wreak havoc on your stomach, your heart, and many of your other organs. As the days go on you start to see clearly all the hurt and pain you’ve caused, the people you may have lost from your life, and so much more. But most addicts don’t realize the physical damage they’ve done on their own body with the many years of abuse it’s taken. Actually many addicts are malnourished by the time the seek help.
Alcohol and drugs prevent your body from absorbing the nutrients it needs. Your liver, as we all know, takes a beating along with your pancreas, kidneys, and brain. Face it, it’s just not good for you! If you don’t feel good about yourself your self-esteem is destroyed, which can easily drive you to relapse and fall back into your old ways.
We need to change from the inside out as well as stopping the insanity. Early on in sobriety your body seems to crave sugars because of the amount of sugars in the alcohol that you used to give it, along with refined carbs such as cakes, pastries, and donuts; everything you seem to see laid out at a typical 12 Step meeting.
But these are all empty calories they just fill you up and when the sugar high wears off you’re right back where you started, and actually maybe noticing a bit of weight gain.
Instead, try cutting way back on your sugars and trying wheat breads, brown rice, and beans. Protein is so vital for your brain, kidneys, and liver to help restore them. Best bet for anyone at this point is to find a nutritionist who can set up a diet. Actually, I hate the word diet; it needs to be a life change, one you can live with.
Recovery from the inside out will help tremendously so you can focus clearly on the emotional, mental, and spiritual parts of your recovery. Putting this all together will give you a much better chance of succeeding to be a person in recovery. Don’t be surprised if you feel better than you have in years! Take advantage of this. How lucky are we to be given this second chance?