FB

No, this is not a blog about Facebook, but it could apply to it. Those initials could also apply to your Favorite Boy, Favorite Book, Faith Based, Fresh Bread or Favorite Brave (as in Atlanta Brave). Alas, it is none of those.

Instead it is about Frustration & Boredom a double dose of addiction relapse triggers. So I will take them on briefly one at a time. Frustration can turn into resentment and anger very quickly or we can turn it into as asset of growth. Here are two examples:

Today while talking to a friend in recovery who has been in virtual isolation with elderly family for the past year due to COVID restrictions etc. she mentioned an incident where frustration with her relatives narcissism led her to wanting to virtually strangle her (I know you've been there), then she went into her room, briefly thought of using but instead poured out her frustration to God in prayer. It worked, happily no strangulation.

But despite Jesus instructions, the report of his power spread even faster, and vast crowds came to hear him preach and to be healed of their diseases. But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness to pray. Luke 5:15-16 NLT

One textbook example of how to handle frustration from a recovering addict that followed the example of the one who may have experienced frustration himself that some may have come for the miracle but not the message. That may be exactly why relapse occurs, we skip the prayer step because we have missed the message.

Then there is Boredom, and for that I will quote words from an old A'A. buddy, "When we are in our own mind, we are behind enemy lines." The obvious key to winning any battle is to stay out of a danger zone.  Thus allowing ourselves to do positive activity prevents boredom plus gathering with like minded folks (meetings, church and good recreational activities with friends) allows us little time to be bored.

And then quoting the words of Jesus again, which are doubled up in Step 12, "Go ye therefore....", in other words go help somebody else, go tell them the good news, go teach them what you have learned, go ye and give back what you have been freely given. Get out of our own mind where boredom breeds discontent & causes relapse.

What do the words of Jesus and AA have in common? They are both healers, all it requires is your Faith to Believe!