Balance and Cross Addiction

Balance is not something you find, it’s something you create. - Jana Kingsford

One of the most important aspects of recovery is finding balance. As addicts, alcoholics, whatever you choose to identify with, we are extremely compulsive and have a desperate need for instant gratification. Balance is important because we have to be aware of becoming caught up in cross addictions, or when we replace one addiction with another. Can you relate? When in active addiction, our preferred substance causes an enormous surge of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens or, the ‘pleasure center,’ of our brains. When we are no longer in active addiction, our dopamine production’s new normal is extremely low compared to what we are used to, and this causes us to want to replace that with something else. You may be thinking, “So what if we replace our progressive and fatal addiction with something that is not going to kill us, it’s better than using right?!” Not necessarily. The danger of not having balance and completely substituting one addiction with another makes us more prone to relapsing and returning to our original addiction, because like our original addiction, our substitute addiction and the effort we are putting into it is not usually sustainable. For me personally, this has always been exercise and eating. If I was ever in a period of not drinking you can be damn sure I was on an insanely strict meal plan and training for a bodybuilding competition, marathon, or something to those extremes. With that being said, don’t fret! We are in this together and we can find balance together. Now, balance in and of itself is evenly distributing things in your life. “Things” being family, work, school, faith, diet, sleep, exercise, volunteering, and so on, no two people are the same so these will look different to everyone. The number one way to find and maintain balance, and avoid cross addiction is…Knowledge! Knowing and being conscious of these things is your best deterrent. Start taking a daily, weekly, and/or monthly inventory of your behaviors being aware of anything you may be putting too much time and effort into, especially if it is causing you to neglect other aspects of your life. As you embark on a new week, think about the following questions, and when you answer them make sure you answer them with no judgment, only grace and compassion. You are on a healing journey, and part of that is loving yourself exactly where you are. I sure do love you. 

Is there any part of my life I am substituting my addiction for? How can I balance that out?

Is there any part of my life I am neglecting? Why?

Are my priorities in order? What can I change to have more balance and cultivate more joy?

Am I getting enough sleep? What can I change to ensure I am well rested?

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