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Addiction and Recovery – Love, Wendy

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Addiction is a brain disorder that can slowly kill one who lives with this fatal disease. Addiction is a mental health disorder.

Recovery is the solution that can restore your mind, rebuild your life, and offer a path to lasting healing and hope when you commit yourself to wellness through specific self care strategies.

Self care is the actions that we take to achieve wellness, and wellness is where we stand in our power.

I’m about to celebrate 13 years of living in wellness in recovery from substanceuse disorder. It’s a lot of hard work and certainly the journey has many winding roads and ups and downs. I was one of the lucky ones to have found recovery through a holistic approach and became a holistic coach and practitioner to serve others. Most recently, I decided to listen to my voice within to do even deeper inner work that has been so necessary for quite some time in order to enhance my life/recovery. 

Feelings of severe anxiety, guilt, anger, and deep sadness have plagued me for some time so I thought I would attend SMART RECOVERY meetings (something I rejected in the past) and work the steps of this recovery community. 

It is never too late to add tools to your recovery plan and in fact, I am finding that this is what I have needed for so long. I no longer feel so alone, and I feel like I am doing constructive work to become an even better version of myself for myself and for my family and friends.

And no doubt, I will be able to share this experience along with all of my holistic practices with my clients and even our community.

I felt the universe guiding me towards this for quite some time.

Listen to your voice within. Inherently, we know what we need for healing.

To read more about my journey, you can read my book, Write Pray Recover: A Journey to Wellness Through Spiritual Solutions and Self Care available on Amazon and online bookstores worldwide.

The little girl in this picture experienced severe trauma & neglect at a very young age into middle age, ongoing. It is a miracle that I have grown into a new woman in adulthood at all, alive and well, and still open to learning, growing and evolving. 

I have humbled myself in order to understand new perspectives because I want to be the example for my children and grandchildren that no matter what you experience in your life, it is always a choice to turn it around. To LIVE. To be well and happy. To love and to be loved.

We can recover. We do recover. It is a lifelong commitment.

Love and blessings,

Wendy

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Healing is a Creative Process – Love, Wendy

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Healing is a creative process that allows us to choose again when our wellness tools are not promoting our personal health and wellness goals.

We must be aware of our body’s signals and our mind’s whispers, recognizing when it’s time to modify our strategy, shift our approach, open our mind to other perspectives, trust our intuition, and explore new methods that align with our true needs for balance and well-being.

Recovery from Substance Use Disorder is a lifelong process that requires us to be creative, to be humble, and to be willing to revisit strategies that we may have discarded in the past.

As our situation changes, we may find that the strategies on the shelf will bring a renewed sense of creativity…and healing.

Love and blessings,

Wendy

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Breathe Into It – Love, Wendy

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When I begin to feel my emotions causing a physical sensation in my body, rather than resist what I am feeling, I BREATHE INTO IT.

I inhale one slow deep breath through my nose to the count of 4, hold for the count of 6, exhale slowly and purposefully to the count of 8. I continue this breathing pattern until I feel the uncomfortable physical sensation loosen its grip and until my heart rate begins to slow down.

As I breathe, I remind myself that I am safe, or I can find a safe space or a “safe person” to support me as I experience symptoms of heightened anxiety, (anger, fear, etc…whatever you are feeling that is causing you to feel “unwell”).

Our breath is our most accessible tool to intervene with our physiology in real time. It is my organic strategy for resetting my nervous system.

“Breathing into it sends oxygen to your body, helping to calm your nervous system, clear your mind, and nourish your cells. It’s a reminder to slow down, center yourself, and embrace the present moment with each inhale and exhale.” Remember that you always have a choice as to how you respond to external stimuli. Choose a constructive response that promotes wellness, inner peace and personal growth. Use this experience to practice resilience.

Happy Friday. Happy Weekend.

Love and blessings,

Wendy

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Be The Example – Love, Wendy

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Observe the incredible sense of entitlement and arrogance.

Imagine all the energy it takes for one to spew such self righteousness. It must be exhausting.

Remember that this is all about them and their own feelings of inadequacy.

The solution is to remove yourself from their energy and create distance, emotionally, physically and mentally.

Protect your peace. Refuse to absorb their negativity. Recite the mantra, “I can choose peace rather than this” from “A Course In Miracles.”

Recognize that their behavior is in no way a reflection of your worth, but a projection of their own struggles. 

Live your life. It is your best response as you set the example of strength and confidence in who you are.

Your superpowers of strength and confidence is what defines you!

Their entitlement and arrogance defines who they are…even to those who pretend to accept their attitude and are just not yet bold enough to speak their own truth.

Be the example.

Love,

Wendy

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Confidence Is Quiet – Love, Wendy

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Confidence is quiet.

Insecurity and low self worth are loud because they constantly seek validation and attention, desperately trying to fill the emptiness inside.

Simply observe their reactions and behaviors. You need not respond. They are searching for something external to calm their inner turmoil.

But…

True peace comes from within.

Love and blessings,

Wendy

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Reset with your breath – Love, Wendy

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Regulate your nervous system.

Stay in control of your personal agency, naturally. Keep your mind sharply on your breath which is the most challenging part of using deliberate breathing.

Deliberate breathing brings the body and mind into a state of calm and focus.

Reset…

Take in two sharp inhales. Exhale long and slowly.

When you find yourself triggered, or your emotions are causing you physical symptoms of anxiety, use your breath.

It is your most accessible tool to intervene with your physiology in real time.

When you make mindful breathing/deliberate breathing a regular practice which becomes part of your lifestyle, it is easier to implement, and to be successful during times of high stress and anxiety.

Go to a quiet place and keep your mind on your breath. 
Using substances are only a temporary fix. We always have our breath and it is our most accessible tool to intervene with our nervous system in real time.

I have 13 years of sobriety now and breathing is one of my go to’s when I feel panic or anxiety. 

I had to use this on Friday night and even though I’ve practiced mindful breathing for over a decade, it took me almost an hour to re-center and recover. And afterwards, your body can feel exhausted. This is normal as you guide your brain to center.

It takes a lot of mental strength to stay focused on your breath and not the symptoms of the anxiety episode that you are experiencing. This is why it is so vital to make this a daily practice. 

Your brain then recognizes immediately the pattern of focus and calm. It strengthens the neural pathways over time that support relaxation and focus. It creates an automatic response to stress that promotes emotional regulation and resilience!


To work with me one on one in my coaching program, call 845–263–4094.

Love, Wendy

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Chemical Countdown – Love, Wendy

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“Chemical Countdown” is a way of regulating our nervous system through a deliberate breathing technique when we feel provoked or triggered.

There is power in exercising restraint, which builds resilience and character…otherwise known as emotional regulation. In this space, we pause to ask ourselves if what we are feeling is related to a past trauma, or a real present moment threat.

Staying in the present moment to discern if there is a real threat allows us to stay in control and remain calm, as well as disarms the other person or situation. It allows us to focus on our breathing, and to redirect our thoughts. A “Wise Mind” strategy.

Releasing our emotions through healthy practices is more productive than engaging in unnecessary banter.

Love and blessings,

Wendy

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A Love Letter to our Wellness in Recovey Community – Love, Wendy

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Thank you for trusting me with your personal stories yesterday and last night.

Wow.

There is so much truth to the fact that we ALL have a story, and that when we share our stories, it allows us to feel supported, and to support others who are experiencing challenges, adversity and heartbreak.

Please know that suffering does not discriminate. However, as we come together and we share our experiences, and we pray for each other, we build a loving community, a spiritual community, where we also build resilience. And the more we practice resilience through healthy practices, daily, the stronger we become…the more resilient we become.

We adapt and navigate with mindful determination through the stress, we continue to be productive, go to work, enjoy our family and friends, love, laugh, cry, all together, knowing we are not alone. One day at a time. One hour at a time. One moment at a time.

I shared my personal story of my own 13 year recovery from substance use disorder as well as my daughter’s ongoing battle with this life threatening disease. You reached out privately to share your similar story and experience. And so many of you told me you had not shared before. To unpack that build up of burden is a relief to our physical and mental health.

What I have learned over the years in working in this field, and having the lived experience is that we NEED each other, and we experience comfort when we feel a part of a loving community. And we all deserve to live in peace and wellness, no matter our circumstances.

WE are not alone when we speak our truth and ask for what we need. And inherently, we know what we need to feel better. It will look different for everyone, and will change over time with our circumstances.

Love, kindness, support, prayer. COMMUNITY.

KEEP SHARING.
KEEP PRAYING.

Find whatever healthy practice provides you with wellness and peace, and take time for your self care every day.

You have the right to live your life in peace, joy, and wellness.

You can read my entire story in my book Write Pray Recover:A Journey To Wellness Through Spiritual Solutions and Self Care on Amazon and online bookstores worldwide. https://a.co/d/iUCD8NW

Thank you.

Love and blessings,

Wendy ❤️