“Spring adds new life and new beauty to all that is.” –
Jessica Harrelson
Now that spring is upon us, with its longer days and warmer weather, what better time to introduce new, healthy habits and thought patterns? What better time to spring into recovery and embrace a new season of life?
Recently on Positive Recovery MD, Dr. Powers and Julie DeNofa spoke with Dr. Navid Khodaparast, Ph.D., Chief Science Officer and Founder of Spark Biomedical, where he is responsible for overseeing Spark’s clinical initiatives and works to advance the technology into new potential indications such as the Sparrow Therapy System. Dr. Khodaparast’s research on using Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) to promote innate restorative brain plasticity and treat neurological disease is considered foundational for the principle of target neuroplasticity training and has led to multiple VNS clinical trials for stroke rehabilitation.
In this episode, Dr. Khodaparast, Dr. Powers, and Julie DeNofa discuss the importance of destigmatizing opioid addiction and withdrawal symptoms. They also share how the brain can develop “new” pathways, known as neuroplasticity.
If you are looking to develop new habits and thought patterns on your Recovery Journey, here are 3 Ways to Spring into Recovery.
Let the Sunshine In
Did you know that Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) affects 5% of adults in the US? With 20% of adults suffering from a mild case of the “Winter Blues,” it’s no wonder Winter can be a difficult season for many. With shorter days and colder weather, it’s easy to feel zapped or waves of sadness for seemingly no reason. These feelings of deep depression can often lead to trying to drown out our thoughts and feelings with drugs and alcohol. But one of the many beautiful things about spring is that we can see the light once again.
Simply opening up a window, feeling the warm breeze, and basking in the sunshine can instantly boost our mood. Our level of happiness increases, and we genuinely feel warmer on the inside. Getting out and experiencing the warmth of Spring on a day hike or grabbing lunch with a friend outdoors can make us feel whole once again.
Find Your Creative Space
Something about taking up a new hobby or learning a new skill helps us feel more alive, creative, and in tune with our inner child. As a kid, many of us often tried new things. Whether it was learning a new sport and joining a little league team or trying a different art medium and playing around with color, many of us weren’t afraid of starting something new.
It can be pretty challenging to learn how to be creative again as an adult. We often overlook our playful side with work schedules, life changes, and daily tasks. We don’t tap into our creative space and remind ourselves what it was like to be a child as often as we should. But, with the changing of a new season, now is the perfect time to tap into your inner child and find your creative space. It can be as simple as buying a new plant or starting a vintage vinyl collection. Or you can take it a step further and learn how to successfully grow a garden or teach yourself how to play the guitar.
Join a Support Group or Recovery Community
Like Seasonal Affective Disorder, winter blues can often lead to isolation. For many of us, keep to ourselves and don’t want to get close to others for fear of them seeing the deepest parts of who we are. But the truth is, we need people. Not to mention, those people need us just as much as we need them. In fact, the stronger our community, the more successful our long-term recovery.
It can sometimes feel scary to join a support group or recovery community for the first time, but it is incredibly worth it. By locking arms with other individuals, it gives us an opportunity to say, “Hey, me too. But we aren’t going to let our past define our future. We’re in this together; we’re in this for the long haul”.
Spring Into Recovery and Embrace a New Season
“Spring: A lovely reminder of how beautiful change can truly be.”
Anonymous
Whether it’s letting the sunshine in, finding your creative space, or joining a support group or recovery, spring is the perfect time to embrace a new life through sobriety. So enjoy the warm, fresh air, continue learning that new skill, and welcome your new friendships with open arms.
Need Help?
If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, please consider calling us at (877) 697-1383. We have a full continuum of care from Detox through Aftercare and have 14 locations from Houston to Austin’s Hill Country.
We are here for you and want to see you succeed!