Steering down life’s unexpected pathways, breaking and accelerating when necessary, nobody can be entirely certain where they’re going or when they’ll get there. We put life in drive and can only go forward at this point- doesn’t seem too complicated. On this metaphorical avenue, have you ever caught yourself in auto-pilot mode without realizing it?
For some, life becomes bland and tasteless as we slowly numb away reality with the same monotonous routines day in and day out. We forget the natural high of life and chase the chemical replica. The need to feel alive ensues while the boring becomes normal and normal becomes boring. Yet trying to avoid rocking the boat doesn’t matter if there’s a hole in the vessel. Everything has a price of some sort to pay. Stress builds up over time and the toxins begin to poison us from the inside out as we continue forward in discontent looking for any escapism possible. Addicts and alcoholics turn to substances to give them that feeling of being alive. Of course, as predictable, we can cue the “uh oh” here. Yet, it doesn’t have to be that way.
Driving Down the High Way
We love the feeling the substances give. Feel the rush. The process of it all envelops your whole persona and excitement follows. Sorrowfully, eventually, it consumes you to a point of obsession and irrationality. Most just wanted to feel a euphoria dissimilar to that of the mundane, but the plan backfires when the disease of addiction comes knocking. However, there is a solution. Upon getting sober and entering recovery, we discover methods to produce that feeling organically. Harnessing the concept of a natural high opens up new doors for much open-mindedness to come.
There are limitless possibilities of how to create that high outside of getting high. It’s all about trying to release endorphins in one manner or another. Just to be clear, endorphins are just groups of hormones that become expelled into our opiate receptors from a reaction to whatever stimulus provoked such. Everybody is different and everybody’s body and minds are stimulated differently as well. That being said, not everybody will get the same reaction from their drug du jour or the natural high they implement. Yet rest assured there are options for everyone, and it’s just a matter of a little introspection and figuring yourself out.
Growing Organic Highs
Chasing a natural high is so much easier- and healthier, than going down the powerless and unmanageable road of chemical dependency. Alcoholic thinking is a terrible terrorist of a disease that will mentally torture the addict or alcoholic in question. Nobody wants to be this way, but it sneaks up on all substance abusers over time. Time is that double agent that can heal and hurt equally depending on which type of high is chased. Most of us forget through the complexity of life that some of the simplest of practices will give us the highest of feelings that just have us melting in unrefined ecstasy. Just a few ways to carry out achievement of that natural high include:
- Exercise
- Reading/Writing
- Selfless Deeds/Love
- Artistic Expression
- Artistic Indulgence
Only a percentage of available techniques, but it’s enough of a start as we rediscover the non-hazardous opportunities life provides for us. Personally, any form of exercise provides an outlet that can only be explained as “release”- and not just the release of endorphins, but a total release of tension. Some people get this rush from extreme sports like bungee jumping, hang gliding, parachuting, parkour, or even hunting for Big Foot- to each his/her own.
The idea for most is that it’s anything that can drill adrenaline to their brain and heart. This isn’t necessarily bad- just pick your battles prudently is all. The chase of the thrill becomes the thrill of the chase for some and contingently leads to impulsive rash decisions. Remember with recovery, that wise is the way.
High on Life
Surviving, it is significantly part of the human condition. Surviving while enjoying the trip- that is where the work comes in. A good bit of introspection mixed with love is how we exploit these natural highs. To ascertain the things that bring us joy, we have to love ourselves and others. When we spread love in various forms- be it physical, mental, sexual or spiritual, its manifests this warm fuzzy feeling inside that can only be explained as “butterflies” for many.
Helping others in a proactive manner is the only way any of us will make it through this life alive. In an existential spiritual point of view, we are all each other. Understanding and being understood is a pleasant sentiment that everybody should feel at some point during their existence. Love is a natural high that consumes all hatred and can even mask addiction in dark times.
It’s easy to find that natural high in sobriety, but not before it. Unfortunately, most addicts/alcoholics will fail to see the beauty in a natural high if there is still a potpourri of liquors and powders being delivered into the bloodstream. The assortment of chemicals that we become accustomed to just clouds the ability for natural endorphins to thrive in our alcoholic thinking. It’s essentially guerrilla warfare between synthetic and organic substances. As this bloody civil war between detrimental and righteous behaviorisms prevails- which side of misery and happiness will you choose?
Chase the Highs- Not the Lows
Addiction has no boundaries. It helps addicts/alcoholics get sucked into this world of chemicals as they struggle to feel anything but horrible from then on out. The drugs provide this hypnotized way of life that brings us to our lowest of points while seemingly high. It doesn’t have to be this way and nor should it. If you or a loved one has been struggling with getting a firm grasp on sobriety and need a drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility, please call 1-800-481-8457 or visit oarcstaging.wpengine.com. Our teams of specialists are waiting by to help figure out what options are best for sending your life is a comfortable direction that you can proudly stand behind.
