Zanna has come to you with a heartfelt message today. It’s time for you to take some time to rest and recover. You’ve been through hell recently. But that’s behind you now. Taking the time and focusing on your recovery is what you should be doing now.

A lot of people tend to think that because they powered through a rough patch in their life that they can’t slow down or everything will fall apart. And although that might have been true for you in the recent past, it's time to allow yourself time to recover - otherwise you’re going to implode from all the stress and get nothing done anyway.

The Recovery Paradox

Paradoxes can be quite annoying, and the recovery paradox is no exception. On the one hand you’re so stressed that you feel like you HAVE TO KEEP GOING - but on the other you’re so worn out that everything you do turns out to be a mere fraction of your potential.

Like little hamsters we keep running on the wheel of adulthood - because when we stop our world stops and we’ve been taught from a young age that the real world waits for no-one. But the harder we run the more tired we get!

Back in the day of the cave-man stress was real. Something would chase human; human ran or got eaten; stress over. But these days our stress is just in our brain. And that makes recovery a paradox. Because we’re stressed about things that don’t exist on the physical plane, so we have to actively convince our brains that the danger is really gone. But the danger is never really gone, because all those things still exist in our heads.

It can be maddening to try and quiet the voices of responsibility… And that’s largely why a lot of people turn to drugs. Because we don’t take the time to relax. We don’t teach ourselves how to unwind in healthy ways. And then the only recourse is something that’s going to keep you running at high pace, or knock you out for a weekend so you don’t feal the fear.

The irony is, that if you learn to take the time for recovery before you need to be admitted to a recovery facility you’ll end up spinning your hamster wheel a lot more effectively. Here are some addict-approved stress-busting techniques you can use to help you relax:

• Prayer and Meditation
  If you know anything about AA you know that they place a big emphasis on prayer and meditation. This can be whatever you want it to be. You can recite prayers, use breathing techniques, perform certain rituals, even talk to your Guardian Angel. The bottom line is to set some time aside each day to reconnect to the Divine and align your thoughts and actions with a Higher Purpose.
• EXERCISE
  There’s a reason that most stress metaphors include some for of exercise. It goes back to the cave-man example. Our bodies are built to deal with stress by either fighting or fleeing. We need to exert physical energy to deal with and reduce stress. As little as 15 minutes of moderate exercise a day can be just what you need to help you sleep at night..
• Sleep
  It’s always a good idea to look back at fond memories, especially when you’re feeling stressed about the future. At this time it’s probably a good idea to look back at all the times your Guardian Angel helped you in the past. It’s a great way to remind yourself that your attorney is there looking out for you every step of the way.

Of course these are just some of the techniques they’ll teach you in real recovery. A place you could end up if you don’t learn to take care of yourself right now. Zanna didn’t just show up to tell you to take a fifteen minute break and then get back on the wheel again. She’s warning you that you need to make a lifestyle change now, before life forces you to stop. So take the time to listen to exactly what your body needs right now. You’ll be glad you took the break and found your safe place.