Recovery Exercise 7.1-7.3 pg. 137-138
SACRED Recovery Exercises (Part 1)
Recovery Exercise 7.1: Sacred
To read Part 2 click here: https://blueskyrecovery.com/2021/03/17/sacred-recovery-exercises-part-2/
Skill 1 (Sacred): Soothing
The first objective is to focus attention on what you find soothing. In other words, the first letter S, in SACRED.
“SACRED” is an acronym used by Blue Sky health professionals. The letter S stands for soothing, and the remaining five letters refer to Affirmation, Control, Reinforcement, Equality, and Determination. Each empowering skill is designed to employ the benefit of oneself and others.
Exercises for learning about each of these skills will be presented in this article. Here you will be asked to expand and amplify your personal attributions related to each of the listed terms. Soothing, Affirmation, Control, Reinforcement, Equality, and Determination.
Too often, life in the Borderline Zone is filled with sad trains of thought, or events that have the ability to make you angry or upset. The zone is in reference to a space in which behavior makes it difficult for you or others to make positive use of their available skills and abilities. A mental state fueled by fear, and mistrust. There are, however, other resources you may find soothing, relaxing, calming, and comforting. Focus here only on socially appropriate ways of self-soothing, and not on inappropriate ways (such as those that involve the use of alcohol or other substances), make a list of the things you personally find soothing.
Next to each item, explain how this activity has been soothing to you in the past, and how it can be used in socially appropriate ways in the future. In your write-up, describe the manners in which the good feelings obtained from such activities might be intensified. Ultimately how can you multiple the good feelings you experience, and consistently relive them?
Skill 2 (Sacred): Affirmation
The objective of A, Affirmation is to draft one’s own “declaration of independence.”
The Declaration of Independence is a document of pivotal importance in the history of the United States of America. It is a document in which the American colonists wrote out why they needed to be free from England. If you have read previous articles or have worked with a mental health professional, you may be ready for your own pivotal change. A shift inside yourself that allows you to declare independence from the previous restraints life brings while trapped in the Borderline Zone.
To expand your awareness and free yourself from the Borderline Zone, write out your own declaration of independence. Claim about a dozen or so habits or attitudes that you will be free of in the future. Think about how being free of those items or beliefs will change your life for the better.
Skill 3 (Sacred): Control
The objective to familiarize yourself with is C, control. Now is the time to revisit the issue of control and approach it from a different angle.
As discussed in previous articles, childhood events compel many people to feel as if they need to control their adult relationships. Pause for a moment and ask yourself, are there any benefits to relinquishing control in adult relationships?
Most of us are conditioned to believe that to be in control is “good,” while not being in control is “bad.” For this reason, we strive to always be in control, if not controlling others. However, sometimes it seems desirable to relinquish control to others. For example, if a patient is admitted to an inpatient program where everyone must follow directions and orders of the staff for the ultimate benefit of the patient, then it is a good idea for the patient to give control to the staff.
Task: write an essay on any situations you can think of where it might be in your own self-interest to relinquish control to someone else.
To read Part 2 click here: https://blueskyrecovery.com/2021/03/17/sacred-recovery-exercises-part-2/
You can live well! Start your journey to recovery with BlueSky Behavioral Health. Get the best mental health treatment by visiting https://blueskyrecovery.com or call (888) 822-7348.
