why some people get better quicker than others

[squirrel]

does anyone have any idea why some people have it easier than others?

[squirrel]

oops just noticed the spelling error!

[Sheila]

Oh, squirrely squirrel -- there are so many different reasons. But, I'll tell you one generalization -- I think that when people find something they really, really want, and can let themselves have it, this can help people turn the corner. Not every time, but often. That's why the IAWP is really trying to help people identify and pursue their passions.

[Iggy131313]

so Sheila do you think that some of w/d is psychosomatic then? and by redirecting our attention we can let w/d go?

[Sheila]

Rather than that, what I would say is that the mind and body and spirit are all just different aspects of the same thing -- you. And you can affect *you* by coming in from any of these directions. And healing is always about becoming who you really are, becoming fully yourself. And we are most fully healthy when we have been able to find something that we feel "called" to do, that we love to do.

[Iggy131313]

This worries me alot as it makes me think Im not *doing* enough to stop it and so Im causing or at least perpetuating all these symptoms myself? I have no calling or passion because Im too anhedonic...maybe this is something you do later on in ther recovery process do you think?

[Sheila]

Well, I think it gets easier later in w/d, but I do think you can and should make little attempts to identify and pursue your passions right from the beginning. If you can spend hours researching self-destruction, you can spend 15 minutes a day Googling things you have always been interested in but never had the time to look into. This is an example of the "harm reduction" model -- you don't expect to change self-destructive behavior overnight, but you keep doing little things that are healthy as well.

[Iggy131313]

LOL, yes, I see what you mean, although how do you know I havent always wanted to be a heroin addict lol?

I tell you what stops me doing things, I dont want to ruin them, I feel like if I do something good (and I can hardly bring myself to do them as I feel so bad) it ruins it, contaminates it with this feeling.

ALTHOUGH...I have been reading some history stuff about Henry the 8th, I have recently (during w/d) developed a liking for the tudor period, have read 5 books around it and watched the Tudors seasons 1=4 about 5 times, I think I could recite it...I also have done lots of reseach into where the various tudors were lain to rest and who was sleeping with you (everyone with everyone) and other bits and bobs,

Is that a good start?

I think I like it because its such escapism, another world, sometimes I imagine myself in the Kings court, but without the smells, although I must say even though I bathe everyday I *might* smell a little 16th century myself!

[Luc]

Iggy, it's not so much a matter of "doing enough", as those symptoms, in a considerable way, have to get more tolerable on their own, that is, your body has to, step by step, work to re-establish homeostasis again. So, this "kind of worry you shouldn't worry about". Yet, trying to focus, even in this anhedonic state, on things that potentially can take your mind off of WD at least a bit, is really worth a try. Start on a lower level, then work it up. It may only help.

[Luc]

Be it Henry, Tudors, sock monkeys, or all combined. Do whatever you are able to hold onto for at least some minutes. Yes, it'd be a very good start. 100%.