Symptoms of Recovery: Inner Peace
by Charles N. Roper, PhD

The traditional medical model diagnoses disease by the presence of symptoms. If one has symptoms of a disease, then we say that he or she has that disease. Conversely, the model diagnoses wellness, or recovery, by the absence of symptoms. If an individual had symptoms of the flu last week, then we say that he or she had the flu. But if those symptoms are no longer present this week, then we say that he or she is well--that is, he or she has recovered from the flu and, in fact, no longer has that disease.

This symptom-disease, no symptom-no disease/recovery model does not hold up very well for addictive disease. That's because although we do diagnose addiction by the presence of symptoms, we don't diagnose recovery by their absence.

Recovery from addiction is an ongoing process of growth and change along physical, mental, and spiritual dimensions. That growth process typically begins with abstinence from addictive substances and continues as the addict consistently and reliably "works" on him- or herself. During the recovery process, which never ends, the symptoms of addictive disease slowly disappear. The disease itself never does. The saying, "Once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic," is absolutely true.

So how does one know if he or she is really in recovery? Recovery has symptoms. And just as the symptoms of active addictive disease are observable, so are the symptoms of recovery. They occur within the context of abstinence, but they do not occur because of abstinence.

Following are a couple of self-administered Recovery Questionnaires. How do you fare? If the answer is "not very well," just remember--it's a process.

       
Twenty Questions Revisited
By: Charles N. Roper, PhD

• I feel healthy; I have energy and stamina.

• I like waking up in the morning to the promise of a new day.

• I have a healthy appetite for good, nutritious food.

• I make appropriate, rational decisions which usually turn out well.

• My gut-level feelings about things are often right on target.

• My memory is good; I can even remember the content of my casual day-to-day conversations with people.

• I am able to focus my attention fully on whatever is in front of me.

• I seldom say inconsiderate things that I later regret having said.

• I feel a lot; sometimes I feel more than I really want to.

• My reputation is good; people respect me and believe what I say.

• I trust myself to do the right thing in any given situation.

• I tell the truth, even when to do so scares me.

• When I feel angry or upset with another person, I look for how I was wrong.

• When I see that I was wrong about something, I immediately admit it and make amends.

• I enjoy my own company and appreciate my time alone.

• I enjoy the company of other people and appreciate my time with them.

• I feel as though my life has meaning and purpose.

• I know that I am a child of God, and I feel secure in that knowledge.

• I no longer have to run my life on will-power alone.

• I am who I am, and that's all that I am.

   
Symptoms of Inner Peace
By: Saskia Davis

Be on the lookout for symptoms of inner peace. The hearts of a great many people have already been exposed to inner peace, and it is possible that people everywhere could come down with it. Under the right circumstances, inner peace could reach epidemic proportions. This situation could pose a serious threat to what has, up to now, been a fairly stable condition of conflict in the world.

Some signs and symptoms of inner peace:

• A tendency to think and act spontaneously rather than on fears, which are based upon past experience.

• An unmistakable ability to enjoy each and every moment.

• A loss of interest in judging other people.

• A loss of interest in judging yourself.

• A loss of interest in interpreting the actions of others.

• A loss of interest in conflict.

• A loss of the need and even the ability to worry. (Please Note: This is a very serious symptom.)

• Frequent, almost overwhelming episodes of appreciation and gratitude.

• Frequent attacks of smiling.

• An increasing tendency to let things happen rather than make them happen.

• An increased susceptibility to feeling the love extended by others as well as the uncontrollable urge to extend it back.

• An unmistakable feeling that everything is okay.

Warning: If you have some or all of the above symptoms, please be advised that your condition of inner peace may be so far advanced as to not be curable. If you are exposed to anyone exhibiting any of these symptoms, remain exposed to that individual only at your own risk. Inner peace is contagious.