Addiction and mental health issues can be painfully disempowering, and lead us to fall silent regarding our needs, wants, and wishes. It can lead us to believe that we are deserving of any disrespect, judgment, or insults we receive.
It can cause us to not speak up for ourselves and to not stand up for ourselves.
The narrative that those of us who struggle with mental health or addiction are somehow inferior or less-than needs to end now! It is time to take a stand.
But how do we recover our voice?
- Start slowly, take time to reflect on your words and what you want to say.
- Try to not let others rush or pressure you. Ask for a moment to gather your thoughts when you need it.
- Think about the ways you love to express yourself, e.g., art, writing, songwriting, poetry, or playing music. Ensure you are giving yourself plenty of time to pursue these activities.
- Practice “I” statements to reclaim your power, e.g., “I feel frustrated when…”, or, “I don’t think I want to do this activity…” or, “I would love to go on a walk with you.”
- Track when you are in the cycle of the “disease to please” (when you feel as though you have to say yes to everything because of shame, or because you feel responsible for others happiness)
- Track where you say no when you truly want to say yes. What would it be like for you to honor what you truly want? What if you didn’t isolate yourself by saying no?
- Reflect on the times in your life where you felt the strongest. What do you think caused you to lose some of that power?
- Seek alignment – do your thoughts match your words, and do your words match your actions?
- Ask yourself, “What do I want the world to know about me?” Share that message!
