Band Aids & Antibiotics

Daily I am faced with the reality of my humanness. Living is not easy! I am constantly uncomfortable in my skin. Depending on the day, this ranges from a handful of times a day to several times an hour. I have big emotions, big responses and big passion. I am continuously faced with the choice of covering my pain with a Band Aid or using an antibiotic.

** I am using Band Aid and antibiotics as analogy words only. I’m not implying that antibiotics are the only or best way to heal infections. Nor am I endorsing the overuse of actual antibiotics. All of that is a completely different discussion. 🙂

BAND AIDS

My Band Aids are the things that are easy to go to but are hard to come out of and aren’t effective long term. Yes, initially they do a great job of producing the deadened and numb effects. These often feel good because pretty quickly the pain and discomfort is gone. Unfortunately, they come with a price – hangover, withdrawal, dependence, addiction, only short-term relief, and allowing underlying infections to fester. It’s like putting a Band Aid over an infected wound, it might cover it for a while but the infection will spiral and demand attention eventually. When it finally gets treated, it’s usually much worse than when it started. These are the Band Aids that I have used and still do sometimes.

  • Sugar
  • Restricting
  • Analyzing
  • Living in my head
  • Busyness
  • TV
  • Mouth biting
  • Lashing out at others (usually Dan & kids)
  • Self-condemnation
  • Fix-it mode
  • Denial / Ignoring / Avoidance
  • Withdrawal & Isolation
  • Putting on a happy face – fake it
  • My phone
  • Skin picking
  • Dissociate

ANTIBIOTICS

These are the things that help me feel and process my way through discomfort while keeping me connected to God, myself and others. They are usually not the things that I want first. They can take a little while to take effect and I may have to use more than one. I don’t feel better immediately. The beauty of these antibiotics is that I stay alive and awake to life in and around me. I get to know and love myself better and eventually I move through the pain.

  • Write
  • Meditation
  • Prayer
  • Recovery meeting / speaker / message
  • Petting or snuggling with my cat
  • Focus on breathing
  • Go outside
  • Talk to someone
  • Reading
  • Look at photos
  • Laugh (funny show or movie, animal videos)
  • Do something fun
  • Exercise
  • Nap
  • Color
  • Music
  • Be still & reconnect to myself

Just now as I was thinking about my Band Aids and antibiotics, I realized something really important. Although God is always with me, I block Him when I put on one of my Band Aids. I close myself off from connection with Him and myself, which is ultimately the worst consequence for me. All of my self-harm results from lack of connection. My Band Aids provide some short-term distraction while allowing the infection to fester.

My antibiotics open the door for connection – connection with God, myself and others which is the key to health, peace and joy for me. This requires a lot of faith on my part especially because antibiotics usually take a little time to circulate through the system and for their effects to be felt. Patience is required and she and I have a difficult friendship. Choosing antibiotics over the Band Aids requires me to look past the immediate gratification and look at the whole picture from a broader perspective. I also have to walk past the mob in my mind screaming for instantaneous relief. I have to trust that I will experience God if I open the door. I have to trust something greater than myself. I have to surrender.

I keep a copy of these lists on my bathroom mirror and writing this post has helped me so much. I have to be reminded, constantly reminded, of the paths between life and death for me.

Please share!! What are your Band Aids and antibiotics?

Facebook
LinkedIn
Twitter
Pinterest

13 Comments

  1. Simply wish to say your article is as surprising. The clarity in your post is simply cool and i could assume you’re an expert on this subject. Well with your permission let me to grab your feed to keep up to date with forthcoming post. Thanks a million and please continue the enjoyable work.

  2. I’ve been browsing on-line more than 3 hours as of late, but I never discovered any fascinating article like yours. It¦s beautiful worth enough for me. In my opinion, if all web owners and bloggers made excellent content as you probably did, the net will be much more useful than ever before.

  3. This design is spectacular! You most certainly know how to keep a reader entertained.
    Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to start my own blog (well, almost…HaHa!) Great
    job. I really enjoyed what you had to say, and more than that, how
    you presented it. Too cool!

  4. Wow that was odd. I just wrote an incredibly long comment
    but after I clicked submit my comment didn’t show up. Grrrr…
    well I’m not writing all that over again. Anyhow, just wanted to say fantastic blog!

  5. That is really attention-grabbing, You’re an overly skilled blogger.

    I’ve joined your feed and look forward to seeking extra of your fantastic post.

    Additionally, I have shared your website in my social networks

  6. What’s up to all, how is all, I think every one is getting more from this
    website, and your views are fastidious in favor of
    new users.

  7. Spot on with this write-up, I seriously believe this site needs
    much more attention. I’ll probably be back again to read through more, thanks for the advice!

  8. I may need your help. I’ve been doing research on gate io recently, and I’ve tried a lot of different things. Later, I read your article, and I think your way of writing has given me some innovative ideas, thank you very much.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Post comment