I first came across the acrostic HALT in the context of weight control, I believe at a Weight Watchers' meeting. When I heard it again in the context of addiction recovery, something clicked for me. Like many people, I could tell you stories of the brokenness in my life, but I would rather share helpful resources for recovery and transformation. We all fall short of our potential to some degree.
We all sabotage ourselves at times. I am excited about spiritual transformation and the potential for renewed lives. I believe that humans, like the mythical phoenix, have the miraculous ability to rise from the ashes and start again. But we are prone to triggers that can send us back to our unhealthy coping techniques. We may be especially prone to backsliding when we are:
HUNGRY
This is a big trigger for me! If I allow myself to get too physically hungry, I am prone to eating what is available and eating it too fast. I don't take the time to enjoy my food and I don't realize I am full until I have over-indulge. What a way to sabotage my weight loss efforts. If I shop when I am hungry, I make poor choices and then I have junk food tempting me at home.
Not good for a person that struggles with their weight! It is so much better to plan ahead and properly nourish my body, so I do not feel the need to consume everything in sight. Planning ahead also allows me to obtain better nutrition, leaving me with more energy and a healthier body for fewer calories. I believe that we also experience spiritual hunger, which can be even more dangerous. Do you ever feel that there is a hole deep inside you waiting to be filled? This can be very painful and cause us to resort to unhealthy behavior to cover up the pain. Where do you find the courage to face that hunger?
ANGRY
Since I tend to run from conflict, I am also prone to this trigger. I'm sure you've heard that anger turned inward is depression. I don't have a medical background, but looking at my personal history, I believe this is true. I found myself in a situation a few years back where I felt a LOT of anger but did not feel safe to express it. I was subsequently diagnosed with some sort of depression. I am getting treatment and feeling much better, but there are still days that I struggle with fatigue.
I am working on learning different ways to express my anger and trying to develop healthy coping habits, such as exercising away the adrenaline fight or flight rush. After all, inappropriate expressions of anger can sabotage recovery just as much as holding it all in. I am definitely still working on this myself. Some days are better than others.
LONELY
Loneliness is hard. When we are undergoing transformation, we may find that we need to leave old relationships behind because these friendships may sabotage our efforts to build a new, better life. We may lack the skills necessary to form healthy new relationships. At the same time, we are exploring new territory that challenges our confidence and may need social support more than ever before.
I have been able to build healthy relationships through my church friendships and volunteer activities. Others may find them in specialized support groups. It is essential to find people that will support our efforts to change while loving us unconditionally. I'm sure that there are many ways to find new, healthy friendships. If you have some ideas, please share them below.
TIRED
I don't know about you, but when I am tired all my defenses are down. My aches and pains are achier and more painful. My self confidence plummets. My positive outlook turns black-and I don't care! When I don't care, it doesn't seem to matter what I do, so it is easy for me to engage in self sabotage. It's amazing what getting enough sleep does to improve my life, and yet sometimes I still slip and stay up to late, doing things that "must" be done.
I encourage you to take some time to sort through your top priorities and create a "not to do list" of all the things you feel you should do that have nothing to do with the things you value most. Free yourself from the "shoulds" and you will have more energy for the things that really matter to you. So, if you are tempted to sabotage your efforts at transformation: HALT! Are you hungry, angry, lonely, or tired? How can you meet your real needs? Halt the hurt! Stop self sabotage!
Join the conversation on http://haltthehurt.com/ - the site about brokenness and recovery. You CAN renew your spirit and transform your life!
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