Jill Palmer’s Articles and Mental Health Resources

Articles by Jill Palmer:

1. How to Balance Being a Single Parent and Avoiding Relapse by Jill Palmer

2. At a Crossroads_ Here’s Why Change Can Be Worth It by Jill Palmer

Ask for Help

If you are a single parent in addiction recovery, you know that balancing kids, work, and sobriety often feels like you are a juggler with too many balls in the air. When you struggle to do it all, you become overwhelmed and stressed and face an increased risk of relapsing. Managing sobriety takes a concerted effort that includes a support system, a sober game plan, and activities that reduce stress. Our short guide will help you balance it all and stay on the path to sobriety.

The challenges of being a single parent and maintaining sobriety are numerous. It’s difficult for individuals in addiction recovery to ask loved ones for help because they often feel guilty about putting their family through the pain their addiction caused. But, you need to understand that you will be more successful as a parent and have a better chance of maintaining your sobriety if you ask for help.

Help comes in many forms, so don’t despair if you don’t have family or friends who are unwilling to help. Many addiction support groups offer childcare because they understand that members need to juggle self-care with childcare. Similarly, many churches offer support groups for both single parents and addicts, and they often open their Sunday school rooms, multipurpose rooms, and nurseries to children so parents can attend meetings and gather strength and advice once or twice a week.

Single parents also often band together to assist with transportation to and from school, athletic practices and events, band practice, and more. Get to know the single parents at your children’s school and form a group to help one another. You’ll enjoy spending time with others who face similar challenges and you all will benefit from having a few extra sets of hands and vehicles when trying to juggle everyone’s schedules.

Create a Sober Game Plan

Most recovering addicts know their triggers, and it’s imperative for single parents not only to be aware of them but also to take steps to avoid relapse when triggers loom on the horizon. For example, if you know that you become more stressed when one of your children’s sports seasons or band seasons begins, attend more meetings or start looking for more help ahead of time.

Creating a sober game plan is an ideal way to get past triggers and get through times that are more likely to lead to relapse. You may alert your support system to check on you more frequently or ask your sponsor to attend stressful events with you. You also may want to keep water on your desk or by your bed if you are tempted to drink at night after the kids are in bed. Knowing when you are at a greater risk of relapse and how to avoid it will help you create a sober game plan and stay on the right path.

Find Ways to Manage Your Stress

Addiction and stress are a volatile combination, and many single parents in recovery point to stress as a trigger for relapse. Physical and emotional stress impede the recovery process by making cravings worse and adding pressure and anxiety to individuals. For single parents, one of the best ways to manage stress is spending fun time with your children. You need to re-prioritize tasks when you feel your stress levels rising and understand that taking time for fun will make your stress more manageable so those tasks become less overwhelming.

For starters, leave the dirty dishes in the sink and go for a walk together after dinner. Get the bikes out of the garage and go for a ride while dinner cooks in the slow cooker. Hit a nearby hiking trail and look for signs of the season. Organize a whiffle ball tournament with other single-parent families. Give yourself permission to spend fun time with your kids to relieve stress and reduce your risk of relapse. The dishes really can wait.

Single parents in addiction recovery can balance everything much more easily when they ask for help, recognize triggers and create a game plan for remaining sober, and spend fun time with their children to relieve stress.

Article by Jill Palmer ( jill@mentalwellnesscenter.info)

Image via Pixabay by rawpixel

At a Crossroads? Here’s Why Change Can Be Worth It

You may have heard that change is inevitable, and this includes making decisions that can lead to major changes in your life. While change can be scary, there might be some signs pointing you in a particular direction. If you’re feeling a loss of happiness, then it might be time to make a change. Let’s look at a few cases where that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

A New Pet or Two

You might be thinking about becoming a pet parent, but maybe you’re worried about the responsibilities that come with it. Fortunately, those responsibilities are easily handled if you know what’s needed and make a plan. You’ll need to know what your new pet can and can’t eat, the supplies you’ll need (cleaners to address stains in your carpet, toys, leashes, etc.) as well as the health checkups they need. According to Reader’s Digest, there are numerous benefits to owning a pet. For example, they can help you manage stress and make you feel less lonely, which, in turn, makes you less prone to the symptoms of depression. Cats, in particular, have been shown to lower their owners’ risk of heart disease.

A New Career Path

There’s a difference between getting a different job in the same field and changing careers. According to the Balance, it’s important to decide which path you really want. If you’re sure it’s a change in career, then take a detailed look at the careers that suit you and which skills you may need to learn in order to make the change. Setting off on a new career path can give you a better sense of purpose and increase your income. You’ll also meet new people and learn new skills that can have a positive impact on your life as well as your health.

A New State or Country

If you’re feeling unsettled about where you are and you know it’s less about your living conditions and more about your state of residence, then look into moving elsewhere. According to this article from Hip Latina, moving out of state can give you the chance to experience different cultures and learn new things. You can have the opportunity for a fresh start in a new location and build the life you really want. When moving to a new state, make sure to transfer your license, forward your mail, and inform the utility companies of your move beforehand. Moving to a new country, however, calls for a bit more planning. You’ll need to get a passport if you don’t already have one and find out if the country requires a visa. You should also do your research about the country and make sure your healthcare needs will be taken care of.

A New Home

Whether it’s your first home or a new one, some of the signs it’s time to move include the need for an upgrade, tight space or you have safety concerns. If you’re new to the home buying process, then some essential things you’ll need to take care of are getting pre-approved for a loan, being practical in your home choices, and avoiding any hidden costs. When you own your home, there are some tax advantages, and you also benefit from having a consistent expense in your mortgage as opposed to monthly rent payments that you have no control over. Being a homeowner can have a positive impact on your credit score.

Life changes can be as inevitable as they are essential to our well-being. So, if you’re no longer happy where you are, then it might be time to do something about it. However, make sure you know what you’re getting into and plan accordingly so the change can be seamless. You’ll be that much happier when you’re where you actually want to be.

Photo via Pixabay