Pressure

Life can be filled with unwanted pressure. How do you deal with it? Do you feel forced to conform with what others are doing? Pressure can lead to poor decision making if we do not let the pressure out in a positive way. Giving in to pressure is not a healthy choice. Pressure can effect any age at any time of your life. Self needs to learn how to work through pressure and not let pressure dictate your decision making. In the past, pressure could be a path to relapse and unhealthy behavior. Going to a work happy hour, because everyone else may be going to the same function is a form of pressure. Even though you know that a happy hour environment is not a positive environment for you since you have been clean for many months. Attending a barbecue function, when you understand that there will be a litany of alcohol, but you say everyone else is going, why can't I? How about going to party, thinking you won't see any drugs, and if you do, you will be able to handle that urge or craving. Eating a pizza at 10pm at night, and thinking you can get it down, without purging, because your friends can eat when ever they want. Going to the casino for a birthday party with a peer, even though you know you have not been to a casino in a long time, but you think that you have to go in order to be part of the birthday celebration. Feeling that urge to go to a club, and not look to hook up with anyone, but you see all of your other friends with someone, and now you feel the need to meet a stranger and have unhealthy sex. All these are forms of pressure. Each example you may be able to relate to when you gave into pressure and the outcome was not a positive one. But, that was the past, now is the present, and you can work through any type of pressure. First, you need to not make the thought bigger. Let the thought out. Think it through, play it forward in your head. Common sense will be help you with your fantasy thinking. Second understand that you know you can go to any of these forms of pressure, but at this moment, you are deciding not to go, and be ok with this decision. Go find something else to do, like exercise, call a peer for support, give self credit for not giving into the pressure. Finally, allow self to be rewarded for not giving into pressure. Treat your self to something positive. Journal about how you wanted to engage in the unhealthy pressure, but you did not, and write how that feels. Pressure can be controlled with positive thinking, and positive behavior. Don't let others give you false confidence in thinking you can handle pressure environments, where now you have strict boundaries that allow you to be in the moment, and in control. Remember you are avoiding pressure situations, and look at your self, you are happy, it's not worth the risk to engage in negative pressure outlets. One thought at time. Pressure only wins when you make it bigger. Stay in your health, stay in the moment.