Regular readers of this blog might have noticed that we have a tendency to turn to music to provide examples of the recovery ideas we write about. Over time, we have referenced a wide array of songs from a variety of sources and time periods.
In this entry, we offer a roundup (or you could think of it as a countdown) of some of those song-centric blog posts. We’ll provide a link to each of the original blogs so you can enjoy the full versions of these musical numbers.
A Lovely Cole Porter Number Might be a Lullaby
In a post called “When Should You Focus on Sleep? Night and Day,” we used the Cole Porter classic “Night and Day” as a musical jumping off point for exploring a range of strategies that can help ensure you get enough restful sleep. Sleep is essential to both your mental and physical health—and both of those things are essential to your ongoing sobriety. At the link, you will find ideas for daytime (for example, you should enjoy some sunshine each day) and nighttime (for example, you should ensure your sleeping space serves you well) that can lead to better, more consistent sleep.
Classics that Reflect on the Problem of Loneliness
Far too many people are reporting feeling lonely these days, and loneliness can be especially problematic for a person in recovery from a substance use disorder. That is because it can be terribly tempting to turn back to drugs or alcohol as a coping mechanism when you feel like you are all alone. We used the Beatles’ “Eleanor Rigby” as our starting point in a blog titled “The Importance of Overcoming Loneliness for Your Sobriety. And we started with Roy Orbison’s first hit, “Only the Lonely,” to tackle issues of loneliness in an entry titled “Options for Sociability While Sober.”
We wrapped up that second blog with a tune called “End of the Line” by The Traveling Wilburys, an amazing supergroup of which Orbison was a member. The song includes a reminder that the people who love you will support you—“even when push comes to shove”—which can truly be a difference-maker as you work to stay sober.
Some Serious Thoughts About Sobriety from Sitcoms
Obviously, a substance use disorder is no laughing matter. Nevertheless, we suggested that the theme songs from “The Facts of Life,” “Cheers,” “Friends,” and “One Day at a Time,” each have some ideas to offer a person in recovery. Taken together, these songs highlight the importance of friendship and the fact that there are going to be ups and downs in life—and along the recovery journey. We know these sitcom theme songs are earworms, but we also know they provide some serious suggestions for how to approach life—especially life in recovery. You can read more—and sing along—in the entry titled “No Laugh Track: Recovery Advice From Sitcom Theme Songs.”
Speaking of Laughter, It Can Really Give You a Boost
It isn’t the most famous song from Mary Poppins, but “I Love to Laugh” provided the foundation for the blog entry “When You Love to Laugh, You Show Some Love to Your Sobriety.” While your laughter (probably) won’t lift you up to the ceiling the way it does for the characters in the movie, a regular dose of laughter does have plenty of benefits. And some of those benefits are serious—including lessening symptoms of depression and anxiety, releasing endorphins (feel-good hormones) in the brain, improving your ability to effectively manage difficulties, and even boosting your immune system. All of those things (and more besides) help support your sobriety.
Gratitude is a Great Way to Shore Up Your Sobriety
We tuned to the song stylings of Mac Davis in a blog post titled “Gratitude and the Importance of Stopping to Smell the Roses in Recovery.” “Stop and Smell the Roses” was one of Davis’s biggest hits, and in it, he encourages us all to take time to count our blessings each day. That practice of daily gratitude—which might include writing down three things you are thankful for at the beginning or end (or both) of the day—supports your recovery by consistently reminding you of how many reasons you have to maintain your sobriety. We’ll also note that this entry includes a reference to The Eagles’ hit “Take It Easy,” which reminds us that we all could stand to go easy on ourselves—especially in recovery.
Think of Your Favorite Song
One last musical entry to share. In “Get Into the Sobriety Groove,” we argue that your sobriety is like your favorite song. That idea might strike you as a little bit out there, and that’s fair enough. Still and all, we encourage you to imagine your favorite tune and click the link.
Sobriety Will Put a Song in Your Heart
At Wooded Glen Recovery Center—located in Henryville, Indiana—we provide comprehensive substance use disorder and mental health treatment. We will see you through medically supervised detoxification, provide a robust rehabilitation program, and commit to a continuum of care that offers ongoing support as your recovery journey gets underway. Even if you can’t carry a tune, we are confident that reclaiming your sobriety will put a joyful song in your heart.