UNIV ERSE Surviving Recovery

UNIV ERSE Surviving Recovery

di Brody Polinsky

Salute mentale Spiritualità

Stagione 3

Mental Health Check / 4 weeks / 07.09.26

Today I woke up knowing a travel day was ahead to Montréal. What a privilege and in the last years very necessary for keeping up momentum. Even with not enough sleep my morning rituals still must be practiced. Somehow I blew it and meds did not come along with me. Anyone know if it is possible to get meds with a prescription from another country? Stepping into the challenge zone, wish me luck! Being on a plane always reminds me to put on my oxygen mask before helping others, life long lesson.

Mental Health Check / 3 weeks / 02.09.26

What a trip. Feeling less jumpy, less scattered, less zapped and very grateful. Even as a multiple air sign I am living much more in my body.I can now feel the potholes coming walking down the street and not fall into them. In the past I would see the potholes coming and fall right into them again and again. It is possible to walk around potholes and carve new neural pathways.Needing to be sober and taking meds seemed crazy to me until I separated recovery from mental health. There are clear moments when information comes through friends differently. That quality of listening opens up a new door to the next steps ppforward.

Mental Health Check / 2 Weeks / 23.08.26

Looking forward to waking up tomorrow and making the most of it. Going into week 3 feeling more ready for life than I have in a long time. It means a lot that people out there are willing to have a chat about their experiences. I keep stumbling into friends I didn't know also trusted modern medicine.Many years ago my sponsor reflected that I have trust issues from childhood. I thought that was me just being a punk kid who grew up wild. I was actually just desperate for validation and connection to subcultures.Trying to get away with everything without consequences finally got me clean and sober in 2002.

Mental Health Check / Day 7 / 16.08.26

Tattooing gives me contact with new clients and the responsibility to create balance. Immediately feeling someone's astrology has been insightful and overwhelming. It felt natural to develop ritual for the space we occupy together but I denied myself ritual for afterward. It feels similar to learning another language that has always been there but in the sky. German is a puzzle of the mind and did not come easy and like astrology needs a lot of time and space. My old behaviour was to attach to others with the same unmanageable life experiences to stay distracted. I have come to trust that astrology will send lessons which are always out of my control.

Mental Health Check / Day 6 / 15.08.26

I truly believe that less is more. While chasing tattooing around the world that was very helpful. Everything fit in my bag except for a skateboard and a bicycle. That approach was perfect for being geographically restless!

Mental Health Check / Day 5 / 14.08.26

I have been fortunate enough to land in the right place at the right time often enough to be called lucky. Engaging in acupuncture these last almost 10 years has been foundational especially as a tattooer in ritual with others. The quality of deep nervous system release is astounding after a recalibration from Franz. I always sleep best after a new moon especially when it's behind my head.

Mental Health Check / Day 4 / 13.08.26

Recovery was a foreign concept to me until I was 9,5 years sober. Out of the blue came a wild panic attack living and tattooing in NYC. Fate landed me into the rooms and I have never looked back. I met a dear friend and a sponsor but kept racing around the world chasing people places and things. Berlin is a very unorthodox city to be sober in but that makes it even more magical. October 03 2002 was my chance of a lifetime and I am still sober to this day.

Mental Health Check / Day 2 / 11.08.26

I could not imagine a day without music. Over the years I have made a playlist that functions more like a Maic 8 Ball. Ma parents record collection started me off to the races.

Mental Health Check / Day 1 / 10.08.26

Starting to share the last months trip back to taking psychiatric medication as a person in long term sobriety.

Mental Health Check / Day 3 / 12.08.26

When I find a teacher that hits the spot just right, I commit to listening chronologically from the genesis of their archive. There will most always be a Dharma talk on at home, on the train, or at the shop drawing. When I finally get to their current offerings it is often several years later.