Contents
The Sound Of Silence contains descriptions of the many tools I developed to help me recover. The storyline provides the context for when and how I applied them, but importantly, their use is not limited to the scenarios in the book. I initially gathered the tools in an appendix called The Medical Bag, which was included in the first edition of the SOS from 2022. The content can easily stand on its own, and when I created the second edition in 2023 I therefore decided to move The Medical Bag online in order to make the tools of my recovery more easily available to the public at large. So - this is basically the gear that got me up and running again, systematically collected here for your convenience :)
When To Use Each Tool?
There was a pattern to my recovery. I went through an acute phase that lasted for about six months, then a two-year early recovery phase, and finally a three-year late recovery phase. These phases all had different themes, and the tools I used to get through each of them were quite different. In the menu on the left I’ve included a bit more information on the phases themselves, and then grouped the tools in The Medical Bag according to phase. All the tools can be applied at any time though, depending on one’s circumstances. There are no rules here.
My Favorite Tools
The tools I don’t think I could have done without were professional help (lawyer, psychologist) and the black box during the acute phase, a good set of daily routines including spiritual practice during early recovery, and sharing my story during late recovery. Music and outdoor activity were very important throughout recovery, and even though I might be able to survive without those things in my life I wouldn’t want to. The remaining tools were perhaps not essential for my getting better, but they still helped a lot. I hope they can help some of you as well.
My Least Favorite Emotions
…or should I say the ones I struggled with the most were anger, grief and anxiety. I’ve therefore included some supplementary information on how I deal with these unwanted guests whenever they show up on my doorstep, together with my personal experience of reconciliation meetings in relation to forgiveness. Disclaimer: I am not a therapist. User discretion is advised. Seek help when you’re in trouble. Or like the final sentence of my book says: ‘If you feel like shit, you have to take action.’