If more gifts are to be received, our awakening has to go on. AS BILL SEES IT, A.A., p. 8.

Sobriety fills the painful “hole in the soul” that my alcoholism created. Often I feel so physically well that I believe my work is done. However, joy is not just the absence of pain; it is the gift of continued spiritual awakening. Joy comes from ongoing and active study, as well as application of the principles of recovery in my everyday life, and from sharing that experience with others. My Higher Power presents many opportunities for deeper spiritual awakening. I need only to bring into my recovery the willingness to grow. Today I am ready to grow.  – Daily Reflections, Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., 1990.

Neurotransmitter health and balance: Serotonin for joy

Serotonin is the neurotransmitter of pleasure and enjoyment, feeling good. Serotonin is the main hormone associated with good mood, feeling happy, enjoying your life, family and friends. http://restorativehealthclinic.com/neurotransmitter-health-and-balance-serotonin-for-joy/

One of the effects of alcohol usage is an increase in the release of serotonin. This is … Alcoholics may be chemically incapable of feeling joy the way non-alcoholics do. Many antidepressants are in a class of drugs called SSRIs, selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors. SSRIs increase the effectiveness of the neurotransmitter called serotonin. Serotonin regulates many important functions of our brains and bodies, from how hungry we get to how happy we feel. When a body becomes serotonin-deficient, it can adversely affect mood, leading to feelings of sadness, anxiety and restlessness. Taking an SSRI can regulate the serotonin levels in the brain and thereby regulate a person’s mood. http://luxury.rehabs.com/