That is great advice: Find the similarities not the differences.
You mandatory list is great. That's exactly how you heal and get better. You learn how to live again. Personal hygiene goes out the window for most of us, when we're on a tear. Who wants to take time to take a shower when it cuts into time that can be spent high or working on a way to get high?
When I was in rehab, there was a white board in our lounge, and everyday it would have our daily plans on it:
8:00 - 8:30 -Breakfast
8:30 - 10:00 - PT (Physical Therapy) -which was going
to the gym
10:00- 12:00 - Group
12:00 - 1:00 - Lunch
And so on. Our whole day was structured. We had group in the afternoon too, Dinner at 5. Then we had free time until 7pm. I'd take a shower, etc after dinner
From 7-8pm, we went back to the gym and had some form of pain treatment - acupuncture, or lying on this waterbed thing w a roller in it, that rolled down the back of your body.
Then 8pm on was free-time. I'd wander around the hospital- it was huge. It was really peaceful. That was my favorite time of day. Oh, and at 9:00pm was meds and a snack. Structure is comforting to me. After living in chaos for so long - I love it.
I enjoyed my free-time more because I accomplished alot during the day. They pointed out to us that, the daily schedule on the whiteboard was to help teach us structure.
Structure and basic things are huge to recovery! You're on the right track Pumpkin.
Put your schedule up where you can see it and stick to it. It becomes 2nd nature eventually. Your mind is in the right place
The NA meeting I go to is all ages. You'll find one closer to your age group. Keep looking. Keep going. And in the meantime, learn what you can from people that have been where you have to go.
Definitely text the guy from the meeting you like and invite to a meeting w you! You're doing awesome!! Keep up the good work.