“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.” Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and other similar 12-step rehab programs use part of this prayer and include it in their literature.

This prayer is comforting, even to a nonreligious person to me. Religious or not, aren’t we all seeking serenity? We want calm and peace of mind, maybe since these things might be hard to attain. If we’re anxious, depressed, struggling with drug or alcohol abuse, our minds might not be at peace. Maybe we’ve turned to drugs or alcohol in the first place to find a kind of peace, even if it is chemically induced.

But if our minds are racing and upset, taking drugs and alcohol could upset them even more, which could lead to, yes, even more alcohol and drug use. This vicious cycle could continue until we use ever-increasing amounts of drugs and alcohol until our bodies can no longer handle such substances.

Wouldn’t seeking serenity be a better way to handle anxiety or depression, since it might prevent such substance use disorder in the first place? Easier said than done, right? But serenity is possible. Maybe it can come in the form of…

• Exercise, which can release feel-good chemicals in our brains.
• Other people, which could come in the forms of friends, relatives, coworkers, or support groups.
• Spirituality. This could be practicing organized religion, participating in informal spiritual practices, or participating in activities or thinking thoughts that feed your soul, whether that includes volunteering, meditating, or whatever.
• Therapy. Therapists are trained to help people find serenity and give them the tools to lead happier, more focused lives.

This isn’t a list of all the ways that people can find serenity, of course, but it offers some suggestions on places people can start their searches.