Help For Life After Addiction

[Doug]

I've always sought to nail down the one thing, the above all greatest asset, for people trying to stay addiction free.

Today, I think it's understanding the reality of life and living. This deduction followed a close look at the act of realization. We could associate realization with the "Being Convinced" concept talked about in the Big Book.

When I was convinced, when I came to the realization, that I was never going to do anything while I was using except continue to suffer (pointlessly) I was able to do something else. I got clean, and began the journey into life after addiction.

There are two things I find linked to all addiction: Trauma and Escapism. Generally we seek to escape the emotional trauma we're experiencing from - any number of things.

Following on that train of thought I don't think there is anything "Real" that people can not deal with in a positive manner. This is not so for the "Unreal".

As soon as one is convinced, has come to the realization, there are no monsters under the bed they stop being scared. I think that's the way it is with all things. We can worry ourselves sick over things until we gain some realistic perspective - then we stop worrying. Even worry itself isn't a realistic venture. When has worrying about something helped? So why worry?

I think this principle of finding what's real will work in all things. Imagination is great. It's a wonderful creative thing. It can also become a self made rabbit hole we can fall into and stay in for years. Something to think about for sure.

We might ask ourselves, the next time we're chewing away at something, is this really necessary? Is this even real - as in real life real? Or am I falling for some made up societal concept?

Are societies Life? Does anything we do as people change the reality of life? Is thinking living or is it something we do while living? Is not living here living? And so on ...

[care4sober]

Great insights Doug!
Drug addiction imprisons people. That's why it takes a lot of courage and perseverance to get out of the mire of addiction and reach out for a better life. No one can do it alone. Though the Big book is there, you will always need people to hold you up when your feet seem so weak to get up and to cheer you up in times you feel like falling back. AA, NA, rehabs, recovery doctors play their own roles in the recovering addicts life. And most importantly , the desire to change must come from the person.

[Doug]

Thanks for the input. Appreciate it