Get Addicted to Long-Term Recovery

There is a purpose to this blog. It is to tell you what drives me, and for anyone who has struggled with an addiction to understand a little more about themselves.

I am an addict. We will get that out of the way now. When I say I am an addict you probably know at least one thing about me; I have impulse control problems. I get an urge to act on whatever my addiction might be to and I do it. I live my life by the Nike slogan, "Just Do It!" I am not saying it is right, it is simply what I do.

Once I act upon it, I go places people should not go. In fact, I go places most people would never go. I do not act like most people. I push the envelope with all that I do: drinking, drugging, eating, etc. I go all out. I have trouble stopping once I begin.

Sadly, I am seldom that way with positive things. I once heard a guy at a meeting say the only thing he ever did in moderation was work the steps. I found that funny but true.
 The reason that occurred for me is because I stopped liking myself. I ran out of internal self-esteem and hope. I found things that took my focus off of me and they were often highly dangerous physically, emotionally and/or psychologically. Then I got stuck in a rut where escaping, numbing or shifting focus was my only recourse. Then my body became dependent on what I was using and I could no longer function without it.

That is why we work through the 12 steps. We regain our self-esteem and start to like ourselves again. We accept responsibility for our lives. We work through our hurts, habits and hang-ups. We accept there are things consuming our lives that were negative. We develop interventions and supports we can use.

I also had to realize that I was not cured. I am all or nothing. I have to learn to find positive things to pour myself in to. Some people use one of the anonymous programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Overeaters Anonymous, etc. Others find faith-based groups such as Celebrate Recovery or Living Free while others use SMART Recovery or Rational Recovery.

I am not going to knock any of the groups I just mentioned, because they have all helped others. The best recovery group is one that you go to. Find what you get the most out of and go. Maybe you will find that you like several of them. Great, go! Then share the hope you find with others and go all out!

If you are an addict, get addicted to making yourself better and sharing your strength, experience and hope with all of those you come into contact with. Here is to going all in...........when it comes to building the community around you! There is a Better Life in Recovery!