Long-Term Recovery: You Never Have to Use Again

I remember being at a meeting and hearing someone say, “Relapse is part of the process.” I sat there, thought about it for a minute and realized that is one of the dumbest things I had ever heard.

Relapse may be part of some people’s road to recovery, but some people stop and never use again. Telling people that relapse is part of the program is done for a reason and I understand that. I believe it is done so that when people relapse, they are not ashamed or embarrassed of their relapse and never come back to a meeting again.

That said, there are way better things to tell someone than relapse is part of the program. Someone telling me that can actually fuel my relapse.

I prefer something that I heard at a meeting about 15 years ago.

I walked into my very first meeting in the town I had just moved to so that I could be clean and sober, Springfield. I guy there asked me how much time I had clean, and I told him that I had less than 24 hours.

“You are at a meeting with less than a day clean. That is a great start. You are at a meeting where other people who are fighting the same fight can share their strength, experience and hope with you. If you listen to them and apply what you hear here to your life, you never have to use again. This is an easy program that we make more difficult than it is, but the truth is you never have to use again.”

This is one of the most encouraging pairing of words I had ever heard, “YOU NEVER HAVE TO USE AGAIN.”

I was a full time knucklehead at the time I was not ready to find new employment. When I hit my last bottom and was finally ready to put the work in to stay clean and sober, I remembered those words.

I took them and ran with it. I focused on my recovery like I had my addiction. I used the 5 Pillars of Recovery (http://betterlifeinrecovery.blogspot.com/2014/12/long-term-recovery-5-pillars-of-recovery.html), followed the Platinum Rule (http://betterlifeinrecovery.blogspot.com/2014/11/the-platinum-rule.html), changed my playmates, changed my playgrounds and started doing community service. It has made all the difference.  

This is the short list of things to do. I will include these as well as a lot more in the book I am writing entitled Spiritual Spackle: From Dealing Dope to Dealing Hope. It is a look at my life and the things I learned from it that have led me to where I am today.

Until then, apply the above and I promise you never have to use again! After all, there is a Better Life in Recovery!!