While there is no question that painful memories of the past can wreak havoc in recovery from alcohol or drugs (or compulsive gambling, sexual behavior, workaholism and so on). Every person who is new to recovery has some of this unwelcome baggage that is carried with them into sobriety. The question is, how can the past be left behind so that moving forward can begin? Perhaps even more pertinent to some is what to do when moving forward means leaving the past behind? What if you really don’t want to ditch everything from the past? What happens when you live with someone who is part of your addictive past?
You will always need to read the whole story and remember just how far down your alcoholism or drug addiction brought you. The point is to do everything in your power to prevent yourself from ever getting close enough to giving in to using it again. One of the last things I could recommend in this area is to be willing to seek out therapy to assist in helping you to avoid using when the urges and cravings are at their strongest.
Individuals who are in recovery cannot allow themselves to become overwhelmed. By this, I mean not taking on too many tasks at one time. There are numerous times when they will take on as many projects as they can handle, regardless of the circumstances. The problem with this could be something to burn them out. Individuals who are in recovery must learn to be willing to pace themselves. Just as recovery is one day at a time, you must be willing to take on your tasks one at a time and not allow yourself to overdo things.
Not a Betrayal – an Affirmation of Life
No longer looking in the rearview mirror, your vision is clear to move forward in recovery. One of the emotions that well up when you think about walking away from the past is the powerful feeling of betrayal. The person may even call you out on your action, lashing out with anger and telling you that you betrayed your friendship or love. This retort will sting, undoubtedly, but that does not make it true. What you have done by going through treatment to overcome your addiction took a great deal of courage and determination. Your newfound sobriety is a precious gift; yet you remain fragile and vulnerable in these early days of recovery.
- Perhaps your job is not going in the direction you had planned, and you did not get a promotion that you felt you deserved.
- I could have easily given into my demons of alcohol instead of staving off all the urges and cravings.
- More so, both Cook and Kane Counties experienced an increase of DUI arrests since 2017 (7.3% increase in Cook and 15.8% in Kane).
- In 2018, I experienced one of the darkest days of my life when I lost my 15-year-old daughter to the tragedy of suicide.
- February 4, 2008, I made a call to a drug dealer; I was hopeless and wanted to die.
Despite increased federal funding for opioid-specific supports in recent years, the state of Illinois has seen an increased 16.2% in overdoses since 2020 according to the CDC. More so, both Cook and Kane Counties experienced an increase of DUI arrests since 2017 (7.3% increase in Cook and 15.8% in Kane). Now more than ever, there is a need for responsive programming, and funding to do build these programs. The goal of all programming is to be Self-Supportive & Relish in Sobriety and Recovery.
You may hear all kinds of lamentations, pleas for you to reconsider, that the carousing and drinking and using will take a backseat to your friendship. Worse yet, you have absolutely no control over what might happen should things Rockland Recovery go haywire and you are right there in the presence of temptation. This is not to say that you want to give into triggers, just that you may not be able to resist. It’s best to steer clear of any association from your past that brings to mind anything you did while in the grip of your addiction. Maybe that dear friend will one day come to the decision to go into treatment and get clean and sober. Maybe, but it will have to be of his or her own volition.
Substance Abuse Treatment Programs
This isn’t something that you can force another person to do, any more than others could force rehab on you. So, while there is an outside possibility that people from your past who continue to use will eventually go into treatment, you cannot sit around and wait for that day to come. Your job now is to work on your recovery, day in and day out, without fail. For those in recovery, especially early recovery, starting over tends to take on the magnitude of the nearly impossible. There are just so many different areas of life that need changing, so much to do, and so much to learn before anything can be done. How can a reasonable and realistic course be charted, particularly when the past seems ever-present and constantly seeks to rob you of whatever small gains you may make?
Addiction Therapy Programs
I moved into a sober house that had a culture of recovery and lived there for 18 months. Afterwards I went back to school to become a drug and alcohol counselor. Shortly after graduation, the first recovery house was opened. Individuals in recovery must remember what it was like when they were at the worst point of their addiction. They need to focus on where they are currently at in their recovery process.
Culture and Lifestyle
Recovery journey is never easy, we are here to help in any possible way. Having a stable job, having stable financial situation and helping us get back on track and building for future really helps. The job coach of our partner agency comes to coach any guests that are looking for jobs.
