Our program of recovery also values peer support, which has brought great success in changing many lives. “We can get them here, get them in a safe place, get them in an environment of recovery with peer support, that’s when change can really happen,” he said. Another way to best deal with this is by not allowing yourself to fall into the negativity of life. You cannot go through life comparing your recovery with someone else’s. If you struggle to get past the first few days and see someone who has just celebrated a year in recovery, do not be mad at where you are. As individuals in recovery, we are fighting the same war.
Not a Betrayal – an Affirmation of Life
Many amazing things have happened to me since February 4, 2008; it was a day that changed my life forever. Today I am a father of two amazing boys, Ricky and Carson, whom I want to set a great example for. I decided to dedicate my life to helping men rebuild their lives. 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.
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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. This isn’t something that you can force another person to do, any more than others could force rehab on you.
This should ease the pain a bit and allow you to further explore what life may be like without such influences that may prove destructive to your recovery. Some of your old friends will undoubtedly be the people you used to hang out drinking and partying with. Some may be co-workers or your best friend from college or high school. You may have grown up with the person and can’t envision your life without him or her.
A Personal Perspective: How to redirect your life when things fall apart.
- Those in recovery must be willing to focus on the H.A.L.T. philosophy.
- As someone who has been in recovery for nearly 30 years, I have discovered that there will be days when things do not go as planned.
- February 4, 2008, I made a call to a drug dealer; I was hopeless and wanted to die.
- 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.
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. We also work with local temp agencies, contractors and other employers. 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. There will always be times when there are issues at work, in a relationship, or life in general.
After all, some people may not be good candidates for friendship, but might be better as casual acquaintances. Use discretion, but be courteous, polite, open and willing to engage in conversation – if the opportunity permits. Even saying hello to a newcomer in the rooms of recovery is something that you can easily do. You may not feel like it, not at first, but give it time and a little practice and you’ll soon figure out that it doesn’t hurt you to be a little more outgoing and friendly.
What happens when you live with someone who is part of your addictive past? At the outset, let’s be clear that there are no universally right answers. Each person needs to figure out the best approach to making a new life in recovery. Whether this involves compromise or complete cutting off from the past is a purely individual choice. It is also important to remember that choices can be changed.
Remember, doing a H.A.L.T. check-in will not solve all your issues. However, it will allow you to deal with any urges Harbor House Review and cravings. 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.