When we are ready to finally give up the drinking and drugs and are ready to come into recovery. There is a lot we have to go through and to deal with. First, if we are daily or regular drinkers or drug users, we have to rid our bodies of the physical addiction and undergo a detox. While this can be unpleasant and uncomfortable, in some ways this is the easiest part of recovery. If we can stick with it over a period of not usually longer than 2 weeks, our bodies will be clean. The majority of drug addicts, gamblers and alcoholics wanting recovery can get through this stage, especially if they are in a safe and controlled environment.
Dealing With Guilt
The next part is dealing with our guilt and regrets about our behaviour when we were out of control, and the 12 Step Programme (originally introduced by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith) gives us a very good way of looking at our past wrongs and making amends for them to those we have hurt. This can take time and a lot of work. But if we do it properly we can all reach a point where we are ready to move on with our lives with a clean slate.
The next part – the most exciting – is living our new life each day and planning for the future. As recovering addicts, we are advised to live in the day. But this does not prevent each day being centred on a new future. And each day is for full living! We are unique individuals and have a unique and special contribution to make. When we were drinking or using, we hid away from life and many of us ended up drinking in isolation or using on our own.
‘Fun’ of Drinking Had Long Gone
The ‘fun’ of drinking and using in a party and social environment had long gone. We withdrew from our friends and family (if they still wanted to know us) and were lonely and sad, in the depths of misery. Now, though, in recovery, we have gained some self-respect and are ready to reach out to our fellow beings. We can be a good family member, friend, do a day’s work, relax (without a mind altering substance), laugh and love – and appreciate the things in life that passed us by during our using: sunshine, birdsong, the changing seasons and music, for example.
We can concentrate and focus on books, news and our favourite television programmes. Things that again had got beyond us at the end of our drinking or using. And we can start to have ambitions for our future whether it be earning a living, finding a new home, or going travelling, for example. The world is a big place with so many experiences to enjoy!
Every day is a gift to be lived and is unique in itself. We owe it to ourselves to live it and enjoy it. Gain from it, as each day is never to be repeated.
The Haynes Clinic is an addiction rehabilitation clinic which offers detox and counselling for people with addictions.
Call 01462 851414 for free and confidential advice.
