Rehab. It’s a word that people instantly associate with several images: A bunch of guys sitting in a circle, crying together. Standing around wondering what you’re supposed to do next—boredom. Chatting with a counselor who looks at your life under a microscope. Bland food, and no snack time. And, above all, no drugs or alcohol = no fun!
When most people think of “drug addiction” they think of the hard stuff. Heroin. Meth. Cocaine. Pharmaceuticals like Adderall or benzodiazepines. And yeah, even pot. But you may not realize that there are other mind-altering chemicals a person can even obtain over-the-counter!
I remember what I was thinking when I first went into inpatient treatment: I’m never going to have fun again the rest. of. my. life. I had been arrested, first for a DUI in late December of 2010, then for multiple felony trespassing counts, I had committed while in a blackout from benzos and alcohol. I thought my life was over.
Embarking upon a journey towards health and wellness in recovery was my second biggest challenge in life. It came after seeking help for my active addiction. And I didn’t do so willingly; I did so reluctantly. I didn’t want to feel terrible, and have low energy all the time—but I also didn’t want to put in the (perceived) huge effort that eating well would take. After all, recovery is a full-time job in itself—there wasn’t much room for anything else! But I did it.
What seemed to be an impossible task for me to accomplish did not seem so hard after all. It was only a matter of letting go of my old ideas, prejudice, and adopting a belief that there really is a “Power” that will solve my problem…
When someone you love has an issue with abusing substances, it’s normal to want to help them realize they have a problem and get them into some kind of treatment program. Often this can be a frustrating and drawn out process because most people who are heavily drinking or using drugs may not be ready to admit they have a problem.
Many of us these days who are asked to read the book as part of the recovery process. A process that may very well save our very life. We act like we are reading it, all along having a prejudice against doing just that. Reading the book.
In my previous story, Breaking The Barriers To Recovery By Letting Go Of Old Ideas. I spoke of the letting go process, the letting go of an old idea that seemingly forever held me in its grip. It was always with me, even during the many times that I had put down the drink and drugs.
