One of the biggest fears that a recovering addict will have is that he or she is going to relapse and end up back where they started. If you are a recovering addict, it is important to remember that, especially in the early days of recovery, addiction is an illness that affected you over an extended period of time. If you were drinking alcohol or using drugs for many years, then it is going to take a while for you to get better. Recovery does not happen overnight and you are bound to have periods where you experience intense cravings. However, you do not have to give in to those cravings and you do not have to have a slip-up. Relapse is not inevitable but it is also not uncommon. Many recovering addicts have had a slip-up before getting themselves back on track again.
Beware of Your Emotions
Certain emotions can lead to relapse, so you need to be on the lookout for them and how they make you feel. Dealing with your emotions as they arise is the best way to ensure that you do not give in to them. Fear is a common emotion, and it is a healthy one. If you were not afraid of relapse, then you would be in danger of succumbing to it. Nevertheless, if your fear begins to take over your life, you need to do something about it. You cannot let your fear prevent you from living; if you feel that your fear has become debilitating, you should speak to your counsellor or sponsor.
Resentment is another common emotion that can be hard to let go of. Many recovering addicts cling to their feelings of anger against others but this can prevent you from having true success. Whatever happened in the past should be left in the past. While some people may have hurt you, you have probably done your fair share of hurting too. Learn how to forgive and forget so that you can move on.
Move Forward
If you are feeling guilty about things you have done while you were addicted, this is normal. If you use that guilt to make amends, then this will improve your chances of a successful recovery. Nonetheless, do not dwell any longer than necessary on these feelings of guilt. Make amends to those you have hurt and then move on. Remember that you are not a bad person because you had an addiction. You did not choose to have an addiction, nor did you have any control over your actions when you were addicted.
Addiction affects the brain and changes the way it works. Alcoholics and drug addicts are people with illnesses. These chemical substances can impair the brain and affect behaviour and cause individuals to act in a way they never would when sober.
Telling Others
A primary concern for recovering addicts is whether or not they have to tell others that they are in recovery from addiction. It is natural to be embarrassed or ashamed about your addiction and you may not want to tell others. You do not have to tell everyone about your problems if you do not want to, but many recovering addicts feel that talking about it helps.
These days, there is not as much stigma attached to being an alcoholic or addict. People are more accepting about addiction and realise that it is an illness. It is entirely up to you, but you may be surprised at how understanding others will be. Most people these days know someone who has suffered from some type of addiction. Moreover, you may find that many already had their suspicions that you were suffering from an addiction.
Whatever you decide is your choice. You may not feel ready to talk now, but you may want to open up as time goes on and you feel stronger about your recovery.
This article originally published at middlegate.co.uk - Alcohol Rehab Clinics Blog here
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