There is a universal truth with addiction. The addict continues to believe “They can do recovery alone. It is a tragic self-delusion, that many addicts have a very hard time shaking in the beginning of their recovery. It’s not only tragic, it is often fatal.
You have no idea how many addicts come back to their recovery, from a painful relapse saying: “I thought ‘I got this. I don’t need to go to meetings anymore.’” or “I don’t need anything after treatment. I get it now. I’m fine on my own.”
We’ve all heard this sad tale so often in recovery. But does it have to be this way? Do we need to allow the new people to make the same mistake thousands of addicts before them have made? Does every new addict HAVE TO RE-INVENT THE RECOVERY WHEEL?
It’s tragic that addicts don’t know how important Staying Connected with their Recovery Community is.
Why is staying connected so important?
Positive eye contact
Psychological / emotional healing takes place in “relationship.” For a multitude of reasons, an addict will not experience real recovery, real change in their negative thinking and behavior alone by themselves. It happens in communication, the special connection - the engaging of one positive human being with another broken one.
Caring eye contact
As addicts, we can” learn” all the information - but without the human connection, we can’t change what we think and how we feel . These changes happen in Experiencing Them With Others. Without the experience of acceptance our spirit cannot heal. Without the caring eye contact, our souls are still alone. Healing the addict’s mind is important, as is there spirit.
Compassionate eye contact
We must experience the healing, as we learn about it. We’ve got to feel the difference, when we change our behavior and get a different outcome. We must see new thinking or beliefs work in relation to others now. We learn best by doing. We can want to be better. We can know all the data that states how to get better. But we’re not going to get better, until our spirit feels it can come out of hiding. Until our spirit can open its eyes and look out, without fear. We won’t get better until our spirit can feel the acceptance of another… the validation of their situation, and feel the caring. Caring, has a feeling… and it makes our spirit grow. You cannot read this in a book.
Addicts don’t learn by reading it. Addicts learn by living it.
Addicts learn by trying out changes in their thinking... Addicts learn by trying out new behaviors with others in a safe, supportive setting
So what is at the core of “Addiction”?
A hurting individual who cannot do it alone. An individual in pain, who needs the support and camaraderie of others - much more than they know. An emotionally exhausted person - who strengthens themselves in the company of others…
Just Like Them.
At this moment in time, successful recovery from addiction is the minority. But it seems obvious: With more information, and a deeper understanding - Successful Recovery could truly be attainable for many, many more.
And isn’t that what we’re working for?