I’ve learned the opposite of addiction is connection. And I have made so many incredible friends in sobriety but what angers me and makes me so sad is watching friends relapse. The angering part for me is that this is my reality. It could be me relapsing. And then I grow to hate this club of being an alcoholic because this disease just takes people away from me whom I love so dearly. It just makes me sad. And scared.
5 Likes
I’m with you. It’s hard and I tend to focus on the relapse and the struggle and the loss. Recently, someone in the program told me to look around at the people making it, instead. There was a whole room full of miracles. That reframed it for me and reignited my gratitude of being a part of this club. Hopefully, they make it back. We are all at different places in our recovery. I needed to relapse a few times, before being given the gift of desperation. But I made it back. People make it back. Sometimes boink they just pop back up at a meeting.
And the fear of it helps me to stay sober. Being scared is ok.
1 Like
Drinking or using is what addicts do - it’s their normal state. Abstinence and recovery is not normal or natural for people with the disease of addiction. It takes effort and vigilance. Recovery is a program of action. Framing it like that helps me to realize that not everyone makes it. The herd gets culled by the Lion of addiction. Not trying to be callous, it’s just how it is. We have a saying in meetings in our area - We don’t shoot our wounded. We reach out and ask them if they need a ride to a meeting. Ask them if they’d like to get together for some coffee and talk. And pray that they come back.
2 Likes