Loosid Sober Tip of the Day March 11

Sober Tips
#1

The gift of desperation.

This saying is used quite often throughout the spiritual program of recovery. Though the phrase seems to be contradictory in nature, it is not.

The simple truth is that many if not most who suffer from alcoholism or addiction need to get the gift of desperation in order to enter a spiritual program of recovery.

Why is this?

Yesterday, we discussed three reasons why we think we do not have a disease.

Because of this, we keep trying to control our drinking or substance abuse until we finally reach a point that the pain that our disease has caused too much pain. It simply becomes too much.

This is called the GIFT of desperation.

Unfortunately, millions of people each year never get to that point. This is precisely why we call it a gift.

If you are reading this, take solace in the fact that you most likely have received the gift of desperation.

Now it’s your job to throw everything you have into the spiritual program of recovery.

Why? Because you deserve it.

How did this tip resonate with you? Let us know your thoughts below. There are many people in the Loosid community who need to hear what you have to say.

With Love, Loosid :pray::heart:

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#2
#3

You could also call it a wake-up call.

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#4

Yes, it took me years to receive that gift of desperation! It is a miracle indeed. Never give up! I assure you if you stick with it, the gift of a brand new life is coming your way!

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#5

So true. Thx! Happy Friday Sober Community!

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#6

Desperation is a gift to a happier life sober! Unfortunately sometimes it takes a long time to get there! Keep doing it one day at a time! The light is soo much brighter and life is soo much better! Love you sober friends :two_hearts:

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#7

I’ve been in the AA for four years now. I’m having a problem with pain. I was not only an alcoholic but also an addict with a problem with pills. I’ve had neck surgery recently and was given hydros. I have successfully been holding them and taking as prescribed, which is a huge deal for me. I was taking four a day and my doctor cut me back to three. My world was shattered. Old memories flooded back of withdrawals. I really need help. Do I need to get off my meds? I honestly don’t know. My disease offers so many justifications that I don’t know what is real. Please help.

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#8

Good morning Emily! I take it neck surgery went well and you’re quickly healing?
As for the meds, if you feel that they are becoming a problem then letting your doctor know that you want off would be a good choice to make. However, if you are in pain and they are helping and you can use the tools of AA to help keep you accountable. How is your conscious contact with your higher power? I find it when I pray and meditate as well as ask for help within my support group the answer usually comes to me.
All so this could very be a lesson in dealing with our emotions as you stated you had a flood of them with memories hit you. I feel this is a way for our minds and body to heal from this traumatic experiences. You might here this on here; lean in to those feelings, feel where and what they are.
I had some pop up yesterday. The feeling of rejection hit me as a woman said to me that she’s too busy to take on a relationship after we had been chatting for about a week. Not very long but the emotions that hit me where like what the fart! And my disease started to tell me things like you’re a loner, no one will ever love you, you’ll find yourself in a relationship and you should just go drink. That’s the first time I’ve actually dealt with this emotion in sobriety. I sat in it for the rest of the day. Didn’t respond to my thoughts. “Thoughts are useless without action” -KC-
My favorite quote!
Keep talking about this. Ask more friends in the program. It will come to you. Have a blessed day filled love and peace within.

#9

Thank you so much for responding.

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#10

You’re welcome

#11

This is a very important and difficult question. If you ask different people in recovery about whether one can maintain sobriety while using an addictive but prescribed substance, you will get different answers. For me, it doesn't work, because I've proven to myself over and over that I will very quickly start abusing anything addictive even if prescribed. So for me, I have to avoid pain meds entirely. That being said, I have been fortunate to not have catastrophic or long term pain. My advice would be to be rigorously honest with yourself, your doctors, and your sponsor to decide collectively how to proceed. I do know of people in recovery that successfully manage prescribed meds, I'm just not one of them. Prayers, thoughts, and well wishes to you, and I hope you will update us on how you choose to approach this and how it's going.

2 Likes
#12

This is so spot on. Maybe not everyone needs to reach this point, but for myself, I did. I had to be stripped of everything in order to see the insanity of my drinking and shatter the illusion that I could ever live any other way than sober.

#13

Love this. Kara H