Diet Recovery

[legna]

I have recently moved and am findnig that NA in this area is not quite as strong as it has been in areas that I've lived in the past. There is a strong undercurrent that in spite of proclamations that 'Alcohol is a drug - period' and, 'we cannot afford to be confused about this' - there are many in this area who continue to drink and/or smoke pot professing that 'I never had a problem with alcohol/pot'.

As one of only a small number of (relative) oldtimers in the area who have not moved to the sister program for recovery I'm feeling that it is my responsibility to speak to this and I've got some ideas rolling around in my head. I'm posting here to kind of work out the kinks in the message that I'm looking to send.

Anyone who has ever tried to diet knows that diets don't work. Willpower has its limits and eventually you find yourself rewarding yourself with food for all your efforts. It might take a day, a week or a month but eventually you succumb to that which you've been denying yourself. What does work is a lifestyle change. You've got to start exercising, start cooking rather than eating on the run, choose healthier alternatives rather than processed foods. Starving yourself doesn't work, but filling yourself up on the good stuff does.

Same thing with addiction and recovery. Recovery is about a lifestyle change. Relying on a higher power rather than drugs. Changing people, places and things. Confronting those things you want to hide from and choosing vulnerability over escaping.

If I convince myself that my drug of choice was crack or meth and I could safely use alcohol or pot, then I'm deluding myself. My drug of choice was more. Eventually, alcohol or pot or whatever else I'm using - even meetings, will fail to succeed in allowing me to escape life on lifes terms. If I'm dieting from drugs, using those with a lower caloric intake so to speak, eventually willpower will fail and that pipe or rig is going to look good. Eventually the escalator to a bottom isn't going to be enough and I'll leap off the edge and go into freefall.

Make it a lifestyle change and life - or diet and die.

Thanks for the sounding board.

[Lyoness]

That's a good analogy. I find it really helpful right now cuz I'm struggling. It's hard to keep up enthusiasm for quitting and I don't have anything else in place. So what you wrote is a helpful reminder.