What does it take?
What does it take?
People can argue recovery methods until the cows come home but IMO there are some universal truths about people that get and stay sober. Here are some of the things I have observed:
Other items that are recovery universals?
- Come to the realization that we just cannot drink and that total abstinence from all mind altering substances is the only path.
- Believe that addiction is a cronic condition which we never get over. We learn how to deal with it but we are never normal again
- Be willing to change anything if it keeps us on the path of not drinking.
- Remove people, places, and things in our lives that move us away from sobriety
- Listen to and do what people with long term soberiety do
- Have a comprehensive plan that addresses how we are going to stay sober
- Educate ourselves on addiction and recovery
- Get rid of the baggage from the past. This may require a professional or some type of recovery program. In some cases people manage to do this on their own but it is difficult.
- Have a network of people that you can talk to preferably people in recovery
- Develop a full and meaningful life that does not include alcohol. Develop sober or normal drinking friends
- Learn how to go outside of ourselves and make the world a better place
- Patience and understanding. This is a life time of change and things do not get better in a day nor will the world ever be the way we want it to be
- Forgiveness of ourselves and others
Other items that are recovery universals?
desperation-at the end of one’s rope or tether At the end of one’s endurance or resources, out of options; exasperated, frustrated.
for me, it was when the pain of getting drunk exceeded the pain of reality. it was take another drink and kill myself or get help.
for me, it was when the pain of getting drunk exceeded the pain of reality. it was take another drink and kill myself or get help.
A comprehensive list, MI. Thanks. The mods should make this a sticky.
To add to the list may be nit picking on my part. But, I might have added:
Have the humility to admit you might not be smarter than your addiction.
To add to the list may be nit picking on my part. But, I might have added:
Have the humility to admit you might not be smarter than your addiction.
What I am saying is that to drink again is to be right back to where we were. Yes, we are normal in sobriety but not normal from the stand point of being able to drink again
I like that one and so true. This item kept me drinking for 20+ years
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Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: fort wayne, IN.
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No.4 is impossible for me. Maybe not impossible but darn near. So I am learning how to accept those situations and kind of psychologically insulate myself. I mentally put myself in a sound proof booth. Thank God for our imaginations.
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Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Des Moines IA
Posts: 377
Well done. This list could be a great springboard for discussion, as new people may believe some or all are items are not essential in their special cases and need the importance and/or usefulness of them to be further explained.
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Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 249
Your list, in addition to the one about humility, covers every angle of what it takes. Every "yeah but" I could think of, and I can think of a lot, is addressed in your list. Maybe I'd put willingness at the top of the list, for without that, nothing else matters.
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