FreeOwl

This haunting element of alcoholism and addiction strikes me as one of our greatest weaknesses.

Disbelief that our drinking or drug use is really "that bad".

Disbelief it may get worse.

Disbelief in the obvious evidence our addiction is a problem (it was a fluke, that DUI was just bad luck, those people are all jerks, that was just a 'big weekend'.... on and on).

Disbelief that the experts' perspectives on what constitutes 'alcoholism' applies to us.

Disbelief that OUR story will ever get as bad as others' stories - as we seek to point out the differences, instead of seek the similarities.

Disbelief that it will get harder and harder and harder to pull out of the deeper we go into an alcoholic and addictive hole.

And then... even as we get sober and take steps to grow and change - disbelief creeping in; "maybe I just needed a break". "maybe it wasn't that bad after all". "Maybe now I'm ready to moderate".



How do we counter disbelief?

With belief.


We can choose to believe in the misery that we have lived at the hands of drugs and alcohol.

We can choose to believe in never wanting that again.

We can choose to believe in the evidence that our sober lives are rewarding.

We can choose to believe in a better life that we can create in sobriety - and in all the evidence along the way as we begin to do so.

We can look at all the evidence of consequences in our lives that alcohol and drugs brought on - and we can BELIEVE that our lives would have been better and those consequences not been brought about if we hadn't been drunk or drugged.

We can BELIEVE that it is possible - even preferable - to live in conscious presence.

We can believe in the blessings that each day brings.

We can believe in the person we become with each step further away from alcohol and drugs.... and we can believe in the ways that the world around us reflects the belief in the Sober Us.


Believe it.

rinky

couldn't have said it better. It was my disbelief that landed me in the hospital again with hepatitis, pancreatitis, and a diagnosis of cirrhosis of the liver.. I'm sure an believer now...

mary2788

LOVE LOVE this...

As I was reading I could relate to all of the disbelief... and then when I got to the belief part I felt like there was a preacher yelling those things in my head like I CA DO THIS

I am so going to print this off and caryy it with me.. so powerful..

THank YOU

blueberry2015

Love it x thanks for sharing x

saoutchik

Well put FreeOwl,

It is important to remind ourselves of just how many benefits there are to being sober or drug free as well as remembering how bad things are when drinking/using

Delfin

So true! Excellent post.

Delfin

tursiops999

Thank you FreeOwl ... I need to hear this. Even though I have embraced sobriety, and do things every day to support my recovery, I still sometimes wrestle with disbelief. Even though sobriety has brought me many very positive things, and I feel so much better being sober, I still sometimes have denial. It's very persistent!

Thanks for the reminder of all the better things to believe.

FreeOwl

Me too... This is exactly what moved me to write this today.

Dharma33

Great post, FO!

Dee74

Great post FreeOwl

D

FreeOwl

Thanks D!!

growpath

Can I get an Amen?!

AMEN!!!

Thanks for this & all the wisdom you share round here, Owl!

Scram

Thanks for such an insightful post. I can absolutely relate to the disbelief you stated, I think almost all of us can. The belief portion was something new I hasn't quite considered in that way

Venecia

Great post, FreeOwl.

Believe in the possible. Wise words, friend. When we start believing in the possible, we wind up achieving it.

MIRecovery

I'm a slow learner and fast forgetter

DoubleFelix

Thank you for sharing this, FreeOwl. It's really honest and helpful.

Ultramarathoner

Good Stuff! Really well said.

kamm

Thank you for sharing. I choose to believe.

Cleomie

I needed this today. Thank you

Saskia

Thanks, FreeOwl! Insightful post and very compellingly put.