New blog post: Are you going to dive in the lake or dangle off the dock?
A Smart Bug is a Sober Bug!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Hot and Muggy South Florida
Posts: 1,396
New blog post: Are you going to dive in the lake or dangle off the dock?
The process of getting sober can feel like a daunting task, you may feel overwhelmed, scared, hopeless, and unsure of yourself. You might be full of resentment, jealous of people who can drink, or you may be filled with shame and embarrassment of your drinking history.
But once you stop the drink or the drug you should feel great, right? A full recovery should be your reward because it is a monumental accomplishment to get sober. But getting sober is like dipping your feet in a rippling lake from a well-worn and shaky dock. Your feet are wet, but the rest of you is still nice and dry. There is a big and beautiful lake before you and it promises new opportunities. Putting your feet in is just the start, but it is yet be a refreshing and enjoyable swim.
Real recovery doesn't take place when you are just dangling off the dock, though. It happens when you begin lowering your whole body into the water and swimming away from the dock. Being fully present in the water, in real recovery, is your reward for being prepared with the tools to keep you afloat and for using the tools to keep you sober. You have a sound recovery plan, a sober support system, therapeutic means to help you make changes in your life , and the right attitude and determination to do it and not sink to the bottom of the lake. You may still have a life jacket on, you may flounder a bit getting used to it, but you will be out there swimming and enjoying yourself.
But maybe cannonballing into the lake is just something you are not willing to do. Maybe you are scared, or feeling bad, or are not sure that you can do it. It sure looks easy because you see other people splashing around and having a good time. If they can do it why can't you? Recovery is still possible without jumping right in, but getting there may be risky and the process may take longer. So instead of jumping, maybe all you can do is just lower yourself down slowly while still gripping the dock for safety. It is risky though. You may find yourself keeping the option of pulling yourself back out and making a run for it. For example, you have stopped drinking but do not have a plan in place. Because you don't have a plan, you have the threat of relapsing before you get a chance to submerge yourself in the lake. Maybe you still have alcohol in the house vying for your attention. Or you are still hanging with people who are using. Or you haven't gone to a meeting or sought out other means of sober support. Or you feel emotionally unprepared and are not working on improving your coping skills. These triggers hold you back and you have to deal with them. If you don't then you find yourself right back where you started - standing on a shaky dock longing to be in the water, but too attached to land to do it. This can make you angry and scared and afraid to try again. You can either give up and head home or you can face your fears and start again. Without addressing any of these issues, though, you may find yourself relapsing over and over again.
What are you willing to do? You got yourself sober by stopping the drink or drug. Your feet are wet and you are aching to enjoy all that the lake is offering. Are you going to jump or dive? Are you going to slowly lower yourself in? Are you going to get in and get out over and over again? Or are you just going to dangle off the dock and keep fantasizing about recovery?
Remember, you are the one in charge. Nobody is going to push you in. No matter how you go about it, I really hope you make it in and enjoy all that it offers.
But once you stop the drink or the drug you should feel great, right? A full recovery should be your reward because it is a monumental accomplishment to get sober. But getting sober is like dipping your feet in a rippling lake from a well-worn and shaky dock. Your feet are wet, but the rest of you is still nice and dry. There is a big and beautiful lake before you and it promises new opportunities. Putting your feet in is just the start, but it is yet be a refreshing and enjoyable swim.
Real recovery doesn't take place when you are just dangling off the dock, though. It happens when you begin lowering your whole body into the water and swimming away from the dock. Being fully present in the water, in real recovery, is your reward for being prepared with the tools to keep you afloat and for using the tools to keep you sober. You have a sound recovery plan, a sober support system, therapeutic means to help you make changes in your life , and the right attitude and determination to do it and not sink to the bottom of the lake. You may still have a life jacket on, you may flounder a bit getting used to it, but you will be out there swimming and enjoying yourself.
But maybe cannonballing into the lake is just something you are not willing to do. Maybe you are scared, or feeling bad, or are not sure that you can do it. It sure looks easy because you see other people splashing around and having a good time. If they can do it why can't you? Recovery is still possible without jumping right in, but getting there may be risky and the process may take longer. So instead of jumping, maybe all you can do is just lower yourself down slowly while still gripping the dock for safety. It is risky though. You may find yourself keeping the option of pulling yourself back out and making a run for it. For example, you have stopped drinking but do not have a plan in place. Because you don't have a plan, you have the threat of relapsing before you get a chance to submerge yourself in the lake. Maybe you still have alcohol in the house vying for your attention. Or you are still hanging with people who are using. Or you haven't gone to a meeting or sought out other means of sober support. Or you feel emotionally unprepared and are not working on improving your coping skills. These triggers hold you back and you have to deal with them. If you don't then you find yourself right back where you started - standing on a shaky dock longing to be in the water, but too attached to land to do it. This can make you angry and scared and afraid to try again. You can either give up and head home or you can face your fears and start again. Without addressing any of these issues, though, you may find yourself relapsing over and over again.
What are you willing to do? You got yourself sober by stopping the drink or drug. Your feet are wet and you are aching to enjoy all that the lake is offering. Are you going to jump or dive? Are you going to slowly lower yourself in? Are you going to get in and get out over and over again? Or are you just going to dangle off the dock and keep fantasizing about recovery?
Remember, you are the one in charge. Nobody is going to push you in. No matter how you go about it, I really hope you make it in and enjoy all that it offers.
Currently Active Users Viewing this Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
