The opposite of addiction is not sobriety....
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The opposite of addiction is not sobriety....
The opposite of addiction is connected. This is the premise of a TedTalk I just watched, and it rings true to me. Have any of you watched it? If so, what are your thoughts?
I'm finding myself searching for any information I can find. Whether it's how to stay sober, why I'm addicted, etc. I know it's early days for me and I want to be armed with as many tools as possible. And I'll say thank you again to all you lovely people on this site who are helping others very day.
I'm finding myself searching for any information I can find. Whether it's how to stay sober, why I'm addicted, etc. I know it's early days for me and I want to be armed with as many tools as possible. And I'll say thank you again to all you lovely people on this site who are helping others very day.
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Did you mean the opposite of addiction is connection Kjma?
If you meant connection I'd agree. For my own part alcohol and intoxication isolated me from everything.
Getting sober has opened the world to me. I am becoming more connected to the world and to its people. No longer (getting there
) isolated and alone. Less afraid to be me. More connected to self.
If this is what Ted meant I'm with Ted.
But for me to feel connected I need sobriety.
Keep posting we are here for you.
If you meant connection I'd agree. For my own part alcohol and intoxication isolated me from everything.
Getting sober has opened the world to me. I am becoming more connected to the world and to its people. No longer (getting there
) isolated and alone. Less afraid to be me. More connected to self.If this is what Ted meant I'm with Ted.
But for me to feel connected I need sobriety.
Keep posting we are here for you.
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Posts: 222
Originally Posted by Steely 
Did you mean the opposite of addiction is connection Kjma?
If you meant connection I'd agree. For my own part alcohol and intoxication isolated me from everything.
Getting sober has opened the world to me. I am becoming more connected to the world and to its people. No longer (getting there) isolated and alone. Less afraid to be me. More connected to self.
If this is what Ted meant I'm with Ted.
But for me to feel connected I need sobriety.
Keep posting we are here for you.
If you meant connection I'd agree. For my own part alcohol and intoxication isolated me from everything.
Getting sober has opened the world to me. I am becoming more connected to the world and to its people. No longer (getting there
) isolated and alone. Less afraid to be me. More connected to self.If this is what Ted meant I'm with Ted.
But for me to feel connected I need sobriety.
Keep posting we are here for you.
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Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 280
That makes sense. I’ve been a loner for the longest time. I have plenty of good friends that I keep in touch with now and then on social media. But they all live in different places after college. Now as a 43 year old man I feel isolated and don’t know how to make new friends. Loneliness is a big trigger.
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I'm no expert in life, but I can share this with you.
I ended my drinking career as an isolated drinker. When I finally began my out-patient program and mandatory group therapy and AA meetings, I finally started to re-connect with people.
Then, I started making some friends, who told me about their friends who volunteered a lot.
So, I started volunteering for charity-based sports events, like local marathons and worked my way up to bigger events like Hershey track and field competitions and NCAA track and field. And I rejoined my military veterans organization where I have a lot of friends.
I've completely changed my attitude about life... all due to sobriety. Like most things in life, you need big doses of effort. Effort to quit the booze and effort to let go of old habits. It's certainly doable.
I ended my drinking career as an isolated drinker. When I finally began my out-patient program and mandatory group therapy and AA meetings, I finally started to re-connect with people.
Then, I started making some friends, who told me about their friends who volunteered a lot.
So, I started volunteering for charity-based sports events, like local marathons and worked my way up to bigger events like Hershey track and field competitions and NCAA track and field. And I rejoined my military veterans organization where I have a lot of friends.
I've completely changed my attitude about life... all due to sobriety. Like most things in life, you need big doses of effort. Effort to quit the booze and effort to let go of old habits. It's certainly doable.
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Location: Christchurch, NZ
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Carl Jung was of the same opinion about 80 years ago.
" it can only happen to you when you walk a path which leads to a higher understanding. You might be led to that goal by [1] an act of grace or [2] through a personal and honest contact with friends, or [3] through a higher education of the mind beyond the confines of mere rationalism.
I am strongly convinced that the evil principle prevailing in this world, leads the unrecognized spiritual need into perdition, if it is not counteracted either by real religious insight or by the protective wall of human community."
Its a part of how a certain 'fellowship' works 😎
" it can only happen to you when you walk a path which leads to a higher understanding. You might be led to that goal by [1] an act of grace or [2] through a personal and honest contact with friends, or [3] through a higher education of the mind beyond the confines of mere rationalism.
I am strongly convinced that the evil principle prevailing in this world, leads the unrecognized spiritual need into perdition, if it is not counteracted either by real religious insight or by the protective wall of human community."
Its a part of how a certain 'fellowship' works 😎
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Originally Posted by clarkkent11
That makes sense. I’ve been a loner for the longest time. I have plenty of good friends that I keep in touch with now and then on social media. But they all live in different places after college. Now as a 43 year old man I feel isolated and don’t know how to make new friends. Loneliness is a big trigger.
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Originally Posted by Derringer
Carl Jung was of the same opinion about 80 years ago.
" it can only happen to you when you walk a path which leads to a higher understanding. You might be led to that goal by [1] an act of grace or [2] through a personal and honest contact with friends, or [3] through a higher education of the mind beyond the confines of mere rationalism.
I am strongly convinced that the evil principle prevailing in this world, leads the unrecognized spiritual need into perdition, if it is not counteracted either by real religious insight or by the protective wall of human community."
Its a part of how a certain 'fellowship' works 😎
" it can only happen to you when you walk a path which leads to a higher understanding. You might be led to that goal by [1] an act of grace or [2] through a personal and honest contact with friends, or [3] through a higher education of the mind beyond the confines of mere rationalism.
I am strongly convinced that the evil principle prevailing in this world, leads the unrecognized spiritual need into perdition, if it is not counteracted either by real religious insight or by the protective wall of human community."
Its a part of how a certain 'fellowship' works 😎
And I'm assuming you mean AA by 'fellowship'?
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Originally Posted by ZIP
I'm no expert in life, but I can share this with you.
I ended my drinking career as an isolated drinker. When I finally began my out-patient program and mandatory group therapy and AA meetings, I finally started to re-connect with people.
Then, I started making some friends, who told me about their friends who volunteered a lot.
So, I started volunteering for charity-based sports events, like local marathons and worked my way up to bigger events like Hershey track and field competitions and NCAA track and field. And I rejoined my military veterans organization where I have a lot of friends.
I've completely changed my attitude about life... all due to sobriety. Like most things in life, you need big doses of effort. Effort to quit the booze and effort to let go of old habits. It's certainly doable.
I ended my drinking career as an isolated drinker. When I finally began my out-patient program and mandatory group therapy and AA meetings, I finally started to re-connect with people.
Then, I started making some friends, who told me about their friends who volunteered a lot.
So, I started volunteering for charity-based sports events, like local marathons and worked my way up to bigger events like Hershey track and field competitions and NCAA track and field. And I rejoined my military veterans organization where I have a lot of friends.
I've completely changed my attitude about life... all due to sobriety. Like most things in life, you need big doses of effort. Effort to quit the booze and effort to let go of old habits. It's certainly doable.
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Location: East Coast USA
Posts: 1,067
I have seen the video and it's been a while so I don't remember all of the details. I recall liking the general message in the video. There are a lot of positive pro sobriety anti addiction videos available on the web and I like to watch them occasionally to broaden my point of view.
That said I do not agree with the statement:
The opposite of addiction is not sobriety.
I think a more correct statement is:
The opposite of word for addiction is not only sobriety.
That said I do not agree with the statement:
The opposite of addiction is not sobriety.
I think a more correct statement is:
The opposite of word for addiction is not only sobriety.
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Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 5,152
I haven't viewed the talk, but I'm sure it includes some interesting support for the claim, because Ted Talks are usually interesting, and probably some useful discussion results as well. But the claim by itself, does not resonate with me.
My goal is to be happy and content, and that goal is also the metric I use to measure my success. I think we could think of other things that might be the opposite of addiction as well, and those could also be interesting discussions. I've always felt some degree of connection, not so much with people, but a whole Hell of a lot with nature.
I'll close by saying MY opposite of addiction is the old standby; "Not being addicted" is the precise opposite of addiction. With that out of the way, I get to choose what I do with the rest of my life, something I could not do when I drank every day to excess. This makes me happy, content, and feeling quite fulfilled. So another opposite of addiction, might be the ability to choose and run one's own life.
My goal is to be happy and content, and that goal is also the metric I use to measure my success. I think we could think of other things that might be the opposite of addiction as well, and those could also be interesting discussions. I've always felt some degree of connection, not so much with people, but a whole Hell of a lot with nature.
I'll close by saying MY opposite of addiction is the old standby; "Not being addicted" is the precise opposite of addiction. With that out of the way, I get to choose what I do with the rest of my life, something I could not do when I drank every day to excess. This makes me happy, content, and feeling quite fulfilled. So another opposite of addiction, might be the ability to choose and run one's own life.
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Originally Posted by AAPJ
I have seen the video and it's been a while so I don't remember all of the details. I recall liking the general message in the video. There are a lot of positive pro sobriety anti addiction videos available on the web and I like to watch them occasionally to broaden my point of view.
That said I do not agree with the statement:
The opposite of addiction is not sobriety.
I think a more correct statement is:
The opposite of word for addiction is not only sobriety.
That said I do not agree with the statement:
The opposite of addiction is not sobriety.
I think a more correct statement is:
The opposite of word for addiction is not only sobriety.
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Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 18
Seeking connection with others for your own happiness is fraught with peril. People are inherently unreliable, dishonest and inconsistent. You're likely to become hurt and disappointed by others. Becoming self-reliant and confident in yourself forms the foundation that can lead to lasting stable happiness.
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