Addiction Recovery: Nothing Changes If Nothing Changes

Entering an addiction recovery program comes easy for some and hard for others. Those that have hit their rock bottom tend to have a bit more motivation for change than those that haven’t. Regardless of where you’re at on your recovery journey, you may want to learn how you can challenge and motivate yourself to make a full recovery and create the kind of life you truly desire. If you’re in recovery or you’re thinking about getting into recovery from alcoholism or drug addiction, learning what motivates you can help.

Do you have concrete goals set for your personal and professional life? Do you have one-year, five-year, or ten-year goals? Most people don’t really know. They’re just sort of sailing with the wind, sometimes knowing what they want, but most of the time just going with the flow. On a whim, they can change their mind.

One thing is for sure. If you want changes, you’re going to have to do something different. For example, if you want to stop drinking or taking drugs, you’re going to have to do something different than just think, “I want to stop.” Chances are you’ve tried more than once, but you just haven’t been able to do it. Now, if you really want to see change, you’re going to have to make some major changes. Perhaps not huge changes, but a change of some sort, beyond just thinking about it.

Tackle Your Fear

Maybe you’re afraid to make big changes. Maybe being sober will make you have to feel your feelings and you may be afraid of what feelings are lurking under the surface. Maybe you’re scared to tell your spouse that you simply enjoy drinking your cocktails every night and you just can’t stop on your own.

Living a life free from addiction is going to feel a bit scary at first. But you know anything of value takes some time, dedication, and sometimes feeling scared. This is where you get to allow courage to rise, grabbing hold of it and riding it hard! You’ve got courage within.

Maybe it’s time to let it come full force and help you make the changes you need to in order to get on the path to recovery.

You’re Not Alone

You may feel alone on your journey, but you’re not. There are so many people (professionals and lay people) who are willing to help you.

They can be your motivators, encouragers, and friends to get you up and working toward your goals. Find them and use them. This may be a treatment center, counselor, 12 Step group, and so on. The key is to make the effort to do your research and then step out and ask for help.

Recovery Can Bring Emotional Freedom

Emotional freedom means that you are free all the way down to your inner core to receive and give love. It is learning how to navigate through your emotions in a way that helps you to grow and live a more centred life. It is being able to feel angry and instead of lashing out, having a calm discussion regarding the reason you are feeling such emotion.

When you begin a life on the road of recovery from addiction, you can begin to heal emotionally and enjoy much more peace and joy. There may be some old painful memories that need to be healed or you may be struggling with depression, anger, anxiety, and so on.

Emotions are not bad things; they are simply vehicles for transformation. Negative emotions beckon us to reconcile and then release the pain behind them – and then move on.

We’ve all been hurt. We’ve all been through some difficult times and experienced a wounding of the heart. The pain that comes when we experience such must be dealt with or it can wreak havoc on your emotions for a lifetime.

Don’t Let Depression Keep You Down

Over 19 million people in America are clinically depressed. Millions more are somewhat depressed and undiagnosed and untreated. Millions more are living in a state of constant anxiety, anger, bitterness, guilt, resentment, shame, and more.

Most of us can understand feeling this way at times. It’s time for us as a whole to resist selling out to settle for living in such negative states for months, years, decades, or lifetimes. It’s time for those who have been living depressed, pain-filled lives to find a firm resolve to do whatever it takes to break free.

Addiction Recovery Treatment

For those struggling with addiction, this may mean entering a treatment program or attending a 12 Step group. Or it could mean going to counseling for a season of your life so you can learn how to break free from negative emotions. Sometimes underneath the addiction or alcoholism, there is a mental health disorder, such as clinical depression or anxiety disorder. If you’re not sure what you’re dealing with, there are substance abuse and mental health professionals that can help.

There is a beautiful life waiting for you on the others side of addiction and emotional mayhem. You do have to determine to make some changes in your life in order to get there. Emotional freedom is available.

If you need help, we’re here to help. At Into Action Recovery Society, you will receive professional, evidence-based treatment to help you overcome addiction and go on to create a better life. We also offer recovery houses in Vancouver for those needing temporary housing. Give us a call today and take your first step toward recovery.