Ramana Maharshi, Hindu sage and jivanmukta, once said, “There is nothing wrong with seeking happiness. It is our birthright. The problem is where we look for it: outside of us instead of inside.” Many of us wasted a lot of time and energy seeking happiness and validation externally, but never considered that the true potential…
When we first realized that our drinking has gotten out of control, many of us searched for excuses rather than admit that we were suffering from alcoholism. We felt as though our loss of control was theresult of a momentary lapse in judgement, or a reaction to external stressors, rather than symptomatic of a progressive…
One of the greatest fears for anyone in recovery is that of judgement. Many of us spent a long time wearing masks or cultivating a persona to keep others from judging us. It can be hard to shake this fear, even in sobriety. We need to fearlessly examine ourselves and allow ourselves to get vulnerable…
Many of our addictions progressed to the point of using hard drugs, like heroin or cocaine, and we are left wondering if it would be possible to return to the point where we were using “softer” drugs. Through experience, we have found this to be an impossibility. The problem lies in the progressive and chronic…
The recent decriminalization of marijuana in many states has led to many people to the conclusion that marijuana is a safe a non-addicting drug. Although the addictive potential of marijuana is not as great as that of “hard” drugs like cocaine and opioids, marijuana is, in fact, capable of causing physical dependence and addiction. According…
The first step of Alcoholics Anonymous is: “We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable.” What, then, does it mean to lose manageability in one’s life? Most people assume that “unmanageability” refers to losing control over external aspects of our lives, like relationships, finances, and employment. However, there is also the…
Our decision not to use mind or mood-altering substances is no reason to allow our health to suffer. Physicians have our best interest in mind, but it is our responsibility to openly communicate with them about our disease of addiction. Most medical professionals will be understanding and help guide us toward a solution with minimal…
In treatment, we may feel shame for the feelings that we are experiencing. However, we need to recognize that our depression, loneliness, and regret are not unique. Nearly everyone who has overcome addiction and alcoholism has struggles with the same feelings. Instead of keeping these feelings to ourselves, we must find the courage to effectively…
Feelings of depression are very likely during withdrawal and the early stages of sobriety. It is important to speak with a professional about feelings of depression to determine the best course to take to manage the symptoms, as depression can easily lead one toward relapse. Symptoms of depression can occur at any point, but are…
When a loved one is struggling with addiction or alcoholism, we want to be as supportive as possible. However, sometimes our love can cause us to hurt them rather than help them. Our attempts to support them can turn into enabling behavior, which exacerbates the nature of their addiction. If someone in a state of…