Life Is Unpredictable in Addiction Recovery

May 4th, 2013 by Geoff Thompson

There is no official rulebook for life, because life is far too complicated. Most people with addictions use the tactic of controlling people, places, and things in their attempt to protect themselves. If the addict doesn’t know something, some piece of information that will allow him or her to plan or to make a decision, they often feel great anxiety. As well, a plan that gets blown up at the last minute can really upset those in early recovery.

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Your First Year in Recovery: What to Expect

in Getting SoberWhat to expend your First Year in RecoveryQuitting drugs or alcohol, either by entering a detox center or doing it on your own, is just the first step in the long journey that is recovery. The first year in recovery is the most tumultuous, and everyone’s recovery is unique. There is no exact formula that works for everyone. There are, however, many things that can be expected regarding your first year in recovery.

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The Road to Recovery

in 12-StepLife struggles can define who a person will become later in life, and for me, one night would save my future and save my life. People have asked me why I believe that I am an alcoholic. I respond with a simple answer: Because I struggle to control how much I drink. I never would have considered myself an alcoholic. Like other alcoholics, I never thought I had a problem, and therefore I had nothing to worry about. I could keep doing what I wanted; however, the end of my destructive road came in full force, and I would learn that in order for me to live with a free body, mind, and spirit I needed sobriety.

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Emotional Sobriety: How to keep your emotions stable in recovery

In the beginning, the focus is on physical sobriety. When an addict decides to quit using, they need to put aside their emotions, and the only thing they need to worry about is not picking up. As their body adjusts to functioning without drugs or alcohol, they can slowly begin to concentrate on what’s most essential to their recovery: emotional sobriety.

What is emotional sobriety? In short, it’s being able to regulate your emotions and your mood. Emotional sobriety is being able to deal with strong feelings without resorting to addictive, compulsive, or destructive behaviors. Without emotional sobriety, it’s difficult – if not impossible – to maintain physical sobriety.

People who are physically sober but not emotionally sober are often referred to as

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Being Young in Recovery

but addiction has a way of stunting your intellectual growth. People who are suffering from addiction in early adolescence or young adulthood have a unique advantage; if they get sober at a young age, they have a better shot at bouncing back and turning their lives around. At the same time, they’re also faced with unique challenges, such as a limited worldview and more peer pressure to

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