5 Things to Give Up in Recovery (Aside from Alcohol & Drugs)
Recovery is about moving on and letting go. Getting clean from alcohol and drugs is important to the recovery process for an addict; but, those are not the only things we have to throw away to really get the most out of sobriety. We don’t just get to give up using and drinking and anticipate that our lives will become more rewarding and exciting.
People who are addicted to drugs and alcohol must alter some damaging behaviors and harmful beliefs as well.
During addiction, dysfunctional and problematic behaviors and habits come naturally over time. We do and say things that hurt the people we love the most.
The most important thing to know is that recovery is not just about abstaining from drugs and alcohol. It is about a deep internal change that happens over time. We are compelled to be better people and let go of a person we were in active addiction.
When we are eager to give up some of these things, we have a chance to gain so much more. Here are five things to give up in recovery aside from alcohol and drugs:
Lying
Lies and dishonesty are big problems when it comes to sobriety. Individuals say that our skeletons in the closet keep us sick.
The more we try to hide who we really are and what we have done; only results in lying to people around us even more.
As we get closer to drugs or drinks, our mental condition is trapped, unaware that the drug-driven addict is hurting others to have what we want out of life.
Co-dependence
It is a trend among alcoholics and addicts to be in toxic relationships. It also becomes obvious in rehab recovery that addicts cannot latch onto others to care for one another.
In a good way, recovery promotes newfound independence. It is safe to develop equal relationships with others, specifical peers in recovery and sober supports.
Try not to build codependent relationships that you depend on for safety, sanity, and pleasure: it is counterproductive and self-destructive.
Resentments
One major concept in the recovery group that we often hear is resentment. Typically resentment is similar to holding a grudge; but, for the alcoholic and addict, this bitterness will grow to define you if you do not let it go.
Resentment is something we should seldom hold onto, and we must repeatedly try to move on and let go of bad vibes. But why?
Why should we avoid holding on to resentments?
We should avoid holding resentments because they are known to fuel addiction. When in active use, people sometimes hold tight to resentments.
We would think about how people hurt us, and unfortunately, how we wanted to get them back. It would also give us an excuse to use at times.
When you start the process of recovery, these resentments must be dealt with. And, of course, new resentments crop up all the time. When we come upon people who hurt us or situations that make us upset, we must let go; it is essential to let things go and be conscious enough to let things go.
Guilt
As alcoholics and addicts, it is important to remember that we must forgive while in recovery.
Forgiveness is not just about addressing our hatred or those we considered having wronged us: it also greatly affects when we let go of our guilt.
For some of us, it’s easier to forgive others than it is to forgive ourselves.
Self-forgiveness is the difference between beating ourselves up and letting ourselves grow. The burdens we carry keep us gripped by chaos and disconnected from reality.
It’s time to let go of the guilt and forgive yourself for the past.
Self-Harm
Other than using or drinking, we should also discard the other habits that harm us.
This can include:
Cutting
Self-sabotage
Self-isolation
and other activities that can have negative consequences in our lives.
If you want to maintain a healthy recovery, continue to look for ways to solve these habits and tendencies.
