What Winners Do – An Addiction Recovery Blog Stories, Struggles And Success of A Recovering Addict Trying to Do What Winners Do

Addiction Recovery: Where Are You Along Your Road Of Recovery?

At first, the main purpose of entering into addiction recovery was so you would stop drinking, drugging, gambling, over-eating whatever else you did compulsively. You finally realized that you had a problem and needed to stop, the next thing you did was to admit that you not only had a problem but that the problem was one that cannot be fixed on your own.

The next stop along your road of recovery was realizing that since you cannot fix your problem on your own, you needed to ask for help. This was one of the most difficult things that you ever had to do in your life. Saying out loud to someone "I need help", is not something that addicts do very well. We usually try to hide the fact that we are not in control and are not perfect. But somehow you did it. These things got you started out along your road of addiction recovery...but where are you along your road of recovery now?

Addiction Recovery: Building Your Self Confidence

I feel comfortable making the blanket statement that anyone in the throes of addiction has little to no self confidence. I know, "jeez, how did you come up with that one...what an epiphany." So what happens when you enter into addiction recovery and still feel zero self confidence?

Are You Still Keeping Secrets In Your Recovery?

"They Say" that a huge part of addiction recovery is un-burdening yourself of all those "secrets" that you keep inside because of the fear of judgment. I guess this goes along with Step 5 of the 12 Steps. You admit to your higher power, yourself, and another human being the exact nature of your wrongs.

The purpose of this step is supposed to be about openly acknowledging the positive while committing to work at rectifying your negatives. I do understand the purpose of it, I guess I'm just NO WHERE near being ready for this type of outward honesty. I'm not saying I'll never be there, just not right now.

It seems that I'm not alone in my unwillingness to admit my secrets to another human beings. I have found some sites recently who's main purpose is to let people anonymously admit their secrets...both good and bad.

Happy Valentine’s Day

Valentine's Day is a day made for love.

Take a moment today and think about all of the people in your life that you love.

It doesn't matter if they are here or passed...take a moment and think about them today.

Happy Valentine's Day to all those that I love...including myself.

Addiction Recovery:A Bad Person Trying To Become Good Or A Sick Person Trying To Become Well?

There is still a debate out there as to whether or not addiction should be considered a disease or a sort of mental disorder of the weak willed. It seems that these two schools of thought will never find common ground on what truly causes addiction.

I have been on both sides of the fence. At one time, I didn't want to believe that it was a disease. I wanted to think that possibly this was something that I brought on myself from lack of will power or self discipline and that possibly, since this wasn't a disease, I would be able to go back to using "every once in a while".

Now however, after a lot of reading up on the subject, I can accept the fact that addiction is a disease which was with me far before ever drinking my first beer or taking my first pill. Something causes my mind to work in an addictive thinking pattern and it is that addictive thinking pattern which is truly the disease.

It is easy to lose sight of why and how I got into this situation though. It often leaves me pondering that old addiction recovery question: Am I a bad person trying to become good or am I a sick person trying to become well?

Addiction Recovery: Sober Socializing

Slowly I am becoming more and more comfortable with being sober in social settings. I have found it easier and easier to be myself in front of people and carry on real conversations where I actually listen to people instead of just waiting to talk. Then I had kind of a weird sober socializing setback.

Addiction Recovery: A Little Peace Of Mind Goes A Long Way

This will be quick. It's kind of funny that when I'm doing good I don't have that much to write. I figured I would just check-in and tell everyone that today is a good day.