How Can An Add-friendly System Change Your Life?
Addressing the worst of your addictions can be challenging. There are many reasons that one might struggle with addictions, but one of them is the sense of isolation that people often feel when they’re immersed in their addiction. No one thinks twice about it when you casually go to a store and buy a candy bar or take a drink, but it becomes overwhelming if you’ve been doing things like binge-drinking alcohol every night for more than 10 years.
One easy solution is to find coping methods that help you deal with your addiction without feeling anxious or guilty about what you’re doing. One such method is to join Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA). If you have family members who are addicted, however, you might think they wouldn’t want to start meeting with the same people who are struggling with their own addiction, but that’s not true.
Family members can benefit from meeting with others who struggle with addictions. In fact, it can help prevent conflicts about how one person should handle his or her particular addiction. The first step in coping with your addiction is recognizing it exists and seeking help from a professional.
You don’t need to go all in on Alcoholics Anonymous if you don’t want to. There are other options available to you. What you need to know is that there are dozens of add-friendly Alcoholics Anonymous meetings in your area. If they aren’t listed, then search online for meeting times, locations and topics.
Some resources include:
Go to one of these meetings and introduce yourself. The first step in any recovery program is getting to know the people at the meeting and making some level of social connection with them. You may be surprised by how welcoming a group of people can be if your addiction is keeping you isolated from others. However, it doesn’t matter where you start because each person has their own recovery story.
Keep in mind that, as an addict, you are often surrounded by addicts. If you can learn to accept this and not feel a sense of shame about it, then you’re putting yourself in a position for success.
The effects of addiction are devastating. The mental instability and physical stress that go along with it can seem like there’s no end in sight. If you find yourself feeling discouraged because of your addiction, then think back on all the changes that have happened since you started treatment. Some of these changes may have been positive ones, but others may have come at great cost.
The most important thing you can do is love yourself. Many people fear that they’ll never be able to love themselves because of their addiction, but it’s possible—even necessary at times. Take some time to reflect on how much better you feel when you’re not feeling anxiety or remorse because of your addiction. If you can see success in that way, then maybe the rest will follow.
Steps You Can Take To Be An Add-Friendly Addict:
The best way to meet other people who are struggling with addictions is by going to meetings and sharing your experiences with others who might relate to what you’re going through. Keep in mind that you may not feel like sharing your story when you first start attending these meetings. Some of the best methods for coping with addiction are going to self-help classes and learning how to talk about your own experiences with others who listen.
If you’re worried about being judged by others just because they’re addicts, then don’t. There are a lot of people at these meetings who have experienced things that you haven’t had to deal with. Remember that everyone is equal in recovery, so keep an open mind and be willing to share your own experiences at these meetings.
Remember that you shouldn’t feel any shame or guilt about struggling with addiction. Rather, most people should be able to relate to the struggles of struggling with addiction. Learning how to cope and move forward in these meetings is essential for your own growth and development.
Think back on all of the things that have changed since you’ve started attending these meetings. You might be surprised by how much better you feel when you stop making things into huge problems and focus on what can be. Remember that there’s a big difference between feeling like your life is completely out of control and feeling stable and grounded in recovery—even if it doesn’t seem like it right now.
If you are struggling with addiction, consider these options:
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA)—These meetings provide a group of people who have struggled with their own addictions. You’ll have the opportunity to take part in the shared experiences of others, which will help you find a sense of support and understanding for your own addiction. Most meetings are open-minded about the types of addictions that others struggle with, so there’s no reason not to give them a try.
HelpGuide—This site features information on finding help for a variety of addictions, including alcohol, drugs and gambling. The website provides a toolkit for coping with addiction and includes more detailed information about each solution.
Al-Anon/Alateen—These specialized meetings provide support for individuals who are family members of addicts. They provide a safe place for these people to share their experiences and feelings about the struggle that their loved ones have experienced when dealing with addiction. Each meeting is completely different from another, so please look into what’s available in your area before you attend one.
Alcoholics Anonymous—There are a lot of Alcoholics Anonymous meetings available in your area. Some of these meetings are part of larger groups, while others will focus entirely on local members and their struggles with addiction.
Meetings for Teens—If you’re under 18 and are addicted to drugs, alcohol or gambling, then you should seek out resources like this that help you cope with your addiction. Meetings will provide information on how to get clean and sober while you’re still young enough to learn from mistakes.
Chapter 6 Understanding The Road To Recovery
It’s important that you understand the road to recovery before you start it.
Conclusion
In this chapter, you learned what it means to be an addict, how to understand recovery and the first steps that you can take to begin your journey.
You also learned how to cope with the daily struggles of addiction and how to thrive while in recovery. Hopefully these tips will help you succeed as an addict.
Before You Begin…
Don’t rush into your recovery program. Take some time to think about whether or not it is the right choice for you. There are a lot of different options available for treatment from a variety of sources, so it’s important that you identify which ones are right for you.