Recalculating Your Life in Recovery


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Individuals who are in recovery cannot allow themselves to become overwhelmed. By this, I mean not taking on too many tasks at one time. There are numerous times when they will take on as many projects as they can handle, regardless of the circumstances.

Recovery journey is never easy, we are here to help in any possible way. Having a stable job, having stable financial situation and helping us get back on track and building for future really helps. The job coach of our partner agency comes to coach any guests that are looking for jobs.

It won’t be plain sailing; there will be good days and bad days, but the bad days always pass, ready for a brand new day. In 2018, I experienced one of the darkest days of my life when I lost my 15-year-old daughter to the tragedy of suicide. I could have easily given into my demons of alcohol instead of staving off all the urges and cravings.

Use discretion, but be courteous, polite, open and willing to engage in conversation – if the opportunity permits. Even saying hello to a newcomer in the rooms of recovery is something that you can easily do. You may not feel like it, not at first, but give it time and a little practice and you’ll soon figure out that it doesn’t hurt you to be a little more outgoing and friendly. To the extent that you have common interests and likes, keep in mind that these may be just the right choices for friendship – as long as the feeling is mutual. The best part about cultivating new friends is that they will fill the void left by leaving your past behind.

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Since you never know who might become a friend, the wise approach may be to behave as though every person you meet might one day be more than just a casual acquaintance. This doesn’t mean that you have to act other than your conscience Vanderburgh House dictates. After all, some people may not be good candidates for friendship, but might be better as casual acquaintances.

A Personal Perspective: How to redirect your life when things fall apart.

Your job now is to work on your recovery, day in and day out, without fail. One of the emotions that well up when you think about walking away from the past is the powerful feeling of betrayal. The person may even call you out on your action, lashing out with anger and telling you that you betrayed your friendship or love. This retort will sting, undoubtedly, but that does not make it true.

  1. While there is no question that painful memories of the past can wreak havoc in recovery from alcohol or drugs (or compulsive gambling, sexual behavior, workaholism and so on).
  2. I moved into a sober house that had a culture of recovery and lived there for 18 months.
  3. One of the main things an individual in recovery needs to remember is to focus on what they have accomplished.

New Beginnings: When Moving Forward Means Leaving the Past Behind

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Think of this not as betrayal but as an affirmation of life – your life. You need to break free so that you can make your way in this new life that you have freely chosen. Recovery is about possibility, of change, of embarking on exciting journeys of discovery. It is tough to start over, that much is true. For those in recovery, especially early recovery, starting over tends to take on the magnitude of the nearly impossible.

No longer looking in the rearview mirror, your vision is clear to move forward in recovery. Another way is that individuals must be willing to help others, so they/ can help themselves. If you are in recovery, you must step out of your comfort zone to assist the person new to recovery down the right path. Another way is to keep your focus on yourself. There are times when you will have to do whatever it takes to hit your reset button. On those days when you are at work, complete a wellness check to avoid falling back into old habits.

Maybe, but it will have to be of his or her own volition. This isn’t something that you can force another person to do, any more than others could force rehab on you. So, while there is an outside possibility that people from your past who continue to use will eventually go into treatment, you cannot sit around and wait for that day to come.