You know you want it, but you know it’s not good for you because you’ve already been down that road plenty of times. You’ve worked extremely hard to get to this point where you have recovered everything you’ve lost, but you can’t seem to drown that inner voice that keeps calling you back to the pit of addiction that almost destroyed you and everyone you love. No matter how far along you are in recovery, you cannot dismiss the reality of the temptation of drug and alcohol relapse. The lure will always be there, and it comes in various forms, whether they be triggers at a party you’re invited to or an after-hours hang-out with colleagues who don’t know about your alcohol and drug history. The best defense is a good offense, and in the context of recovery, your best offense is filling your life with meaningful activities that serve a higher cause and purpose.
Aware and Alert: Your Past Does Not Define You
Your past does not define you but ignoring the influence of your past will increase your chances of falling back into the same pit. For those of us in recovery, having been through the process of drug and alcohol rehabilitation, the difference now is that we are more aware of the tendencies and dispositions that placed us in addiction in the first place. All that work we have done on ourselves, from medical detoxification to cognitive-behavioral therapy, would almost mean nothing if we don’t do a reality check every now and then on our sobriety. We have come from humble beginnings, but just because we have successfully recovered does not mean we forget where we’ve come from. We just have to stay humble and be aware that drug and alcohol relapse is one decision away if we are not careful and alert.
Answering the Existential Question: What Is Your Destiny?
Rather than focusing on what not to do (i.e., avoiding drug use), focus on something that takes your mind off addiction. Find out who you are and what you were created to do. One of the benefits of holistic therapy is that it clears the minds of individuals who are recovering from substance abuse addiction. Brain fog caused by drug addiction has been well documented, but the solution for clearing away the mental debris lies in discovering one’s interests in hobbies that may unveil hidden talent or revive previous passions. Activities like surfing, paddle boarding and painting may open minds and generate fresh thinking, which are essentials for recovery in the long run. Replacing old destructive behaviors with fun, wholesome hobbies is one of the goals of holistic therapy as individuals learn how to reclaim their destiny and (re)discover their authentic self.
Why Giving Back Is So Powerful
Have you ever wondered why so many people who have been healed from substance abuse addiction give back to their recovery communities? Drug and alcohol addiction is a highly personal issue. If you have not been personally addicted, you know someone who has, and you have suffered a grievous loss due to addiction – whether that be the loss of a significant other, family members, or the job of your dreams. After experiencing that loss, the fight against addiction becomes the single-most important mission of your life, because if there’s anything you can do to lessen the sufferings of others around you, you would do it in a heartbeat. It is not uncommon for recovering individuals to dedicate the rest of their lives to be part of the solution, whether that means going back to college to pursue a career in addictions counseling or using one’s current skills set such as financial management or business administration to contribute in some way, shape or form. Giving back has multiple emotional, mental, and physical benefits.
Stay Connected with Your Recovery Community to Avoid Drug and Alcohol Relapse
New Method Wellness has an Extended Aftercare program that gives alumni the opportunity to give back to their recovery community. Peers, participants, counselors, and members of the community get to be inspired by alumni who have tasted failure and have been resurrected, so to speak, from a dead-end life. In Denzel Washington’s words, “At the end of the day, it’s not about what you have or even what you’ve accomplished. It’s about what you’ve done with those accomplishments. It’s about who you’ve lifted up, who you’ve made better. It’s about what you’ve given back.” It’s about the difference you make with the one life you have.
For more information about New Method Wellness’s holistic programs, call 866.951.1824
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