Emotional Challenges of Overcoming Addiction
A person in recovery from addiction tends to experience feelings more intensely. Why? Now that they are no longer medicating their feelings with drugs, alcohol, or fantasy, they are fragile. They’re more acutely aware of their own painful feelings rather than the pain they’ve inflicted upon others. It’s not a surprise, then, when they move on too quickly. Expecting others to trust them too soon is unrealistic—trust is to be earned and takes time.
So, individuals in recovery need to remember the years of pain, deceit, broken promises, and hardships created in their addiction. These events have hurt their loved ones more than they realize. Their loved ones require support throughout the healing process. No one can fix their loved ones or undo the damage they have done. But through recovery, there is an opportunity for healing in relationships. (more…)
Part of what can make a tempting situation worse is the condition of one’s mental and physical state when stressors occur. It is common for tempting situations to occur with more intensity at the early onset of sobriety, along with when someone is physically or mentally drained. And this can seem more intense because sobriety is the healthiest option regardless of what has occurred. It is easy to get tired of recovery—but don’t give up!
While a person may not want to say the words out loud, they struggle with hunger. It’s not a hunger for food but love. Admitting their need for love can be extremely difficult, especially if they have experienced pain from love. But it is the first step out of their addiction. They may have to probe and push to get in touch with the truth. And honesty is the way to start climbing out of the pit.
Before porn, we were probably much happier, more confident, and socialized more. But later when we became fixated on porn, we began to experience problems in our lives. After all, our brains are like plastic—repeated stimulus, such as watching porn, affects the neurochemical balance in our brains. Here are 6 things porn does to the brain.
One of the dangers of living in bondage to your compulsive behaviors for a while is that you may see yourself as more bad than good. This all-or-nothing type of thinking in life is extreme. When you think this way, every thought—from how you view yourself to how you view other people—can be divided into black-or-white terms. This leaves little room, if any, for the gray areas in-between.
Is your journey of Life Recovery going well? Or, are you overwhelmed at the path set before you of getting through all of the 12 Steps? If so, you are not alone. Whether it’s our first time in recovery or we’re getting back into it after a long break, the 12 Steps can seem intimidating.