Recovery…..What is it?....Who needs it?
According to Dictionary.com, the definition of recovery is….the regaining of or possibility of regaining something lost or taken away; restoration or return to health from sickness, and restoration or return to any former and better state or condition.
Most likely people who struggle with substance abuse have experienced the loss of something or have had something taken away from them as a result of their alcohol and/or drug use. Whether it’s a job, driver’s license, home, spouse, children, finances, freedom, or even health, certainly they would like to be restored or returned to a former and better state or condition than they find themselves in currently.
Are people that struggle with some sort of chemical dependence the only ones that need recovery? No…. they are not. There has been a misconception in the “recovery” world that people who struggle with substance abuse are the only ones who need to be in recovery. We all need to be in recovery. We all suffer from some sort of hurt, some sort of hang-up, some sort of habit or a combination of all three. If we were honest with ourselves, all of us would see the need to be in “recovery”.
Recovery is for anyone who has something that is interfering with their relationships. Relationships with others, with God, and with ourselves can be greatly affected by things we hang on to such as our past, our anger and resentments, our attitude of entitlement, being judgmental or critical of others and ourselves, being self righteous, being unforgiving to those who have wronged us, not to mention the not so obvious addictions like pornography, gambling, food, spending, video games and internet. Maybe you’re struggling with a recent death, or divorce…… recovery is for you too.
Recovery is not a destination with an end point. Recovery is a journey, a life-long journey that is not meant to be traveled alone. So whether you struggle with substances, childhood hurts, or other emotional baggage or character defects you can find restoration and be returned to a better state or condition than you are now by first accepting that you have some issues in your life that are keeping you from being the person you were created to be.
Step 1: We admitted we were powerless over our addictions and compulsive behaviors and that our lives had become unmanageable.
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