Avoidance in Addiction Recovery

I talked to my sponsor a few weeks ago about a character defect I’m working on. I have a problem with not keeping in touch with friends or family who aren’t nearby. I genuinely have the best intentions, but I just don’t do it very well. And the more time passes, the harder it is …

Seen & Heard: Trauma is the Real Gateway Drug

I recently posted the quote above on my Facebook page. I think the first place I read that was in a longer quote from Russell Brand. His quote says this: It’s so true, isn’t it? Addiction to drugs or alcohol is often a symptom of something much bigger. Something that nearly always has its roots …

My Addiction Recovery Story

I was asked to share my story at one of my recovery meetings a couple of months ago. It’s been a while since I stood up in front of a bunch of people and talked about my alcoholism and getting sober, so I was nervous. It was also the first time that my daughter was …

Am I a Dry Drunk?

In addiction recovery, complacency breeds old behavior, which can quickly lead to unnecessary problems, including relapse. The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous explains complacency on page 85. It says, “It is easy to let up on the spiritual program of action and rest on our laurels. We are headed for trouble if we do, for …

Back with the Good, Bad, and Ugly of My Addiction Recovery

Here I am. It’s been a while since I’ve posted. Not because I don’t have anything to say about recovery anymore, but just because life gets busy sometimes. The last couple of years have not let me down in that area, that’s for sure. We’ve settled into life in Alabama, and I am in love …

No Addiction without Lies, No Recovery without Honesty

Last week, we went to an AA meeting and because there was a newcomer in the room, the topic was the first step. I love first step meetings. They help keep everything fresh for me. Those of us who have been in recovery for a while need to be reminded where we came from and …

Why Do We Self-Sabotage in Recovery?

Being in recovery for the last ten years has taught me a lot about myself and other recovering addicts. While we’re all unique individuals with different, often dysfunctional, histories, we also have a lot in common. One of the most common similarities that I’ve seen time and time again is our ability to self-sabotage. Addiction …

Sobriety, Depression, and Answered Prayers

It's been a while! I haven't updated my blog for quite a long time, for various reasons. Yes, I am still sober. No, I have not been going to very many meetings in the last year or so. That's not because I am no longer focused on my recovery, I am. I've just found that …

What Recovery Has Taught Me About Acceptance

There are no two ways about it, we all have things that we wish we could change. I think this is especially true of those of us who are in recovery. We wish we could change the past, things we said or did, or we wish we could change our current circumstances, progress, or feelings. …

When Mother’s Day Hurts

Usually when I write a post on this blog, I write it with the hope that what I have to say will be helpful to someone else. I write it hoping that someone who is going through what I have gone through, whether they are in recovery or not, will be able to see that …