My Recovery Journey

My Recovery Journey Fun in Recovery  Once I had the foundations of a 12-step programme in my life and had experienced continual sobriety from drugs and alcohol and recovery for several months, it was time to build a new life. I mentioned in my previous blog about some of the wonderful new activities and hobbies I embarked upon, so I thought I would share some of the pictures and stories to encourage more people to follow suit. I was told that if I didn’t build a better life for myself and my family than the one I had before, then I was sure to relapse and return to my old ways. At 90 days sober a family member was having to move on a puppy, a beautiful wee King Charles. I had never had a dog but decided to say YES, one of the best decisions in my recovery journey. A bromance was about to blossom and a great reason to get me out in the great outdoors. I remember sitting in a Friday night meeting when I was around 9 months sober, chatting to another recovering addict who would ...

My Recovery Journey  Early Days of Sobriety  2017 was the year I finally got free from drugs & alcohol. There were periods of sobriety before this, but this was the final time I would abuse or take any substances. I couldn’t believe it, finally free from active addiction and from a negative mindset that was out to kill me. There was no residential rehabilition, but community rehab treatment through 12 step fellowship. So, what now I thought. I only managed to get clean & sober by following a 12-step programme that detached me from everything I knew, good as well as bad. Leaving behind the old behaviours, old negative mindset, and places that were linked to my using – pubs, clubs, parties etc. was the easy part. What I found hard was leaving behind good friends, not the ones that were only looking for a using buddy (there was many of them), but the great friends who I cared about and they cared for me. You see, the only way to survive early sobriety was to detach from...

My Recovery Journey  The Beginning of the End  The party was well and truly over and had been for some time. How does an addict or alcoholic keep on going despite the lengthy list of reasons to STOP? My list of reasons to stop was ever-growing. Birth of my son Loss of family members to drug & alcohol addiction. Loss of friends to alcohol or drug addiction Getting married Losing my flat and living with a family member for a year. Growing up as a child of an alcoholic, seeing first-hand the devastation that this causes and yet inflicting this on my own family.  Despite this list, I just couldn't let go. What I didn't know back then though, was that I had no control of whether I used or not. When the thought of using came, which it always did, it was soon followed by several days of substance abuse and intoxication, blanking out every other thought or feeling, until the drugs and booze ran out or my body couldn't take anymore. I remember visiting 12 step fe...