ONE DAY AT A TIME:
Some people are able to use recreational drugs i.e., marijuana, healing plant medicines
www.plantmedicines.com/index.html
or in some cases prescription drugs without experiencing negative consquences or addiction .
For many others, substance use including marijuana, plant medicines, alcohol and other illicit drugs cause major trouble in many areas of life and the outcomes can be fatal. Some of the negative consequences include heightened anxiety & stress, debilating depression, problems functioning at home, work or school, growing issues around lack of self-care and self-esteem.
People who are abusing any of these substances will have increased problems in relationships at home, school or work which exabercates feelings of isolation and loneliness which in turn drives the obsession for more substances to medicate ensuing negative thoughts and emotions. Living in the prison walls of an addiction is scary state of affairs. Addiction is a disease which is why it is described as a two-fold illness; first, it's a mental obsession or a locked in idea to use drugs or alcohol even in the face of negative results; secondly, it's a physiological compulsion or urge to use or drink that is felt in the body and cannot win out against so-called "willpower."
If you are struggling with the disease of alcohol or drugs you are not alone. There are lots of people who have been there and have found their way to recovery. I am one of those people.
Recovery from Addiction of all types i.e., sex, drugs, alcohol, pornography, selfing, food, video games, shopping, shoplifting, nicotine, etc, is a painful and slow moving process but the journey leads to unspeakable inner joy, peace and personal growth.
Recovery is about re-creating your personal narrative, your past narrative does not define you.
Alcohol by far is the oldest drug around it is also the most widely-used and abused drug. Alcohol, and all substance and behavioral addictions are appropriately termed the disease of denial. Most addicts will rationalize, ignore, deflect, pretend or deny how bad their drinking is until they hit a number of bottoms.
If you're worried about your own or a friend or family member's drug and alcohol use, it's important to know that help is available. Learning about the nature of drug and alcohol abuse how it develops and how it can have a progressive and powerful hold will give you a better understanding of the problem.
Addiction to drugs and alcohol is an attempt to control and fulfill one's desire for happiness. Addiction creates pain the very thing the person is trying to avoid.
Alcohol and Drug Addiction is a family illness and a family recovery process. Active Recovery is essential to the individual and family if healing is to occur. Don't try to go it alone; it's all too easy to get discouraged and rationalize "just one more" hit, pill or drink.
Recovery starts with being clean and sober one day at a time.
