The most imporant thing I have learned since becoming sober.

[PriestTheyCalledHim]

The most imporant thing I have learned since becoming sober.-What's yours?

Is that once you're addicted to a drug be it alcohol or an illegal drug, recreational use of other drugs is a thing of the past.

What's the most important thing you have learned since you became sober?

 

[spork]

This is something that's really true for a lot of people, but everyone's addiction is different and personalities differ as well. It is very important to take note of your actions and watch your self very carefully to make sure that you're not switching out one addiction for another.

Thanks for sharing PTCH and congrats on your ongoing sobriety!

 

[maxalfie]

I've known a few people in the past who have managed to quit their heroin addiction only to swap it for an alcohol problem.
Some of them would have been better off staying on heroin if they had to use something as the alcohol tended to get them into more trouble than heroin ever did.

 

[Minion]

This is the truest thing ever written. I've become psychologically dependent on every single drug and enjoyed. not all at once, obviously, but over the last 8 years.
Mainly meth and weed. I hate weed, but I smoke it every day cos it's all I can get

 

[spork]

For myself, it's the fact that it is possible and I'm much stronger than I previously thought I was.

This is a good thread idea.

 

[mrflowers00]

any drug that i used while sober made me wish i had my doc so badly that i went out and got it

 

[SkagKush]

Is that once you're addicted to a drug be it alcohol or an illegal drug, recreational use of other drugs is a thing of the past.

This may be true in a lot of cases, and I know it is in mine. However, this is not always true, and it is not uncommon for someone to only have one drug of choice.

One of the most important things I learned when I was sober after treatment was that you really have to learn how to have fun in recovery. This isn't always the easiest thing to do, but for myself boredom would take me out time and time again.

 

[aliencowstorm]

I've learned that I need to understand and embrace patience. I never really understood what it meant to be patient until coming off opiates. I'm almost at 5 months and I'm still hitting bumps in the road with PAWS like a mofo.

I have learned that breathing, silence, meditation, reflection and caring are extremely important. When I wake up and want to pop a pill, I just sit back for a minute and meditate and let that fleeting moment pass.

 

[cj]

That getting clean is a process that takes a lot of time.

 

[bubblecola]

I have a big hole in my soul, thats what I learned.

 

[MONSTA!!]

Is that once you're addicted to a drug be it alcohol or an illegal drug, recreational use of other drugs is a thing of the past.

What's the most important thing you have learned since you became sober?

+1, the only time I've had actual success in conquering my heroin addition was when I stopped using everything. I've been clean for what feels like a long time now and I'd never go back.

 

[belfort]

i disagree with OP...id say for the most part, the worst addicts would just end up swapping one addiction for another but i know quite a few heroin addicts that got clean and they drink alcoho occasionally or smoke weed..myself i can use certain drugs and not become addicted and i have had terrible addictions to opiates in the past so the thing i have learned is everyone is different, there are no absolutes in recovery..

 

[deaf eye]

the obsession to use goes away

 

[PriestTheyCalledHim]

the obsession to use goes away

I also learned this. I try to stay very, very busy as that makes my cravings go away since before I was sober I would use mainly when I was bored or relaxing at home alone with nothing to do especially in the summer or on weekends. I found a very old calendar from when I was a teenager before I really started using drugs or before I was addicted to alcohol. I noticed how back then before I was using or at the lowest point of my use with long periods of sobriety. Back then I was involved in a lot of activities and constantly busy besides just being in school, working, and I was sober and not using drugs daily.

 

[thebutcher]

I found that I strive more now to be real and true to myself, no matter what anyone around me thinks. I love nature because I feel like that is what is real and important for myself, I feel like that is what we should be doing and have lost sight,I truly want to live off the land again(grew up in the arctic circle) and do everything myself, not follow suit in what seems to be a rat race. 5 1/2 months sober from heroin.

 

[PriestTheyCalledHim]

Other important things I learned from being sober: If I use or continued using I would have died. No matter how bad a day is if I go to bed sober I've accomplished a lot and reached a goal.

 

[pofacedhoe]

the obsession to use goes away

trudat

after 2 months without alcohol use at all, having drank nearly everyday previously i find that having had it twice recently spaced over a week apart it doesn't really play on my mind, the cravings just are not there 99% of the time and i feel clearer headed. i have just come to realise that i dont like it as much as i once did. i just dont like it as much and the comedown is worse and i enjoy being sober every day because my life is happy.

its weird. you wouldn't think you could sensibly use a drug you once were addicted to but i have done this with weed, caffeine, amphetamine, tramadol, poppies and now alcohol. benzo's were too horrible to come off to even consider dabbling in again but all the others i enjoy from time to time without them taking over. alcohol was the hardest to master

 

[Venrak]

trudat

after 2 months without alcohol use at all, having drank nearly everyday previously i find that having had it twice recently spaced over a week apart it doesn't really play on my mind, the cravings just are not there 99% of the time and i feel clearer headed. i have just come to realise that i dont like it as much as i once did. i just dont like it as much and the comedown is worse and i enjoy being sober every day because my life is happy.

its weird. you wouldn't think you could sensibly use a drug you once were addicted to but i have done this with weed, caffeine, amphetamine, tramadol, poppies and now alcohol. benzo's were too horrible to come off to even consider dabbling in again but all the others i enjoy from time to time without them taking over. alcohol was the hardest to master

Yup, it is definitely possible to use once in a while after addiction. A big thing to look out for though is establishing any sort of pattern of use, like once a week, or once a pay, or whatever...Because that is when we have accepted it as a part of our life again, and we will have the tendency to increase frequency until a seamless transition into relapse completes itself before we can see through our rationalizations...

It is definitely a risk to even attempt it in the hopes that it woks out...

 

[Vaya]

I have a big hole in my soul, thats what I learned.

I related to this... However, once I had determined that I felt that gaping hole in my life' I had the cognizance to realize what I'd been using to fill it for so long, and began coming up - over time, mind you - with proactive ways of filling it, however briefly.

This was an important step. It was long-sought proof that I have it within me to simply exist and be happy, something that I had hitherto given up on achieving.

I'm struggling a bit at the moment, but that knowledge is still a part of me. I can still harness its energy to inch myself back towards rationality.

Nice thread idea.

~ Vaya

 

[caseface99]

I believe controlled use of certain substances Is possible for people like us. (alcoholic/addict minded people)

But the issue is that you can't enjoy it AND control it, nor control it AND enjoy it. It's either one or the other, so basically if you use you're going to be miserable regardless of whether you enjoy it or control it. The only way to start feeling less miserable that I have found is abstaining from all substances that get me high.