What was the final turning point for your recovery?

[David Wooderson]

Things instrumental in my recovery:

Reading the AA Big Book
Realizing I had to do it for myself
Getting time away from my environment
Erasing my connections, staying away from friends who used
Age and experience, getting older and losing decades can be an inspiration
My previous attempts at recovery/sobriety (learning the hard way I couldn't use at all)
Therapy

I had tried many times to end my opiate addiction but never succeeded due to wanting to do it for ex's, do it for a financial reason, having friends that used, doing it for family.
Realizing that I could never use again was the biggest because it made me get honest with myself.
In the end getting time away was key as I never intended to go sober, just wanted to stop opiates. But in the end I quit everything (never quit everything before) finding it sure isn't easy, but I am making it. 4 months last week!

Curious to find out what was the turning point for others

 

[Trying2Iso]

getting on antipsychotic medication.
Why do drugs if you cant get high on your favorite ones anymore.

 

[d-nihl]

Ohhh man idk, I guess I ran outta money, and I couldn't steal it, then after 3 days of no opiates, just some weed, I realized this was the longest ive ever gone without otiates. NOW, I would be devastated if I relapsed and used. Personally, I have never seen hope. After those three days, finally see hope, and its amazing.

Hopeully in a day or two ill be outta weed, and ill go right into meetings.
I too felt that time is slipping away.

Im a little worried to cut out the pot in a few days, once I start running again (tomorrow) and maybe a day or two after ill quit smoking pot, and go to meetings. get a job, etc.

 

[annachronism]

Not being able to properly care for my child, health deteriorating to the point where my doctor thought I had a severe auto immune disorder, losing all social contact, being flat broke, getting to the point where I knew I couldn't hold it together and I knew if something didnt change I could lose the ability to care for my kid.

that said it still took me getting on a plane, flying 6000 miles and leaving all sources behind

 

[CfZrx]

Ohhh man idk, I guess I ran outta money, and I couldn't steal it, then after 3 days of no opiates, just some weed, I realized this was the longest ive ever gone without otiates. NOW, I would be devastated if I relapsed and used. Personally, I have never seen hope. After those three days, finally see hope, and its amazing.

Hopeully in a day or two ill be outta weed, and ill go right into meetings.
I too felt that time is slipping away.

Im a little worried to cut out the pot in a few days, once I start running again (tomorrow) and maybe a day or two after ill quit smoking pot, and go to meetings. get a job, etc.

D-nihl, I feel the same. I've been smoking too much since I tapered and need to taper the weed now a bit....

 

[CfZrx]

My turning point is happening as we speak. I have been choosing to stay clean during this last couple days when my gf is mistreating me ( i think her period is coming up). In the past my anger would fuel some chipping. Now I see how I will only feel worse if I cave.

 

[herbavore]

^Hey, that is huge, CfZrx! Your thinking is clearing and that is cause for celebration. It's great when you can realize that the old addicted brain lie that tells you that you will feel better (during a crisis or an uncomfortable time) by using is a very false promise indeed:D

 

[engineercchad]

I was a poly case, mostly pills in every form imaginable. My turning point was my grandmother. She had been diagnosed with a brain tumor she decided not to bother trying to fight November 2012 because she was already Stage 2 Alzheimer's dementia and I was asked if I'd help her out. My father had previously taken on the responsibility but didn't turn out to be the "care giver" type. We didn't want to place her in a home. I had very good knowledge of the substances in use by Hospice..... I was nervous going into it but finished all my detoxing in the process of managing her meds and helping her die with as much dignity and as comfortable as could be allowed.

Other things that led up to it: putting my car underneath a semi trailer during the morning rush on the interstate the previous October. Things started to "click" that I just wasn't going to lead a decent life.

 

[GenericName12]

The day I realized that my mind was lying to me, and that these drugs don't nearly provide the euphoria that my addiction tells me they do.