Recovery: The Gift that Keeps on Giving
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There are days in recovery that will be more difficult to handle than others. There will be days when you feel the full weight of confusion that life can bring, but unlike when you were using, in addiction recovery, you can work through these days without having to bring destruction into your life.
Being able to navigate anything that life throws at you is one of the priceless gifts that addiction recovery brings. Whereas in the past, many of us felt it almost impossible to deal with even a minor life inconvenience, with some hard work and practice, we have found that there is nothing on this planet that we can’t overcome.
Addiction recovery comes with so many amazing gifts and what’s more, the longer you stay clean and sober the better these gifts are. There is the gift of finally being able to sleep through the night, the gift of not allowing fear and anxiety to rule your life, the gift of having peace of mind and being comfortable in your own skin, and the list goes on and on.
Today we are going to take a look at 5 gifts that addiction recovery brings if you are willing to put in the work. Every single person on this planet is capable of experiencing these gifts, and hopefully knowing that all of this is possible will help you make it through the tough days that will come in recovery.
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Our Top ‘5 Gifts of Addiction Recovery’
1. Not Having to Worry About Jails, Institutions or Death
Some gifts in recovery come sooner than others, like the ability to no longer fear for your life. If you are reading this then you are one of the lucky ones. Most addicts and alcoholics end up either in jail, prison or unfortunately, dead. Waking up, healthy with endless possibilities ahead of you is something special that should not be taken for granted. There were over 30,000 overdose-related deaths in 2015, which means that those of us who used drugs like heroin, cocaine, crystal meth and prescription pills are very lucky to be alive today.
We’re even luckier to not be behind bars. Almost 50% of prisoners in the United States are in there for some type of drug related offense. Be thankful that you are here today and able to live your life freely.
2. Being Able to Support Yourself and Work
Being able to hold down a job is something many of us couldn’t have fathomed while we were out there using. Addicts and alcoholics are some of the hardest workers around, but since they have to expend so much energy using every day, often times their actual 9 to 5 suffers. Once you get a job in recovery you will be surprised how easy it is to keep that job now that you no longer have to worry about finding drugs or alcohol.
3. Being able to Save Money or Purchase Items you Want
Physical gifts of recovery are easier to notice than some of the other gifts of recovery. In early recovery, many addicts and alcoholics don’t have too many physical belongings. Some of us may have pawned or sold these items to help afford our addictions. In recovery, we are able to use our hard-earned money for things that we both need and want. Being able to go to the food store and fill up your fridge with the food of your choice is an amazing feeling.
Treating yourself to a new pair of shoes or a new t-shirt is something that seems reasonable. Now that you aren’t spending every last dollar on your addiction, you will notice that living expenses, while still extensive in some cases, are not insurmountable, and bills no longer have to be thoroughly feared.
4. Finally Feeling Free During Addiction Recovery
In addiction recovery, you will feel a sense of freedom that you haven’t felt in a long time. Being able to wake up and do whatever you want is something special. No longer do you have to wake up dope sick, wondering how you are going to get your fix that day.
You never have to wake up in the middle of the night and grab a drink so your shakes don’t get too bad. Your days are no longer controlled by your addiction, and you are able to do whatever you want, without having to worry about how you are going to get by that day.
5. The Ability to Rebuild Old Relationships and Build New Relationships
Many of us have left a path of destruction in our past. We have burnt a lot of bridges and hurt a lot of people. Through recovery, we will see a lot of those bridges rebuilt, although some may remain burned. You will notice that you are becoming a much more likable person, most good people don’t want to hang out with someone who is in the middle of a crippling addiction. You will build new friendships, friendships that are not built around drugs and alcohol, and ones that will be better than anything you have ever experienced in your life.
You will probably start to get loved ones that you hurt in the past back into your life, and they will trust you in a way that they never have before. You be able to be present during the holidays and other special occasions, and your family will more than likely begin to look to you as a source of strength, rather than a source of constant stress.
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Charles F. has been an active part of the Florida recovery community for over 5 years. He began as a behavioral health technician at an addiction treatment facility in Ocala, Florida and has since begun training as a Licensed Addiction and Chemical Dependency counselor in Boca Raton. Charles’ passion involves the promotion of recovery and helping spread the hope of recovery to as many readers as possible!
