notanotheraddict @notanotheraddict - Tumblr Blog

Relapse Prevention

I’ve been reflecting lately on where my program is at these days. The longer I stay in recovery, the more I see others who struggle and relapse after a short or long term amount of clean time. And it always prompts me to reflect on where I am at.

Am I comfortable with my recovery today? Am I working the program to the best of my ability? Am I being honest? What areas of my life could I improve?

I attend at least 4 NA meetings per week. I regularly attend the healthcare professionals group I belong to. I stay in contact with my sponsor on a daily basis, and we talk on the phone every couple of days. I meet him every two weeks for step work. I also have a service commitment at my homegroup. This is the bread and butter of my recovery program.

This week I’ve made some changes to my diet habits that I’m hoping will improve my well being and physical health. I’m takin charge of my eating, which I have struggled with my entire life. I’m meal planning, drinking lots of water, and saying no to extra snacks and sugar. This is something I’ve done in the past, and I lost a lot of weight and got to a place where I was comfortable with my body.

There is also more to do in my recovery. This continues to be a process and I can never forget where I came from, and that I will always have work to do on myself. There is always room to grow.

#narcotics anonymous #addiction recovery #alcoholics anonymous #addict #addiction #relapse prevention #na #just for today (na)#recovery #clean and serene #codependent #codependentnomore #codependency #keep coming back #easy does it

As I lay my head on the pillow tonight, I would be remiss if I didn’t share my gratitude today with my tumblr recovery family. As I’ve heard in NA, “we keep what we have by giving it away”.

I can officially say today that I have made it 365 days without using a substance. This time last year I shared with you my struggles during my relapse. I was in so much denial and it wasn’t until I was about 7 months clean that I finally accepted my new date. As I was told, it’s not what I used - it’s why I used it. It didn’t matter what it was, I used to change the way I felt at the time. And I experienced all the feelings of a relapse that I don’t want to forget moving forward.

One year seemed like such a long time, but it has flown by so fast. Recovery has afforded me many gifts. I am in the process of returning to work in September. My relationships with my family and friends are improving all the time. I have a working relationship with my sponsor, as well as friends in recovery - and we support each other. I can look at myself in the mirror today and be happy with who I am. I am a work in progress and that’s ok. I’m grateful for the continuing process of recovery, and that I am not recovered.

I think most important for me was rebuilding my relationship with God. I learned many years ago, well before recovery, that God would never shut the door on me. But I have shut the door on him many times. Narcotics Anonymous has given me a God given program to help me reshape my life. This design for living has certainly worked for me and was exactly what I needed. I have been given a second chance. I have been given my choice and freedom back.

If you’re new, or struggling - keep coming back. Surrender to win. Don’t give up. The 12 steps work. The fellowships work, whether NA or AA. There is hope here, and a promise of freedom from active addiction. I have received more in my life today than just freedom from being a slave to the drug. This program has worked well beyond any expectations I had.

Feeling grateful and serene today. Just for today.

Happy 24 <3

tommihanley

notanotheraddict

Good quote. Happy 24 everyone <3

Hey you’ve not posted in a while, how are you doing?

Hello hello. I’m doing well. Thanks for asking. I’ve been absent from my blog, thank you for the kick in the butt to get more active. Enjoying recovery too much!I’m celebrating one year clean next month :) It works if you work it!<3

Gifts of Recovery. It’s easy for me to let my blog activity slide, when so many other things are filling my time today. It’s easy for me to forget that it wasn’t too long ago I was posting on here about my relapse, reaching out to others, and feeling hopeful when other addicts reached out to help me. So I think it’s important to share on where I’m at today. I picked up my 9 month key tag last week. My life has taken an unbelievable turn since I started my recovery last year. I have learned so much about myself and my disease, and I’m learning how to love myself better these days. I am grateful on my knees that God saw fit to give me a chance to recover. But I am not recovered, and I am grateful for that. I have a lot to learn and I remain teachable. I used to share that “the longer I stay here, the sicker I get”, but the truth is the longer I stay clean, the more awareness I receive into how sick I’ve been all along. I had no idea how deep the disease of addiction ran in my life, in all my affairs. And so it’s only fitting that I try to practice spiritual principles in all my affairs as well. So in fact, I am getting better; I see that today. Recovery does work. The 12 step rooms saved my life. If you’re new, keep coming back. It works if you work it <3

#narcotics anonymous #alcoholics anonymous #just for today #keep coming back #clean and serene #clean #serenity #relapse prevention #recovery #addiction recovery #addiction #addict #surrender #codependent #codependentnomore #codependency

what is the app you use for tracking days clean? (that you’ve posted a screenshot of)

It’s called Keytag for NAFound in the App Store on the iPhone :)

“Give yourself a break”

It’s been an emotional day in recovery today. I’m in pain but I’m getting honest and sharing about it. It’s ok to have these feelings and it’s ok to cry.

Water makes things grow <3

241 days clean today

Just a few things...

Having a sponsor is SO important.

Working the steps is paramount to my healing and self discovery.

The desire to use DOES diminish.

Being able to speak my truth gets easier; honesty cultivates growth.

Stick with the winners.

I cannot carry the addict.

My recovery MUST come first.

#narcotics anonymous #addiction recovery #alcoholics anonymous #addict #addiction #relapse prevention #na #just for today (na)#recovery #clean and serene #keep coming back #easy does it #justfortoday #just for today #codependent #codependentnomore #aa #nursing #nurse

Thought for the day

It’s not what I used, it’s why I used it.

Clean and serene for 235 days today. BOOM!

#narcotics anonymous #addiction recovery #alcoholics anonymous #addict #addiction #relapse prevention #na #just for today (na)#recovery #clean and serene #keep coming back #serenity #nursing #nurse #codependent #codependentnomore #aa #justfortoday #just for today

I’m just going to leave this here. Have a happy 24 peeps <3

#narcotics anonymous #na #alcoholics anonymous #aa #codependent #codependentnomore #keep coming back #relapse prevention #recovery #addict #addiction #addiction recovery #clean and serene #serenity #justfortoday #just for today #nursing #nurse #easy does it

What a year did for me

A year ago today, I was told to go off of work and get help for substance abuse. Before that, I was already broken and spiritually dead - but when I didn’t have work to occupy my time, I was in an even worse place. While I was relieved to be off work - I knew I was sick and knew I needed help - I also knew it meant I would have to get clean. And I just didn’t know if I could handle my life without using. I waited 2 months to go into treatment, went to a few NA meetings here and there, but overall hated my life and wanted to die. I almost overdosed a couple of times in those two months.

I made it into treatment, and it was the best thing that could have happened to me. My original clean date was May 27, 2017. After I left, I was two feet into the program and have been ever since. I remember the first meeting I went to the day I left treatment, it was the first time I didn’t go and pick up after a meeting. I wish I knew a year ago how I would feel today. I wish I would have held on and not used.

I relapsed in August, and as I’ve shared before in a post...my relapse didn’t happen with a drink or drug I was used to, but I did use something to help me sleep for 5 nights and I learned that was not ok. I learned that it’s not what I used, it’s why I used it. I used to change the way I felt. That’s not the type of recovery I want. So I changed my clean date to August 14, 2017. And I have been clean since.

My journey in recovery has had its ups and downs. But because I have done what I’ve been told to do, I feel as though I can get through anything today. I am filled with gratitude that I am alive, that I draw breath, that I have a roof over my head, a bed to sleep on, food to eat, and clean water to drink. Basics of life, but I can easily forget those things. When I stay grateful for just the simplicities, it becomes easier to find gratitude around me - in people places and things. Gratitude is an action word, and I show it today by staying clean, working a program, showing up for my recovery, and participating in my own recovery. A grateful addict will never use. So I need to stay grateful.

I am still not back to work. I need to make sure that I have a good foundation in recovery before I am fit to return to working with the public as a nurse. So until then, I continue with full time recovery. The first year clean is a gift, and I’m happy to continue receiving it.

My goal for this blog has always been to share my experience strength and hope, and to tell you that recovery does work, if you work it. You’re not alone. Keep coming back.

<3

inheritedaddiction-blog

“Healing is an art. It takes time. It takes practice. It takes love.”

#addict #addiction #addiction recovery #recovery #relapse prevention #na #narcotics anonymous #aa #alcoholics anonymous #clean and serene #soberliving #sobriety #sober #just for today #just for today (na)#justfortoday #keep coming back #nurse #nursing

In case my tumblr family wants to get to know me better, feel free to inbox me something openly or anonymously and I’ll answer your question. I find it difficult to do blog posts these days, so maybe I can use this as an avenue to tell you more about myself. Have a great 24!