The first stage of recovery is admitting that you have a problem whether it is with alcohol or drugs. Otherwise, no progress can occur without your willingness to change. The ultimate weapon for recovery is the recovering addict (Narcotics Anonymous, 1988). According to Narcotics Anonymous, Addiction is a disease which without recovery, ends in jails, institutions, and death. Admitting to an addictions seen as strength rather than a weakness because being an addict takes over your mind, body and soul. Once it has gotten this bad you really need to seek professional help but it doesn’t have to go this far. Woman are just as strong as men to commit to change but some like others need a support system because being a emotional, moody, and overly sensitive person tends to increase the female sex to relapse sooner than males.
The following excerpt comes from the Narcotics Anonymous pamphlet Am I an Addict?
Recovery is what happens in our meetings. Our lives are at stake. We
found that by putting recovery first, the program works. We faced three disturbing realizations:
1. We are powerless over addiction and our lives are unmanageable;
2. Although we are not responsible for our disease, we are responsible for our recovery;
3. We can no longer blame people, places, and things for our addiction. We must face our
problems and our feelings(1988).
Reference
Narcotics Anonymous. (1988). Am I an addict? Retrieved April 30, 2010, from http://www.na.org/admin/include/spaw2/uploads/pdf/litfiles/us_english/IP/EN3107.pdf.
Jefrica,
ReplyDeleteYour post about being an addict is great. Admitting you have a problem and being personally responsible is a big step for anyone. It's funny but I had always looked down on addicts until I realized I was one myself. I don't have a drug or alcohol addiction, but I do have a food addiction. It never occurred to me until I was over 300 lbs. But I had to face the fact that I was using food as an outlet. I would get stressed and frustrated with life, and I would eat. Two years ago I decided to try to get my life back and start my recovery from this food addiction. I had the lap band surgery and decided I was going to use this tool to help me recover. I have changed my eating habits, learned to deal with stress with other ways, and know that I will always battle this addiction for the rest of my life. But I will never give up. My committment to my daughter and myself will never let me give up on my struggle with food and weight. I vowed to live a healthier life and admitting I had a problem was the hardest thing I had to do. Having my family and faith in God and myself have gotten me through a big hurdle on this journey. Even though I have lost 125 lbs, I don't see it as an end. I see that as a beginning to the next hurdle I have to face and that is to keep the weight off and lose another 50 lbs. So whatever the addiction, keeping that demon away from you is an uphill battle. It will last forever.
Norfe
Your blog was very informative to me. Most people who aren't addicted to something usually have no sympathy for those who do. However, it is so important that there are people willing to help these addicts once they admit they have a problem.
ReplyDelete~April House