Recovery is Possible… One Day at a Time

By Linda Paige

Have you ever felt like life was slipping by and everything felt distorted? Maybe it seemed like people didn’t look right to you? I don’t know. Maybe they had an extra head, extra arm or just walking abnormal…like upside down? Okay, if you need to laugh, go ahead, it’s alright…I’m laughing too a little bit while writing this.

Well my friend, this entry may have started out funny but what I am about to write is NO LAUGHING MATTER.

Today I would like to write about ADDICTION. I imagine if you really think about it, ANYTHING in life can become an addiction. For example: drugs, alcohol, sex, caffeine, sugar, people, places and things. It doesn’t take long to become addicted if you lose “CONTROL” over a situation. I speak from experience.My problems with addiction started back in the 90’s after a separation from my husband of 12 years. I was truly devastated that he refused to work out our marital problems and save our marriage. I was livid, hurt, rejected, and left to fend on my own. It started out with drinking, which then led to other things, which then led to extreme isolation (especially from the people who really cared about my well being) which led to one downward spiral after another. I was deeply troubled and lost in my own dark world.
My addictions led me to physical illness, which landed me in hospital stay after hospital stay. I was really putting my family through the wringer. I ended up having emergency surgery, suffering seizures and comatose for two and a half weeks!
All were hard a hard road for me to be on. I was also rejecting friends and family who were trying to help me get back on the straight and narrow. “Me, with an addiction??? No way!” Denial was rearing its ugly head around the bend.

Listen my friend, “RECOVERY IS POSSIBLE, ONE DAY AT A TIME…There is HOPE, and there is HELP.”

I have been attending 12 Step Recovery Groups ever since the early 90’s and they have helped me tremendously. One group helped me so much that I was employed by the company, thus helping other people while helping myself!

I encourage people with addictions to try a 12 Step Program. There are many out there. If one doesn’t work for you, then try another. Once you feel comfortable in the group, open yourself up and release the pain–yesterday’s pain or whatever you may be going through.

On the other hand, if you don’t want to share in a group, then find someone you can trust that you can open up to. Keeping a journal or diary also helps you get through the hurt and pain. Do whatever helps you to lift your burdens and feel lighter…GO FOR IT! If you’re patient with yourself, not only will you FEEL a difference in your life, but you will SEE a difference in your life.