And these are the kinds of things I tell myself so that I do.
ӚffӚlȺnt
My life sucks. I’m still happily me.
I’m a hot mess, my life is upside-down due to things out of my control, but I am happy and back on track in keeping my thinking positive and productive! Learning to love myself and taking back responsibility and control over my thoughts, feelings, and actions has brought about so much personal and spiritual growth for me. For the longest time I was happy in my situation in life but not happy with myself. I had so many insecurities and always felt I needed someone to validate my worth. I swore, even to myself, I was happy with myself and I did like myself enough but I didn’t love myself and I was so hard on myself constantly. It was overwhelming and a lot of what led to getting started in addiction for me. *Put a pin in that for a later date when I have more time.* Flip the script and, I’d give anything, even my happiness (I know I still haven’t totally learned) to have my girls with me, but I am a much happier person and am able to really enjoy life now. So, when things get back to how they should be it’ll be that much better. Which, makes me excited for the work in my recovery to get there. I feel good and I think I’m going to choose to keep thinking this way!
Today’s Gift from Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation is:
Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. — Rachel Carson
Beauty is everywhere. It is in the daisies, in the lavender wildflowers, in the new green grass of spring. As we walk through life, noticing such beauty strengthens us. It reminds us of the spiritual creative force alive in this world. On better days, we can feel our own creativity gaining power from such beauty. On harder days, nature’s sunset can help us step out of our suffering for a moment to be comforted and inspired by its splendor.
Even storms, in their wild and angry way, show us a power greater than ourselves. Such awesome beauty is beyond our understanding, and yet it is part of the earth we live on.
What lessons will nature teach me today?
clean.dopefiend: I needed to be reminded that 1. I’m not alone and 2. continuing to try again and again is the making of success. I know I’ll get there, I wish I wasn’t making it so hard on myself.and 3. finding the beauty in life is a positive step toward healing. Today I will take my daughter out to walk in the rain and appreciate the purity and beauty of the earth being washed anew. We will intentionally seek out three positive takeaways from the experience that we wouldn’t and likely couldn’t have learned if we’d stayed inside.
Forcing myself to spend time awake and involved in my day. My body craving sleep and pulling me toward hibernation. I fight it. Day 2 I felt fine for most, worked an extra 3 hours and only fell out toward the end. Just my friendly coworker noticed and brought me back to focus without consequence. Thankful. Grateful. Stayed awake the rest of the day hit NA and fought with my internet. Finally giving in to the desperate hold of sleep when Alex pulled me in for a hug that I kept embracing until morning rung. Day 3 only a 3 hour workday (they asked for extra, I couldn’t give) sick to my stomach, just an ache that wouldn’t amount to releasing anything but threatened insistently. My head burst intermittently when I moved just so, and just so was not consistent to any one movement it was just so. Boss bought breakfast thought I wouldn’t, then I did and so worth it. I hadn’t eaten in days probably a big cause of my haze. Thankful. Grateful. Full. Got home and gave in, let sleep win. Overcome with comfortable ease of nothing I didn’t make NA, skipped treatment too, called in and said I had the flu. Fever! don’t make us sick, yeah I’m not slick she knew I wasn’t. Got my ass up to go see my girl sing in her school choir performance. Spent the whole time searching the sea of young little faces and none belonged to me. Listened and waited and left with confusion, tried her dad’s phone to no resolution. Later she called and we figured it out – she’d been standing too low for my shortness to account. Moral being that I’m glad I’m kicking my own ass out of hibernation and not letting life just pass. Cause even though we didn’t see one another she was just overjoyed that I’d been there to support her. These moments we can’t get back and of which I’ve missed too many. I’m interrupting this cycle and taking away my excuses, its taking real effort and not even about using. I only have a tiny smidge of craving that gets stamped out with thoughts I’m reframing. None of this is meant to be a complaint or a whine – just putting my experience out there so anyone in need can see it is hard as hell but we can be set free.
Today is the day To make a change To take a chance To leap with faith To keep my mind safe To ask for help To task my.self Allay all doubt today
They said it works. I read it works. I tried my way. They provide my way.
Nothing to lose Unless I choose Again to use And induce self-abuse
the feLLowship [A.A.] welcomed me back with open arms NbS [N.A.] welcomed me in with open hearts
It always seems impossibLe until its done.
time Takes time
Situation That Opposes Positivity
I’m doing recovery for keeps NOW. Will I stay clean? According to them [N.A./A.A. people] so long as I’m working my program I will succeed Almost finished with my step 1
So thankful for the welcoming fellowship in both of the programs [N.A./A.A.] and I am greatly enjoying meetings.
when aLL eLse faiLs foLLow directions
Changes: Attending NA & AA daily if work allows Actively searching for a sponsor [the woman I asked today has all the sponsees she can handle but said I can call anytime] Working the steps and doing the work with N.A. Step Working Guides
Maybe not this time. Hell with the roll I’ve been on probably nothing to be worried about, right. Eeeeehh wrong. Of course I’m the chosen one and that means I’m bullet proof.
Which is the belief of every person that goes back out. Not gonna happen to me. I KNOW what I’m doing.
I’m safe – I don’t use heroin anymore, I smoke meth. No one OD’s smoking meth, you fall asleep before being able to. I’m not shooting it when I relapse, THAT would be scary.
“If it is on the internet then it must be true,” Abraham Lincoln.
I got my information from what I’d been told by other users and my internet “research” but when I took another look without trying to get the answer I wanted to hear I found a much darker reality:
In 2017 over 10,000 overdose deaths occurred from the use of Psychostimulants (most common being methamphetamine) and while, yes many of these OD deaths also included an Opioid involvement, over 5,000 of the 10,000+ were caused solely by Psychostimulants.
I don’t know how to produce my drug of choice or my drug of second choice. Even if I did I wouldn’t be able to tell you exactly what was in what I’d be picking up to use.
I play Russian Roulette with my sanity and mental acuity every time I take a hit. And say I were to get a batch that amps my system up higher and faster than the “usual,” which I’ve experienced, I could cause my heart to explode.
Methamphetamine overdoses cause heart attacks, strokes and comas and frequently psychosis with or without the physical ailments.
I know this and I still convince myself that it wouldn’t happen to me. Insanity. Especially because it has happened to me, and I barely made it back.
We convince ourselves that the people who OD and/or die from drug abuse fucked up, it was their own fault, and we know better. But we’re still using, so apparently we don’t.
OD on Me.
oops… my bad
So my scariest overdose, yes there is more than one to choose from, during my stint using heroin I didn’t even experience. When you use heroin the idea is to get high right? You’re pushing yourself to the brink of overdose every time you shoot the poison into your veins. I don’t care how attune you are to your use, how well you know your amounts, your tolerance, any measurement you use regularly could be your last if the chemicals react wrong that time. For me I simply used too much of something stronger than I was used to. It was the first time I was shooting up without the guy that had introduced me to this devil dance setting up my amount but I had his best friend doing the honors and we went with less than what my usual dose was. I was so excited for oblivion, I didn’t think twice before fully expending the entirety of my rig into my bloodstream. Immediately I felt the warm embrace of my dark mistress and the intensity continued to rise until I lost the ability to speak, or move, my eyes wouldn’t stay open. I was free floating in the blackest of black engulfing whatever was left of my being, I’d lost all connection to my body and while I desperately wanted to find where it had gone the soothing blackness was lulling me deeper into the abyss. I felt an aching fear that I was lost and not in control of me, of where I was or was going. I have been blown (incredibly, intensely high where you have to keep hold of something inside of you to bring you back to reality eventually) out of my mind numerous times when I thought I’d lost my grip but this time there had not been anything to hold on to.
For what felt like an eternity I floated in the nothingness that the enticing blackness had become. I knew I needed to find my something to hold onto to get back. Back to.. my girls a snippet of what felt like thought and then nothing. No tether. “My girls” meant less and less to whatever processing I was clinging to. I felt nothing at all. Almost fully succumbed to whatever total enmeshment that felt less and less when everything turned white and spun so fast if I’d had a stomach still I would have been sick for sure. I feel something with my being, almost like something slipping through my fingers. The enormity of emotions I experienced realizing I’d found my connection, my hold onto to get back intangible way back. While I felt so close to what I was yearning for by instinct my thoughts and feelings swirled in some mush that felt muddied and indistinct. I desperately wanted to make sense of the murky swirls and an overwhelming sense of dread overtook all of my focus. Noise! Just realizing that it had been more than silent during my experience the incomprehensible moaning got faster, frantic. I was feeling the sound more than hearing it and the cloudy froth was in all of my senses. As though I’d been snapped into place, a searing burn erupted in my lungs and I physically felt all my extremities go from numb to pins and needles in a wave. It was as though my whole body was experiencing the sensation of “waking up” like if my foot had fallen asleep. It was the best worst sensation to be able to be reconnected with my body but the pins and needles phenomenon intensifying in all the wrong places. My lung was still inflamed and I felt like I had the worst heartburn bubbling up and roiling making bile sear my throat as I painfully swallowed gulps of air that intensified the burning in my chest. It was excruciating and uncomfortable but my eyes opening and seeing shapes and fuzz and knowing that I was real and whole again dulled my pain as my senses were flooded with circuitry.
Slowly I began to comprehend what was going on around me. My head lolled half in, half out of the passenger window of my car as the wind whipped by. The pain in my body was again numbed but this time it was because I was so cold, shaking, shivering, and soaking wet with ice cold water. The car jerked and whipped my head and neck to have a view of the driver’s side of the, apparently speeding, Honda Civic. We hit another jaunt in the road and I found out I was not seat-belted in as flew forward in my seat coming to rest sideways on the floor. “Oh shit, Lyric, you’re back!” Josh whooped as he jerked the car around the cul-de-sac pulling into Colby’s driveway. I didn’t have any recollection of having left the bedroom.
Come to find out I immediately slumped over and stopped breathing after I stopped being able to speak. Instead of calling an ambulance Colby and Josh carried my unconscious, not breathing body out to the car and propped me up against it. Then they proceeded to drench me with the hose in 30 degree weather. I .. don’t know, why. I think the idea was to shock my system into forcing me to breathe. The explanation as to why no ambulance was called and why I was hurdled off property was also never articulated. After the hose down Josh says he thought I was breathing but he couldn’t totally tell and he had to take me away from the house so he loaded me into the passenger seat and hoped the wind in my face would help me…possibly breathe or come to? I don’t think Josh had a clue what he was going for but panic set in for him when I started turning a bluish white in the face. I think he probably disagreed with his earlier assessment that the hose had gotten me breathing again. So that is why he was whipping my car around the neighborhood all jerkily – to try to jolt me awake or breathing or … pretty much he was expecting me to die and had no clue what to do. I was cold and couldn’t shake the cobwebs from my brain. “That might’ve been too much for me,” I chuckled at a mortified looking Josh. “It was way stronger than we expected and when I went to stop you from doing the whole thing I was too late and you stopped breathing.”
I knew to always test the waters before doing the entire shot. I knew that. I just didn’t that time. I always made sure. Except that time I didn’t.
Yeah I know I was warning of methamphetamine overdoses and this was a heroin OD but I got vivid flash backs and had to share, I remember the experience like it just happened, clearer now it seems. This was my worst overdose and I’d love to say that I got scared, I took better precaution (wouldn’t make a difference anyway), I quit or at least slowed down, but it may as well have not occurred with the way I did nothing to prevent it happening again.
Broke my bRain, goed iNsaNe yet I still dabbLe in that methamphetamine…
“Jesus was calling me, telling me to rid myself of all things but me.” “Did he say no clothes though … or was that maybe a little of your own interpretation?” “You’re such an asshole.” …. “It really made all sorts of sense in the moment.” “So you started dropping stuff all the way at the other end and at random all along the way?” “I don’t like to make things easy, do I?”
I want to write. My ideas don’t want to be written. My synapses are missing their marks. My brain is like a stubbed toe, pulsating life but producing nothing.
I have words though. I’ve been writing lines of words starting with words starting with the letter “a” through the letter “z.” I made myself an “ABC Me” with some of my favorite words. Wanna see? No? Didn’t think so but you get to anyway!
I find it fun!!
And I made this which I’m actually very fond of:
This makes my heart super happy!
Because you were curious ;P This is what I’ve been doing.
Addiction Boredom Coffee Drug-free Effectual Freedom Gratitude Help Inpatient Journey Kindred Life Lessons Maturity New Opportunity Progress Quality Recovery Sobriety Teachable Unified Vitality Worthwhile Xenial Yes We Can Zip-line to life
I’m a dork! Much love.
Nudges of ideas for my brain to try to comprehend are welcomed in the comments. Stupid stubbed brain!
Daily Reflection May 22 Step One “We…” (the first word of the first step) TWELVE STEPS & TWELVE TRADITIONS PG. 21
When I was drinking all I could ever think about was “I, I, I” or “Me, Me, Me.”
Such painful obsession of self, such soul sickness, such spiritual selfishness bound me to the bottle for more than half my life.
The journey to find God and to do His will one day at a time began with the first word of the First Step …. “We.”
There was power in numbers, there was strength in numbers, there was safety in numbers, there was life in numbers. If I had tried to recover alone I probably would have died. With God and another alcoholic, I have divine purpose in my life… I have become a channel for God’s healing love.
– – – Angela – – –
…hate sharing first. Like sharing later but its so quiet…. I came alone, I stayed alone cause I didn’t reach out and didn’t want anyone reaching out for me… I didn’t know you.
When I came in it was just still me. So I got a sponsor who took me through the book. I do my recovery, I’m real selfish and take my recovery personal. The we part is coming to the rooms of alcoholics anonymous and here we are not alone. Step one : “Every natural extinct cries out … 12 steps” the bedrock on which purposeful lives can be built. We part. Growth and freed me. Allowed me to be me. I wasn’t that stern as I believed myself to be but I crumbled coming into the rooms. On the streets I was alone. Teddy bear I was came out. Being able to transmit what I’ve been through. Didn’t do that by myself. Made possible – its a we thing. WE ADMITTED WE’RE POWERLESS! Follow some simple directions. Never made it to see the wizard. Freedom. Patience. Peace of mind. Guess I’m dorothy.
@Kevin
Together we stay sober .. alone we get drunk or high. I have to have some me, we friends, hot and cold. Happy and sad. I’ve got to have it all. If I’ve never been down I don’t know what it’s like to be up. I know what it’s like to be down… poor me poor me buy me another drink. But, now I can get out the water when I want to.
List of blessings…the good stuff. A lesson or a blessing. I gotta go through what I gotta go through to get where I need to go.
We do this together. If you want to join me come on… if you don’t I’m not gonna chase you. Attraction not promotion.
IF you’re in the solution send a message of hope to the hopeless.
This disease makes you tell lies to yourself. Locked up in your head, in your thoughts. Don’t have to go to prison – locked in your thoughts.
Addiction will dance on your coffin.
Man called 2 am bout to kill himself and you can’t answer yo phone.
Put on the uniform but if you never get in the game you can score a touchdown.
I’m truly blessed. I’ve been truly overpaid if I were to die today.
I’m gonna help you. I’m gonna walk you through this. You need another individual who has walked down the path to walk you down that path. Somebody will take you down that path.
It is such a joy to humble yourself and be teachable. Come here to learn how to stay sober and carry that message on to the next alcoholic who is willing to listen.
Tried to outsmart the disease and now they’re dead.
I’m able to do what I want to do today because I’m sober. Just stay sober one day one minute at a time. Put one foot in front of the other and move forward.
We together stay sober. Get in the middle of the tribe. Get up front. Don’t wait. Its not coming to knock. Paid on your actions not on your intentions.
If I go out and use today it isn’t the program not working its because I decided not to use the program.
If I take a drink today there’s gonna be a yard sale tomorrow and half the shit aint gonna be mine.
Victim to the disease
&^Dan^&
i couldn’t do this alone and i tried so many times and don’t know how many times I failed. Got to aa found out i couldn’t do this alone. We, made sense. I didn’t talk for a day or two or a year. 6. Sometimes I just listen. Read the stories and understand the Big Book. We together solve each others problems or at least give suggestions. We can survive another day of sobriety if WE want.
Write down what is going to make you use: Go and do it because it is going to happen. Have you found your yet, yet? By being a group of ppl who understand each other. Ppl who haven’t been in addiction don’t understand. I have been known to be wrong haha.
Gotta do the work and it’s free.
><Gerald><
We wasn’t never meant to be alone. If in some way you come here and don’t see AA materializing in your life on a daily basis you’re doing something wrong. Phobia of other ppls dogs. Coming at me all aggressive. Asked the Missus to put him up. She swore and called me an idiot. Didn’t respond didn’t escalate. Just left. You get to see these little things. If you’re not helping you’re hindering. We is a group. I come here to learn. To get through my day. Can’t live yesterday over again. Can’t live tomorrow cause it never comes so I’ve got to live in here today. Sometimes, somewhere in your life something gotta click. I’m not the sharpest tool in the shed but I can cut ya.
Stopping and starting day over again. I have to live for me but have other people in my life. I can’t walk a straight and narrow but I’m not Jesus, I make mistakes. Keep my feet planted moving forward. Hope to never go backward but have people in case yet happens. Nip shit in the bud. Aint fittin to hit you in the head with a bottle today, I’m going the other way. Anger is a big part of I fell down. YOU MADE ME DO IT. Umm nope. Excuses excuses excuses. I woke up this morning but I didn’t do it myself.
A day late and I brought four quarters! So just enough and in the nick of time… …for today and all we’ve got is now peace, love, happy thoughts, and good vibes whimsicaL Lackadaisy
Who’s an addict? What is the NA program? Why are we here? How it works (the stEPS) Twelve Traditions Daily Meditation We do recover.
Living Clean. 1983
more will be revealed
we grow as individuals & as a fellowship
sharing, caring, & service
face life on its own terms without drugs
practice principles in life
impact of our recovery on our own lives and others
giving, living, loving more
we can find hope even when our lives are very difficult
different moments teach us, reach us, or help us breakthrough
collection of experience, strength, and hope
**Most important thing about living clean is that we’re ALIVE to do it.** ***Miracle of getting clean is not the last that we’ll experience.*** **We are living clean and every day the journey continues.**
Deon: service position? but am i honestly available? don’t want to overwhelm myself. never thought i could put on a jersey again. grateful for the opportunity.
-Justin- going through it. this morning saw a video on facebook of 3 chicks doing meth. body just reacted to it. had an anxiety attack. called a “close mouth friend” for an ear. feelings are temporary. you just have to let them pass. but that means you have to LET THEM PASS. preparing for Dad to not be around anymore, he’s ill and getting his affairs in order in preparation for the end. i have to show him i’m ready to be on my own so he isn’t worried. just for today clean – lean on people to keep me clean.
^Lee^ :: mom passed a couple years back. still painful. my addict – “King Kong on Steroids” telling me to “do this, use that, to avoid the pain. 15 years in August. streets out there don’t give a fuck about you. there is work to be done IN HERE. addiction doesn’t care it just wants to destroy you. By being at a meeting, as addicts, we’re doing something against the grain. go back out misery refunded 154%. today is not a good day to die.
..Jesse.. 2 years off coke. 1 year off meth. Speaking up for prayers for a guy in need on bus who got beat up and was having seizures.
#Brie first got to the rooms was super prego and scared weird to think b/c this place isn’t scary – out there is scary all I could do was be here and listen, was speechless
chaired – everyone focused on me — self obsession panic attack, overwhelmed not about Me, about US
the meetings aren’t just HERE, this is a well-oiled machine
clean a building – get to get out of my head and sweat – keep from gaining cause “I eat!” been only coming to a meeting when I chair which is not enough I feel lacking
sharing brought me out of my shell that’s the 360
!!Victor!! service positions kept him clean get in there and get it – see the difference in your life & changes friends from active use came in and got clean too even some people who’ve gone back out have come back what this program has to offer is AWESOME! if you’re struggling – NOT worth picking up “Hang out – get in someone’s back pocket”
))Dan(( b/c of these rooms … 4 months 1 day (19 yrs after 1st try to get clean) gotta be the father my son needs (mom died in accident) went into inpatient of own accord son didn’t need/want stuff – needed Dad! “being a father is brand-new to me” raised daughter in addiction IF I DON’T DO IT FOR MYSESLF I’M NOT GOING TO DO IT FOR NOBODY ELSE. felt like a DIRTbag but feel human again now being clean son fills my heart – love myself again routine::morning affirmation. picks up son out of bed and stands him up. Neither here nor there – immaterial things Love myself so I can love my son and my family again. $$=
Henry used to “sleep” out in back of meeting room/at mcdonald’s knows the homeless community, had been part of their community HAVING Motivation to keep striving to stay clean Motivated by gratitude list living smarter, wiser, cleaner Not going to forget where I came from or where I’ve been (ie homeless community) Humble self – not going to forget
{Heather} @NA we give back & run things from within Stick and Stay Don’t quit 5 minutes before the miracle happens
Most of us do not have to think twice about this question. We know! Our whole life and thinking was centered in drugs in one form or another—the getting and using and finding ways and means to get more. We lived to use and used to live. Very simply, an addict is a man or woman whose life is controlled by drugs. We are people in the grip of a continuing and progressive illness whose ends are always the same: jails, institutions, and death.
NA is a nonprofit fellowship or society of men and women for whom drugs had become a major problem. We are recovering addicts who meet regularly to help each other stay clean. This is a program of complete abstinence from all drugs. There is only one requirement for membership, the desire to stop using. We suggest that you keep an open mind and give yourself a break. Our program is a set of principles written so simply that we can follow them in our daily lives. The most important thing about them is that they work.
There are no strings attached to NA. We are not affiliated with any other organizations. We have no initiation fees or dues, no pledges to sign, no promises to make to anyone. We are not connected with any political, religious, or law enforcement groups, and are under no surveillance at any time. Anyone may join us, regardless of age, race, sexual identity, creed, religion, or lack of religion.
We are not interested in what or how much you used or who your connections were, what you have done in the past, how much or how little you have, but only in what you want to do about your problem and how we can help. The newcomer is the most important person at any meeting, because we can only keep what we have by giving it away. We have learned from our group experience that those who keep coming to our meetings regularly stay clean.
Before coming to the Fellowship of NA, we could not manage our own lives. We could not live and enjoy life as other people do. We had to have something different and we thought we had found it in drugs. We placed their use ahead of the welfare of our families, our wives, husbands, and our children. We had to have drugs at all costs. We did many people great harm, but most of all we harmed ourselves. Through our inability to accept personal responsibilities we were actually creating our own problems. We seemed to be incapable of facing life on its own terms.
Most of us realized that in our addiction we were slowly committing suicide, but addiction is such a cunning enemy of life that we had lost the power to do anything about it. Many of us ended up in jail, or sought help through medicine, religion, and psychiatry. None of these methods was sufficient for us. Our disease always resurfaced or continued to progress until, in desperation, we sought help from each other in Narcotics Anonymous.
After coming to NA we realized we were sick people. We suffered from a disease from which there is no known cure. It can, however, be arrested at some point, and recovery is then possible.
If you want what we have to offer, and are willing to make the effort to get it, then you are ready to take certain steps. These are the principles that made our recovery possible.
1. We admitted that we were powerless over our addiction, that our lives had become unmanageable.
2. We came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
3. We made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
4. We made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
5. We admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
6. We were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
7. We humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
8. We made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
9. We made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
10. We continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
11. We sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to addicts, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
This sounds like a big order, and we can’t do it all at once. We didn’t become addicted in one day, so remember—easy does it.
There is one thing more than anything else that will defeat us in our recovery; this is an attitude of indifference or intolerance toward spiritual principles. Three of these that are indispensable are honesty, open-mindedness, and willingness. With these we are well on our way.
We feel that our approach to the disease of addiction is completely realistic, for the therapeutic value of one addict helping another is without parallel. We feel that our way is practical, for one addict can best understand and help another addict. We believe that the sooner we face our problems within our society, in everyday living, just that much faster do we become acceptable, responsible, and productive members of that society.
The only way to keep from returning to active addiction is not to take that first drug. If you are like us you know that one is too many and a thousand never enough. We put great emphasis on this, for we know that when we use drugs in any form, or substitute one for another, we release our addiction all over again.
Thinking of alcohol as different from other drugs has caused a great many addicts to relapse. Before we came to NA, many of us viewed alcohol separately, but we cannot afford to be confused about this. Alcohol is a drug. We are people with the disease of addiction who must abstain from all drugs in order to recover.
We keep what we have only with vigilance, and just as freedom for the individual comes from the Twelve Steps, so freedom for the group springs from our traditions.
As long as the ties that bind us together are stronger than those that would tear us apart, all will be well.
1. Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends on NA unity.
2. For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority—a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.
3. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop using.
4. Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or NA as a whole.
5. Each group has but one primary purpose—to carry the message to the addict who still suffers.
6. An NA group ought never endorse, finance, or lend the NA name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property, or prestige divert us from our primary purpose.
7. Every NA group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.
8. Narcotics Anonymous should remain forever nonprofessional, but our service centers may employ special workers.
9. NA, as such, ought never be organized, but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.
10. Narcotics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the NA name ought never be drawn into public controversy.
11. Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, and films.
12. Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.
“The steps lead to an awakening of a spiritual nature. This awakening is evidenced by changes in our lives.”
Basic Text, p. 49
––––=––––
We know how to recognize the disease of addiction. Its symptoms are indisputable. Besides an uncontrollable appetite for drugs, those suffering exhibit self-centered, self-seeking behavior. When our addiction was at its peak of activity, we were obviously in a great deal of pain. We relentlessly judged ourselves and others, and spent most of our time worrying or trying to control outcomes.
Just as the disease of addiction is evidenced by definite symptoms, so is a spiritual awakening made manifest by certain obvious signs in a recovering addict. We may observe a tendency to think and act spontaneously, a loss of interest in judging or interpreting the actions of anyone else, an unmistakable ability to enjoy each moment, and frequent attacks of smiling.
If we see someone exhibiting symptoms of a spiritual awakening, we should be aware that such awakenings are contagious. Our best course of action is to get close to these people. As we begin having frequent, overwhelming episodes of gratitude, an increased receptiveness to the love extended by our fellow members, and an uncontrollable urge to return this love, we’ll realize that we, too, have had a spiritual awakening.
––––=––––
Just for today: My strongest desire is to have a spiritual awakening. I will watch for its symptoms and rejoice when I discover them.
We do recover.
Got my first NA keychain to celebrate joining the program.
I think at some point I said I wanted to feel things now. That I was ready to feel for real. . . I take it back. I don’t want to feel.
I broke down yesterday over my situation with my youngest, Hope, and how I never get to see her. I just lost it. Alex says to think of it as growth and remember that it won’t be like this or feel like this forever. I, on the other hand, liked being able to just deal with it without internalizing it and without that gut wrenching ache in my stomach. I felt sick all last night. All I want to do is sleep now that I’m not fully hibernating I think I’m hitting depression. I don’t want to deal. I want to hide.
I’ve got nothing positive right now. I want to use. It makes life so much easier for the moment, I realize not in the long run and is actually the cause and continued issue in the problem I am running from my feelings about.
So, I’m not taking the easy way out right now. I’m going to suck it up and stay sober today. At this moment. Right now. I am staying sober. I got through last night and I don’t feel as overwhelmingly sad/upset/ugh today.
Just for today, one day at a time, I’m staying clean.
My mind is in a positive swirl of colors today. It is a weird surreal unbalance to be in. I don’t feel bad, at all, I feel really good but not correct.
Oh well, I enjoy colorful days on occasion, I think it is a way for my mind to breath outside the medications a little bit. I feel expanded.
I went to a meeting on Wednesday and it was amazing. I was welcomed back with literal open arms and so much joy and fellowship at The Fellowship. I love this meeting hall above any I’ve been to, it is like going home. I didn’t get to NA as I planned this week, my sleeping interfered with waking back up at noon after getting home and to bed at 9 am. But I will, soon, and I’m excited to.
AA 15.15.19 Meeting One:
Know God, know peace. No God, I want to know God again. no peace. I can’t seem to find him, yet.
*Haven’t honestly given myself to this simple program until now. Was constantly dishonest – didn’t seem to have the capacity to be honest, honestly I wasn’t ready to quit for good and therefore not ready for help.*
Live Easy Butfor Think… ..First
andLet Does theGrace Think Things
Live It ofGod …Think First
I am responsible…. When anyone, anywhere reaches out for help, I want the hand of A.A. always to be there and for that: I am responsible.
“People gonna be people and people gonna do things” – Gerald’s mama. *Can’t control what people do/say – take what you need and put the rest on the back burner*
programmed self to do certain things in our addiction. AA programs you to change your life – IF you WANT to.
“I got to tell someone something good to change their life. Rather than how to jack, steal, junp, rob, etc. Something GOOD to CHANGE their life..”
Resentments: must forgive to be forgiven
“Enjoying Me. finding peace in A.A., with God, in life, with self” – D
+No peace always chaos, all these things were happening to me – I did them to myself. you can’t forget your past, but you don’t have to live it everyday. wow – I did that: homelessness, brown paper sack, didn’t know how I was gonna pay my phone bill, jail… but A.A. brought me out+ – John
“Such a know it all, you couldn’t tell me shit. I know it all! Surrender & powerlessness. I could remove alcohol and drugs and I was still a turd; I have to work at being a good person. Pride – know it all but I really don’t know shit Started reading for real this time and at page 8 hit a word I didn’t know – it was humbling To find God (hardest part for me) had to have my mind open and heart open to form a relationship and get perspective on it. Went to church because I was intrigued they had something I didn’t, they were happy, at least on Sundays, when they sang they sang. I tried to figure it out and as for the definition of faith and was told you can’t “figure it out” it is something you feel.” – Steve
The ability to adapt to different situations – learned through A.A.
[faith – believing in something unseen. Mind starts changing. -Gerald]
Before ignored “as we understood Him” just shut down “God.” *I was in my feelings*
“Sticks and stones…” is what we were taught Bullshit! Words don’t go away Bruises and breaks heal Words make people jump off bridges, drink, etc.
I SHARED!!! I admitted my last 7 or 8 month relapsing and that this was my first time back in the rooms sober since. I was told keep to keep coming back as is the A.A. way. What matters is how I proceed to move forward my life forward. Stop and start day over, as needed. Gerald said he knew I’d fallen off but “We don’t shoot our wounded. These rooms is like a hospital – come here receive treatment” as to why he didn’t call me on it.
Lastly, you MAD but the person you mad about already went on about their business and forgot about you and whatever they did/said that you are letting mess up your day.
My boost in energy the past few days, which I think was due to my wonky work schedule, has come an end. At work today I heard an awesome song that has so many great lines. I feel like she’s telling my story and my change in attitude from constantly worrying about what other people thought of me to admitting my worst character defects and shortcomings and mistakes publicly without any worry of judgement because it makes no difference in my life anymore. I love me the entire enchilada, unattractive qualities and all (although I am willing to work on them for the betterment of my happiness in life). I love that I am finding really phenomenal writing about the situations and feelings I have experienced throughout my life; it helps give me perspective and is relieving to know I am not alone in my struggle. It is bittersweet and tugs at my heartstrings. Here, enjoy:
I’ve got bi-polar disorder My shit’s not in order I’m overweight I’m always late I’ve got too many things to say I rock mom jeans, cat earrings Extrapolate my feelings My family is dysfunctional But we have a good time killing each other They tell us from the time we’re young To hide the things that we don’t like about ourselves Inside ourselves I know I’m not the only one who spent so long attempting to be someone else Well I’m over it I don’t care if the world knows what my secrets are (secrets are) I don’t care if the world knows what my secrets are (secrets are) So-o-o-o-o what So-o-o-o-o what So-o-o-o-o what So-o-o-o-o what I can’t think straight, I’m so gay Sometimes I cry a whole day I care a lot, use an analog clock And never know when to stop And I’m passive, aggressive I’m scared of the dark and the dentist I love my butt and won’t shut up And I never really grew up They tell us from the time we’re young To hide the things that we don’t like about ourselves Inside ourselves I know I’m not the only one who spent so long attempting to be someone else Well I’m over it I don’t care if the world knows what my secrets are (secrets are) I don’t care if the world knows what my secrets are (secrets are) So-o-o-o-o what So-o-o-o-o what So-o-o-o-o what So-o-o-o-o what I don’t care if the world knows what my secrets are (secrets are), secrets are I don’t care if the world knows what my secrets are (secrets are), secrets are So-o-o-o-o what So-o-o-o-o what So-o-o-o-o what So-o-o-o-o what So-o-o-o-o what So-o-o-o-o what So-o-o-o-o what So-o-o-o-o (what)
I love the smell of rain after a couple weeks without it. It’s comforting and refreshing. I also just love the rain! Washingtonian born and raised so I’m in the right state, although there are states with so much more rain than this “rainy state.”
My energy level has dropped back down to mild hibernation again but it felt good to get a breath of energy for a few days.
Just want to say hi! and have a fabulous day, I should be posting again later today if I can stay up after work.. wish me luck!
My girls have been through so much turmoil in the past few years because of my poor choices and addiction. Still today I was amazed, touched, and reminded of what is truly important when I read the inscriptions on their cards they gave me.
Hope, 7:
Happy Mother’s Day
Mom
You are as pretty as a tulip
Mom
You are as nice as a queen
Mom
You take care of me
Mom
I love you so much
Mom
Super amazing
Extraordinary
So awesome
Just so nice
I love you
Always together forever
Cool
Hope, 7 she chose all the words and phrases The poem she chose adj, verbs, and nouns to fill in
I was so touched and elated, and surprised. I rarely get to see her and was worried that she was growing away from me but how excited she was about the phrases and words she used to describe me showed me our bond is as strong, maybe even stronger, as it always was. This little girl makes me so happy, her exuberance for life is inspiring.
Riley, 12:
Some people love making other people happy – they’re called Moms. You’re the kind of mom Who makes this world A better place Just by being The loving person You are. Happy Mothers Day
The inscription on the card she picked out It is covered in flutterbies [butterflies] which we both love
You are the absolute best in my eyes! I love you!
Riley, 12 her personal message
This sweet, strong, beautiful child makes me so proud. She admits, I knew it had been so I asked once it had passed, she hated me for the first year after all the upheaval happened in our lives because she was hearing horrible things about me regularly. Our bond and connection now is even more unbreakable than ever for it. She’s my mini-me and just makes this world a better place to live in.
I am such a lucky mom. My children have forgiven me and never stopped loving me (Riley only hated me because she was hurt by me, her mom, and that is all out of love) even though I messed up so big time. I don’t tell my kids everything but I admit my mistakes in age appropriate ways and make sure they never forget that they are my favorite part of life.
Until just recently I hadn’t heard that saying to “feel your feels [feelings]” and I overheard my daughter, Riley, telling her boyfriend that she understood that that was what he was doing and my amazing 12 year old empowered her counterpart to do so however he needed and she would be there for him. My girl is showing empathy! There are a lot of other emotions and hormonal scatterbrain going on in her preteen years so for her to be learning and embracing the complexities of empathy is impressive. She was unaware of the word or action and we had a great discussion on it and her usage and my pride in her last night.
I would say I “struggle” with empathy but that is a lie I know how to be empathetic I would just rather cut the cord of bullshit and get down to the brass tact of the issue. I teach my kids empathy, I know it is important in being a good person to be empathetic, I often am empathetic to an extent but, what is the saying, those who can’t do, teach? Joking, joking. I just have no appetite for listening to someone knowingly lie to themselves to feel better in a situation where they were wrong and know it but are expecting support for their delusions. I’ll admit, some people are further down the rabbit hole of deluding themselves and may not realize when they are in the wrong, those who are the perpetual victim.
But, this is not about them, and that is the heart of the problem with my no nonsense approach to analyzing and/or “helping” in situations (when I’m asked to, I no longer just throw my two cents around except sometimes with coworkers), I’m not sensitive to the other person’s self-denial. I also don’t like to be bullshitted. I can and do bullshit my way around some situations in life that I don’t feel like dealing with but that doesn’t bring about resolution it just placates my ego. It is likely that more often than not I am making a true ass out of myself in talking circuitously instead of taking responsibility and people are just unwilling to call me out on it. So that is what I do for the betterment of everyone.
I would love (and hate in the moment as has been the case) if people would call me on my bullshit. One of my favorite people in the world is my dad and good, bad, or indifferent he has taught me the art of bullshitting; he is also the person I can trust to not play into my self-denial and will call me on the carpet every time. That I love! That I need! So that is also what I do, not always, I know when someone is not ready for self-actualization and don’t push it but I try to make it understood that we can be honest and have a real discussion, no judgement.
Empathy is about the other person, I know, and I am not being selfless as is needed to hone this interpersonal skill but I also know (ego! alert) I am making a positive difference. Yeah I can’t bullshit myself, my dad believes I am a sociopath and I tend to agree I have some tendencies leaning that direction, many people prefer to stay deluded and just be agreed with which is their right so long as they don’t ask my advice.
My aunt Demi is a beautiful, kindhearted train wreck. When we first got back into contact regularly a few months back she learned quickly and brutally that I wouldn’t cosign her bullshit. She still tries it with me and come to find out she doesn’t always see her fault (so she says) and I help her see, so see I’m helping. I’m cynical because I know that I know when I’m wrong even if I will steadfastly play the role of the victim. I do also forget that other people’s minds don’t work the same as mine, as mine doesn’t work the same as other people’s all the time.
My boyfriend has a buddy that will cosign ALL his bullshit and then write another check and it is sickening to witness. When he asked if it was okay that he was planning to ghost me after three years ol’ boy said with all he had done for me over that time it was perfectly understandable and he was the good person in the situation and always had been. Alex talks to him a lot less after I pointed it out because that is not a friend, that is an enabler.
I stayed in self-denial about my fault in losing my girls and still sometimes forget to remember my part. My dad kept me honest throughout though and let me hide in my bullshit only after I admitted my responsibility. That is love and true friendship to me.
So this is a bit of a character defect, or is it? I think it’s on the fence because my intentions are good in wanting to help someone get to the crutch of the issue but a bit selfish in not allowing them to decide when to process their own bullshit. Really if they ask I think it is my right to give my honest opinion but is it right?
I’ve only had a few truly devastating and traumatic situations in my life so I only know from those that I prefer tough love and brutal honesty to commiseration. I also don’t process all emotions. Until today I could not wrap my brain around anger, it just seemed nonsensical and counterproductive to a positive outcome but after reading the reasoning for a person’s experience of anger earlier I gained a bit of understanding as to why people get angry.
Always learning. I realize empathy can be used for sharing all different feelings and emotions through another person’s experience with them. I am just ranting about the enabling kind with a specific kind of people that I have run into a lot throughout life so it seems common and hopefully is relatable. It could also speak to the company I’ve always kept!
My character defects: bullshitting, lying, avoidance, selfishness, pride, ego, manipulation, self-aggrandizing, impatience,
I don’t want to change the world. I have no expectation of great fame or fortune in my life. I just want my piece of the world happy and content and to be the best me I can be. I don’t want to climb mountains. Often I don’t want to venture outdoors. I find enjoyment in ideas, in concepts of the mind. I don’t have great expectations and oft lack motivation. I don’t want to run marathons, or really put out much effort. I just want life to include happiness, contentment, and love. I want to be unburdened by my active addiction. I am ready and willing to recover, wholeheartedly. I accept the zombie, she’s introspective and sweet. I’m done fighting myself on all fronts and healthy and clean is my aim. I cannot forget to keep purpose and direction in the forefront of my mind.
Positive affirmation for this lovely Saturday: I am the best mom I can be and my girls love me unconditionally.
In the long run, we shape our lives, and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility.
eleanor roosevelt
I am shaking this monkey off my back one day and one step at a time. I am all in.
You know who I am, you’ve called me your friend, Wishes of misery and heartache I send, I want only to see that you’re brought to your knees, I’m the devil inside you, I am your disease.
I’ll invade all your thoughts, I’ll take hostage your soul, I’ll become your new master, in total control, I’ll maim your emotions, I’ll run the whole game, Till your entire existence is crippled with shame.
When you call me I come, sometimes in disguise, Quite often I’ll take you by total surprise, But take you I will, and just as you’ve feared, I’ll only want to hurt you, with no mercy spared.
If you have your own family, I will see it destroyed, I’ll steal every pleasure in life you’ve enjoyed, I’ll not only hurt you, I’ll kill if I please, I’m your worst living nightmare, I am your disease.
I bring self destruction, but still you can’t tell, I’ll sweep through heaven, then drop you in hell, I’ll chase you forever, wherever you go, And then when I catch you, you won’t even know.
I’ll sometimes lay silent, just waiting to strike, What’s yours becomes mine, cause I take what I like. I’ll take all you own and I won’t care who sees, I’m your constant companion… I am your disease.
If you have any honour, I’ll strip it away, You’ll lose all your hope and forget how to pray, I’ll leave you in darkness, while blindly you stare, I’ll reduce you to nothing, and won’t even care.
So, don’t take for granted my powers sublime, I’ll bend and I’ll break you, time after time, I’ll crumble your world with the greatest of ease, I’m that madman inside you… I am your disease.
But today I’m real angry… you want to know why? I let this treatment centre full of Addicts entirely slip by, How did I lose you? Where did I go wrong? One minute I had you… the next you were gone.
You can’t just dismiss all the good times we’ve shared, When you were alone… wasn’t it I who appeared? When you sold those possessions you knew you would need, Wasn’t I the first one who stepped in and agreed?
Now look at you bastards, you’re all thinking clear, You escaped with your lives when you found your way here, Only fools think they’re winners when admitting defeat, It’s what you must say when you’re claiming your seat.
Go ahead and surrender, if that’s what you choose, But, I’m not giving up cause I can’t stand to lose. So stand in your groups and support hand in hand, Better choices will save you… leaving me damned.
Well, be damned all you people seeking treatment each week, Be damned inner strength, however unique, Be damned all your sayings, be damned your cliches, Be damned every Addict, who back to me strays.
For I know it will happen, I’ve seen it before, Those who love misery will crawl back for more. So take comfort in knowing, I’m waiting right here, But next time around, you’d just better beware.
You think that you’re stronger or smarter this time, There isn’t a mountain or hill you can’t climb. Well if that’s what you’re thinking, you ain’t learned a thing, I’ll still knock you silly if you step back in my ring.
But you say you surrendered, so what can I do? It’s so sad in a way, I had big plans for you, Creating your nightmare for me was a dream, I’m sure gonna miss you… we made quite a team.
So please don’t forget me, I won’t forget you, I’ll stand by your side watching all that you do, I’m ready and waiting so call if you please, I won’t let you forget me… I am your disease.
-Unknown
I am so impressed. I wish there was someone to credit its creation to. No more writing for me, I’m not going to follow that up. The author is spot on, though!
Loving this word: Perspicacity a penetrating discernment —a clarity of vision or intellect which provides a deep understanding and insight.
Perspicacityis an abstract noun describing a certain capacity of a certain capability. (Such an awesome sentence that leaves you wanting more!)
I’ve fallen in LOVE
I’ve fallen in LOVE
True love I swear it be
With my new recovery Program!!
I’ve chosen
Narcotics Anonymous
So I have been an avid Alcoholics Anonymous follower, when I’m avidly following some idea of a recovery program. BUT NOW I want to shout it from the rooftops that I havr finally found where I belong!! NA is eye opening; people out there understand me. I’ve been working on Step 1 questions from the program’s original step working guide and it made me read the NA book to answer a question so I started scanning for the answer and words started catching my eye. I knew I wasn’t going to get a good answer only half-assing my 101 page reading assignment and I was interested so I started at the first page and fell in love!! If I wasn’t seeing stars from being so tired after working my 2 am shift I’d still be reading it but I stopped at step 2 because I don’t want to read ahead and overwhelm myself. I may do so anyway after I nap.
The language and voice in the NA book is so different from that of the Big Book. I felt like I was chatting with someone my age with tattoos telling me about this exclusive “get clean for real this time” offer they’ve got going on. I know it isn’t especial for me, right? It sure seemed like it was while reading. I feel this program is exactly what my attempts at getting clean have been missing.
I wasn’t a fan of the longer meetings and the crowd where I went to a couple times I tried it was a bit rough. Hell, I need to put the extra time into my recovery and who am I to judge anyone?! Things are coming together.
Also, in no way am I dogging AA, the steps are exactly the same and the program is similar and I felt at home at my homegroup. I’m so darned excited to get a sponsor in NA. To talk to people about the struggles of methamphetamine withdrawal, specifically. It is so rad – the NA book has a chapter on Recovery and Relapse. I always wondered why relapse was so hush hush in AA, it seemed like to do so was to insult the group or at least specific people. I’m even planning on sharing and I never share at AA.
Okay nap time!! I’ll leave you with some NA wisdom:
Step1 :: We admitted we were powerless over our addiction, that our lives had become unmanageable.
Part1: Powerlessness
This is a definite tough place to start for me. I’ve always felt that I consciously made my choice to use, and I don’t want to admit I can’t control my addiction on my own. I’ve also lived by not being the victim and owning my own shit. My dad and I both have never been able to wrap our heads around admitting powerlessness being a strength. After reading, a lot, I’ve finally found that I can accept and admit that I am powerless over my disease of addiction or I would have been able to stay quit all these times I have relapsed over the last 8 months. The softest and easiest to accept way that I found powerlessness described was: “accepting what is and believing in what could be.” I like it and if I don’t want to deal with the issue I’m having with my pride in accepting giving up control, I’d roll with it. But I want to deal with all these things I have glossed over in my failed attempts to stay clean up until now. I did like a part by the same author saying, “accepting what is and what is not” as to accepting powerlessness and she defines it differently stating that powerlessness is, “admitting that no amount of trying or practicing or self-control” could overcome my addiction.
I found a great post that gave me questions to answer for step 1 as well as lists to be made and I wrote a lot. This is the first step toward regaining control and taking my life back.
Can change: my attitudes, my actions. Cannot change: other people’s emotions or actions, my disease of addiction, the past This is what I believe is meant behind the “accepting what is and what is not” and appreciate the great ideas brought about. I just don’t believe that that is all that admitting powerlessness is about. I think admitting powerlessness is a lot more humbling and personally invasive. I can accept my life being unmanageable without any pause, I know it is true. The concept that I’m, “without power, strength, or ability; wholly unable to act, influence, etc; helpless, impotent!” is something I struggle to convince myself of. My ego makes me want to scream, “I’ve got power! I’ve got strength!”
I think a part of my problem is that I get my daughter Riley every weekend and even with clean UAs and nearly completing treatment Grayson still won’t let me have my time with Hope. I’m unmotivated and in staying clean I’m demotivating. I realize I can‘t do this without help.
Proof I’m powerless: I’m drawn right back in even though I am content in life and WANT to stay sober. I have a disease. Just like my schizophrenia and bipolar this is not within my control, I’m no victim but that helps me admit that I am powerless. I have to take medications for my mental illnesses. The idea of lacking free will though is disheartening and I found that viewing it as such increases the likelihood of failure. If I don’t believe I can succeed in controlling my addictive behavior, I’m less likely to try. So boo helpless. Powerlessness does not say powerless over my actions, decisions, or relationships just over drugs. I am in control of staying clean and keeping active in my sobriety. I may not feel like it but I know I am in control over if I go pick up. I never lacked free will, my addiction just often overpowers it. So I’ll say I’ll say I’m not powerless but my addiction is more powerful than my strength of will. If I get in the ring with my addiction my addiction will win, likely in the first round. I don’t view powerlessness as weakness? Oh yes I actually do, I was taught to not give up and I always can do whatever I put my mind to BUT I’ve not been able to kick on my own after multiple tries so over my addiction SOLELY I am powerless. Talking myself through it and heading in the right direction. Admitting powerlessness is a step of strength, surrendering things I can’t control. I never quite understood what powerlessness felt like until this last go ’round where I want to be quit but I keep using for no reason, I’m not trying to escape anything anymore. So I am convinced and can accept that I am powerless over my disease of addiction. I cannot control it on my own, I need help. For that I will be reaching out to NA for the first time. I’m liking the changes in my outlook that I’m feeling. I just dove into the NA book while working on 1st step questions via their “original step working guides” I found online. I swore I was all about AA and I realize that may have been a mistake since I didn’t even try to experience NA, I got comfortable. This Step 1 is going to take a few parts so I don’t overwhelm you since I want to document all of what I do and I’m really working this step. First step to loving life again!
If absolute power corrupts absolutely, does absolute powerlessness make you pure?
I feel trapped. It is like I know the right things to do but the wrong thing keeps pulling me back in. I’ve been addicted to something since I was 15 and started smoking cigarettes and weed. Then it was alcohol. Then it was pain medication, prescribed (haha then not prescribed if I ran out). Then it was a giant leap into heroin. And meth. I beat all the other addictions. I feel unmotivated. The longest I’ve been sober is one year and one month in 18 years. I was on fire! I loved life clean. Since I couldn’t handle my emotions I turned back to my old pal meth. For years it had obliterated all pain for me. It was accessible and I knew it would numb the madness. I backslid on my medications, too. I feel incomplete. 8 months of a back and forth game. I’m ready for it to stop. I’m working on it one day at a time, or hour, or moment. But it’s calling my name. It’s driving me insane. I’m grieving my addiction as I fight to stay clean. My addiction got me through the hardest parts of my life. They are still ongoing and it’s difficult to face them. I feel overwhelmed. No one said it would be easy. Actually everyone said it would be hard. I’ve accepted my horrid mistake to start using again. Finally, no more guilt or blame or anger or shame. So that is helping. I got through losing a job the day after getting clean. I’m working a crazy schedule and I’m doing it! I feel hopeful.
Image by pict rider
Working through my issues one step at a time. pic by nali
Here we are, trapped in the amber of moment. There is no why.
I'm tired. I didn't get hired. Got a new job. It starts at 2:15 in the am. Glad to have a job. Sad that it is the worst shift. Still sober. Trying hard.
They say that time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself.
Andy Warhol
It is difficult to stay sober. I have no energy and getting high I have an abundance of energy, while I’m high but the aftermath is so much sleep and being unmotivated. I’ve decided I need to give some spirituality a chance, say hi and thank you to God more often. I know it gave me a lot of energy and desire to do things the time I got clean and stayed clean for a year and a month. It was so easy then and I don’t get why it is so hard this time around. I think that making it through a month will bring about change in my motivation a bit as well as chatting with God. One can hope! I’ve got lots of wisdom in how to stay sober and I’m not using the essentials. I need to go to meetings. I need to wake up and do some things productive; I did so today and I feel a bit better than yesterday. I need to be honest, this lying my way to graduating from treatment is starting to catch up with me. For now I’m taking it one day at a time. It is what I can and am doing right now. Staying clean for the minutes as they come. Staying up on my blog is something I want to get better about as I get out of this funk-if I get out of this funk, I never know if its withdrawals or my medications…or both is probably the case. Happiness, motivation, and energy – that is all I want! I’m way past my bedtime but struggling to sleep because I slept too much during the day. Go figure, when I need to sleep I can’t!! Haha. Such is life.
There is a fine line between genius and insanity. I have erased this line.
Oscar levant
I was diagnosed schizophrenic and bipolar 1, combined creating my diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder. I have used drugs to self medicate when I was not fully diagnosed and unable to continue getting the medications I had been on for years. The last time I got sober I had a few psychotic episodes that ended me up in a psychiatric ward for a couple weeks once and a months time the next. Then I got started on a hefty dose of medications. Emma’s poem puts into words perfectly what I’m struggling with staying on my medication and in sobriety. Life is different and my personality is very neutral, I lose my emotions and it takes enormous effort to feel for, toward, about anything. I’ve been told that maybe I should reduce my medications but they’re set to keep my symptoms at bay and less creates more symptoms. I honestly don’t mind most of them, enjoy some even, but I become misunderstood and too much for the people close to me. So I take my medications. When I use I don’t take my medications. Methamphetamine calms the chaos and keeps me centered. It is like being on medication but still having energy, light, feelings, being. I can’t and don’t want to keep using though so I have to figure out how to overcome the downer of being medicated in a healthy way. I’m still trying to figure that one out. This poem describes a big part of my struggle.
I grieve for my madness Now it’s so calm and still Everything’s so dull compared to When I was ill I saw vibrant colours Each subtle shade of green Took my crazy breath away In a psychedelic dream I could love a man so deeply I wouldn’t let him rest I tried to melt right into him To climb inside his chest I was never bored It never stopped at all My head was a pinball machine My thoughts the silver balls I wrote ten million words, I cried ten million tears I rode the rollercoaster, for thirty manic years But that overwhelming beauty In the forest and the town Turned to Earthly terror On the turn around And the men I had all left me They didn’t want that love I was “too intense” And they could never be enough And it had to end sometime You can’t go on like that.. It just seems a little boring It just feels a little flat So I’ll mourn my insanity But I will let it go And embrace reality Although it’s rather slow
Emma scarr, I grieve for my madness
It is sometimes an appropriate response to reality to go insane.
I decided to finish off the last of what I had cause I’m a sucker for punishment. It ended up going through Monday night. Then, to show me just how idiotic that was, I slept through my alarms Tuesday and missed work. So, yet another reason to not pick up again – I want this job and using is fucking that up. In order to function I either have to go back to regular, moderate using or quit, I can’t keep trying to play this binge and purge shit.
I WANT TO QUIT. SO I AM QUIT!
Tuesday I spent the day sleeping. Last night I didn’t take my medication so I wouldn’t sleep through my alarms again and so today I am not asleep per usual after stopping using and I am in an intense amount of pain. Everything hurts. I was sick to my stomach and dehydrated all day at work but made it through, barely. My ears hurt, my lips hurt, my throat, my head, my feet, my fingers everything is lacking fluids and swollen with a pins and needles feeling. I want to feel this so I can remember how not worth it it is to pick up again. Usually I’d just sleep through this part with my medications knocking me out and letting my body recuperate silently but I don’t want to do the week to two week knockout.
I will take my medications tonight but only half of my sleep med so I’m not down for the count and missing calling my girls tomorrow night. I want to get through this awake because I have plans with Riley and Hope this weekend and I’m not screwing it up because I fucked up and used AGAIN. I need to do better. So I will.
I’m too much of a wimp to keep suffering though, since I can kick the withdrawals by getting back on track with my medications, which I need to do anyway, I’m going to. Now actually.
I want to create a template of sorts for a daily check-in that I can use to give an update on my sobriety on the regular and either incorporate it into my focus that day or have it separate from my post as an aside… Any ideas? I’m going to start brainstorming.
Thanks for checking in on me! I wanted to give an update and my brain is pretty mushy so hang in there with me and I’ll get back to rockin’ and rollin’ in my sobriety as we take this adventure!
Last thing: I feel differently about my sobriety this time. I am thinking of so many reasons why I want it and feeling really positive and fulfilled when envisioning my quality of life sober for the long haul. I’m ready for some real change in my attitude and behavior to better myself and my life. I feel ready now. I feel empowered. I can and am doing this.
I am so impressed by the creative brilliance I stumbled upon and I want to share this incredible voice and artistry with you.
“She doesn’t date Or look for a mate She ducks romance With a polite “No Thanks”
She’s learnt to avoid The promise of joy From nice looking men She’ll not go there again
If one sends a text That boldly suggests Meeting up for a beer She steers well clear
She loves her home Likes living alone No emotional mess Drama or stress
Yes, sometimes she’s weak And remembers the treat Of a cuddle and kiss But she knows to resist
‘Cos when she falls she falls so deep She cannot eat she cannot sleep She will worry she’ll obsess She’ll be a total fucking mess Constantly she’ll want him near Cling on to him with all her fear Make him say he’ll never leave Love him ‘til he cannot breathe
OH MY GOD HE HASN’T RUNG!! WHY DOES HE HATE ME? WHAT HAVE I DONE? WHAT IS THIS, SOME KIND OF TEST? OH WHATEVER HE ASKS I’LL SAY “YES”
And when she gets into that place It’s a long climb back to somewhere safe And still the voices call her down Back into the stinking ground
So she doesn’t date Or look for a mate She ducks romance With a polite “No Thanks””
Emma Scarr, She Doesn’t Date
I find this poem incredibly relatable and honest. The cadence in “She Doesn’t Date” gives it a bouncy upbeat quirkiness that complements the poem’s voice (speaks to the tone, diction, sound patterns and rhythm) which, I believe, embodies confidence and individuality. This is exactly what I need to remember if/when I am single again. It takes a lot of self-awareness and confidence to be and stay single happily. The reasoning behind staying single in this poem is my downfall in relationships and identifying that is personal growth for me. Admitting it is also.
I hope you enjoy this and please click and visit Emma Scarr’s website (below, click “EMMA SCARR”) to support this amazing blogger. Make sure to like her poem’s post (also linked below, click “She Doesn’t Date – Emma Scarr”)
