If you are married to someone who continues to abuse alcohol or drugs, or has a process addiction, this can be a rather difficult situation. Again, you cannot compel your spouse or partner to get clean and sober. It is possible that over time, your spouse will see the changes in you and come to the decision that recovery is a viable option. At that time, it will be your turn to be fully supportive and encouraging of your spouse’s recovery efforts.
When you move into one of our houses, you’re not just moving into a sober house, you’re moving into a recovery community. One of the main things an individual in recovery needs to remember is to focus on what they have accomplished. When you find yourself struggling, remember what it was like before your recovery began. It could have been when your binge drinking nearly killed you.
We also work with local temp agencies, contractors and other employers. Engaging in service work brings a sense of purpose, personal growth, and builds relationships. It fosters empathy, makes a positive impact, and improves mental health. Ultimately, it strengthens communities and promotes compassion and altruism.
Some of your old friends will undoubtedly be the people you used to hang out drinking and partying with. Some may be co-workers or your best friend from college or high school. You may have grown up with the person and can’t envision your life without him or her. But when continuing the association threatens to sabotage your sobriety, you really have only one choice and that is to put some distance between you.
February 4, 2008, I made a call to a drug dealer; I was hopeless and wanted to die. I bought a large quantity of drugs and the plan was to kill myself. “If you come & follow our program, your life Rockland Recovery will be totally changed. Our plan builds upon the success of our current programming through scaling the model into additional areas and populations. Michael J. Rounds is the author of 10,000 Days Sober and an addiction recovery specialist at a correctional facility in Indiana. The approaching storm was forecast to hit as the equivalent of a Category 4 hurricane along Taiwan’s eastern coast on Thursday.
There will always be times when there are issues at work, in a relationship, or life in general. However, none of this was worse than being in the nightmare of just going through life in a zombie-like state of active addiction. Many amazing things have happened to me since February 4, 2008; it was a day that changed my life forever. Today I am a father of two amazing boys, Ricky and Carson, whom I want to set a great example for. I decided to dedicate my life to helping men rebuild their lives. Having a recovery community to be part of is crucial in early sobriety.
At the outset, let’s be clear that there are no universally right answers. Each person needs to figure out the best approach to making a new life in recovery. Whether this involves compromise or complete cutting off from the past is a purely individual choice. It is also important to remember that choices can be changed. With new information, new goals, new friends, hope and courage, all things are possible.
Here, then, are some thoughts on leaving the past behind and moving forward to new beginnings. Nothing eases the pain of letting go of the past and old friends like the making of new friends, engaging in new activities, and learning how to live a happy life in sobriety. Since you never know who might become a friend, the wise approach may be to behave as though every person you meet might one day be more than just a casual acquaintance. This doesn’t mean that you have to act other than your conscience dictates. After all, some people may not be good candidates for friendship, but might be better as casual acquaintances. Use discretion, but be courteous, polite, open and willing to engage in conversation – if the opportunity permits.
