Many addicts have burnt bridges in their lives. It is possible, in some cases, to make an amends for any harm done. It can often help the one asking for forgiveness more than the injured party.

If you’re a regular reader of my blog then you know that my posts center on addiction-based topics.  Whether it is relapse prevention, the War on Drugs, or 12-Step recovery, I try to convey a consistent message.  This week I’d like to continue by looking at addiction recovery through a different lens: wellness.  Wellness is typically defined as being comprised of the physical, spiritual, and emotional  aspects of one’s life (there are other definitions that also include social, vocational, and financial wellness as well).

For me, active addiction was a time fraught with risk.  I repeatedly subjected myself to any number of dangerous situations.  Whether it was driving under the influence, taking unknown substances, or mixing illicit drugs with pharmaceuticals, I was taking chances every time I could.

There are many factors that contribute to maintaining abstinence from drugs and alcohol.  If you have been in addiction treatment or around 12-Step meetings, then undoubtedly you have heard many of these already.  But they bear repeating. In fact, you can't hear them enough.

The addiction culture, the addiction lifestyle, can make it very difficult for an addict to get clean or stay drug-free. As they say on the street: “it’s not the drug that will kill you – it’s the addiction lifestyle.” One of the main causes of relapse has to do with the old way of living.

If you have ever dealt with addiction then you know how devastating it can be. It has the ability to strip a person of any sense of decency, reducing one to an animalistic level. When I look back on all of the despicable things I did to fuel my addiction it filled me (initially) with a sense of guilt, shame, and self-loathing. It got me to a place where I did not know where to turn or what to do. But….I did pray.

There is a common belief in many cultures that human beings have been given free will in determining their lives.  On one hand, being able to make our own decisions and choose our own fate is what has allowed our world to become what it is, for better or for worse.  On the other hand, free will is like the proverbial double-edged sword.  Sometimes, too much freedom may not be such a good thing.

In years past, I was a yes person. Whenever I was asked to take on a new project, help contribute to something, be part of an event, I would say yes without thinking. I had no idea there was any issue in this. This seemed in stark contrast to early addiction recovery. When in early sobriety, I was able to take care of me, and make things simple. I knew what I needed to do, whether it was to go to meetings, see my therapist, get enough sleep, not go out on weekends, surround myself by supportive people, etc.