Aa
Time to get humble and honest!
Its time for me to get humble. I come on here daily, wanting to help people get clean while getting clean as well. I have heard from many that I have been so helpful to them and have been a rock, etc. So if I am really going to help people then I have to be honest with you all, and be honest with myself.
I relapsed yesterday and I dont want to talk alot right now about how I relapsed, but more so as to WHY. In the beginning of me getting clean, I was riding that infamous pink cloud! There was NO way I was going to ever touch another pill again U would tell myself! I was Doing everything different this time! I had this this time!! I was going to therapy to get to the root of why I use. I cut off all my sources, and actually moved to another state! I was going to AA meetings. In the beginning, A couple times a week but eventually, everyday and I got a sponsor to help me work the program. I told my secret to my family and some of my friends. I told my Dr. and I redflagged myself at my pharmacy! I did EVERYTHING that I tell people to do. So why did I relapse then???
Besides the fact that this disease is so strong. heres where I failed. As that Pink cloud started to disappear, I was left with my own head and my own feelings. Like Most of us will be! So instead of reaching out to people and screaming from the rooftops that I was struggling emotionally, and having cravings, I very slowly over the last few weeks started isolating. I told myself I DONT NEED TO TELL ANYONE!! IM 2 months clean now! But THIS is where I went wrong. I slowly stopped going out with my sober friends. I slowly stopped talking about my feelings and how they were triggering me. I started to internalize again. I even stopped coming on here as much. I kept putting myself in situations where I would be tested and tempted! Now I realize probably because I wanted to fail.
The reason I am telling everyone this is because I see alot of people who are riding the pink cloud once they are done detoxing and think that they are done with the hard work. They start to pull away from the things that kept them clean, and they start to change their patterns back to those addictive patterns. I now know I was INCREDIBLY guilty of this. I was going through the motions of putting in the work, But I know I wasnt putting in 100% anymore to my recovery. The second we stop putting in 100% to our recovery, is when you are destined to relapse like I did.
This isnt easy AT ALL to tell you all. Im embaressed and ashamed! But I want to share with all of you guys who have been there for me, and who I have been there for because I hope that the reason for my failure will be a help to others so they dont end up here, and feeling like I feel now. This disease is cunning and baffling and The lesson I have learned from this is I cant EVER stop giving 100% to my recovery!
So anyways, Thanks everyone for listening!
Love ya all, my MH family!
I relapsed yesterday and I dont want to talk alot right now about how I relapsed, but more so as to WHY. In the beginning of me getting clean, I was riding that infamous pink cloud! There was NO way I was going to ever touch another pill again U would tell myself! I was Doing everything different this time! I had this this time!! I was going to therapy to get to the root of why I use. I cut off all my sources, and actually moved to another state! I was going to AA meetings. In the beginning, A couple times a week but eventually, everyday and I got a sponsor to help me work the program. I told my secret to my family and some of my friends. I told my Dr. and I redflagged myself at my pharmacy! I did EVERYTHING that I tell people to do. So why did I relapse then???
Besides the fact that this disease is so strong. heres where I failed. As that Pink cloud started to disappear, I was left with my own head and my own feelings. Like Most of us will be! So instead of reaching out to people and screaming from the rooftops that I was struggling emotionally, and having cravings, I very slowly over the last few weeks started isolating. I told myself I DONT NEED TO TELL ANYONE!! IM 2 months clean now! But THIS is where I went wrong. I slowly stopped going out with my sober friends. I slowly stopped talking about my feelings and how they were triggering me. I started to internalize again. I even stopped coming on here as much. I kept putting myself in situations where I would be tested and tempted! Now I realize probably because I wanted to fail.
The reason I am telling everyone this is because I see alot of people who are riding the pink cloud once they are done detoxing and think that they are done with the hard work. They start to pull away from the things that kept them clean, and they start to change their patterns back to those addictive patterns. I now know I was INCREDIBLY guilty of this. I was going through the motions of putting in the work, But I know I wasnt putting in 100% anymore to my recovery. The second we stop putting in 100% to our recovery, is when you are destined to relapse like I did.
This isnt easy AT ALL to tell you all. Im embaressed and ashamed! But I want to share with all of you guys who have been there for me, and who I have been there for because I hope that the reason for my failure will be a help to others so they dont end up here, and feeling like I feel now. This disease is cunning and baffling and The lesson I have learned from this is I cant EVER stop giving 100% to my recovery!
So anyways, Thanks everyone for listening!
Love ya all, my MH family!
COMMUNITY LEADER
I am so proud of you for being honest. Now you can finally move forward. I hold you very dear to me Teresa, we will get thru this~
Hi Teresa, I'm sorry to hear about that and I totally understand what you mean. Try not to be too hard on yourself. It is a learning process. I actually went to my first NA meeting today and if it wasn't for your advice and others on this site I probably wouldn't have made it this far. Anyways my point is I was going through the NA book and I was surprised to see that in the book they say that every member in NA does relapse at least once. I was surprised by that. I wish after a certain time we could just be cured but as you probably this is something that will always be inside of us.
It is unfortunate that you relapsed but the bigger tragedy would be not caring and obviously you do. Just think of it as a small road bump in the grand scheme of things. Try not to think of it as a failure but as eliminating the things that don't work so you can live a clean and happy life. I relapsed kinda of as well last week. I had two pills and knew things were about to go downhill so I posted here and took the good people advice and flushed. It was a bad idea having those two pills because it opened an old wound kinda and I'm still craving more but my point is at least I didn't make it worse.
Anyways you should be proud of yourself that you made it two months. You have the right attitude about it though just wanted to offer you my support and encouragement!
It is unfortunate that you relapsed but the bigger tragedy would be not caring and obviously you do. Just think of it as a small road bump in the grand scheme of things. Try not to think of it as a failure but as eliminating the things that don't work so you can live a clean and happy life. I relapsed kinda of as well last week. I had two pills and knew things were about to go downhill so I posted here and took the good people advice and flushed. It was a bad idea having those two pills because it opened an old wound kinda and I'm still craving more but my point is at least I didn't make it worse.
Anyways you should be proud of yourself that you made it two months. You have the right attitude about it though just wanted to offer you my support and encouragement!
Thank you so much! I actually was 7 days shy of 3 months, but it doesnt matter because the bigger picture isnt how MANY clean days I have. The big picture is long term sobriety and getting there. You did the right thing by flushing those pills! Dont stop putting in 100% into your recovery!
thank you again for your support! It means alot!
thank you again for your support! It means alot!
I'm SO proud of you , and you've still got those 3 months, shy 7 days CLEAN AND SOBER AND IT''S TRULY A MIRACLE ~ 10,000 steps forward 1/2 a step back. You're bound to win over this thing. Keep fighting the good fight...xoxo. .
I admire your honesty. You know how hard it is to come clean with people the first time around and I expect it is just as difficult if not more on a relapse. But like you told me...you can do it. Well not those exact words but close enough. I will continue to look for your words of wisdom during my process of regaining my life.
I don't know what to say! I do know that you have had so much drama in your life in your nearly 3 months clean! Think about it, your knee surgery, your mothers illness, your friends sudden passing, the situation at your Aunts house, your cousin visiting during the holidays.... It seems like you are always dealing with something major! I dont think ive ever seen so much happen to someone in such a short period of time. Getting off pain pills is very difficult in the best of circumstances, and nearly impossible with all that you have had to deal with! With all of that going on all the time, I know I wouldn't have been able to do it! Was there something that triggered this relapse yesterday?
Maybe you need some attention! By that I mean you need to focus on you, and just you! Maybe you are trying to hard to be everything to everyone! Take some time to focus on yourself and your recovery. Make it your priority and let nothing stand in your way. Pick yourself up, dust off, and start moving forward again.
I'm not sure I really made any sense, but it's difficult to know exactly what to say. I hope you get the attention you are seeking, that you need for yourself and your sobriety! All the best!
Maybe you need some attention! By that I mean you need to focus on you, and just you! Maybe you are trying to hard to be everything to everyone! Take some time to focus on yourself and your recovery. Make it your priority and let nothing stand in your way. Pick yourself up, dust off, and start moving forward again.
I'm not sure I really made any sense, but it's difficult to know exactly what to say. I hope you get the attention you are seeking, that you need for yourself and your sobriety! All the best!
Interesting choice of words...but yes I do need to focus more on myself and thats been my problem.
Thank you for your words
Thank you for your words
Sorry, I'm not really good with words at all, but I hope you understood what I meant!
I was awestruck reading your post. Please don't feel embaressed and ashamed. You came back! And your honesty is a wonderful example of the recovery you have, that is still going strong. Hey, we drink we drug, we have the disease of addiction. Being clean isn't the norm for us, it's something we slowly learn to do. And when we're newly sober it doesn't take much to slip. But you're back, and you're picking up where you left off.
I came very close myself. I'm newly sober and clean, and I held on by the skin of my teeth between Christmas and New Years. I missed a bunch of my AA/NA meetings because of closed meeting places or personal family stuff. All my feelings, my isolation, and desire to use came back because of lack of treatment.
This stuff happens Teresa. Always remember the last sentence in the first step chapter of the NA basic text: "it's not where we were, but where we're going that counts".
You're heading for success. God bless! -Robert
I came very close myself. I'm newly sober and clean, and I held on by the skin of my teeth between Christmas and New Years. I missed a bunch of my AA/NA meetings because of closed meeting places or personal family stuff. All my feelings, my isolation, and desire to use came back because of lack of treatment.
This stuff happens Teresa. Always remember the last sentence in the first step chapter of the NA basic text: "it's not where we were, but where we're going that counts".
You're heading for success. God bless! -Robert
Sonrissa- I Understood what you meant :)
OpenMind-Thank you very much I appreciate your kind words and I am not giving up on myself ever. I hope noone does because we are all worth it.
OpenMind-Thank you very much I appreciate your kind words and I am not giving up on myself ever. I hope noone does because we are all worth it.
Just seeing this, Teresa. So VERY proud of you for your honesty and posting this incredible post! Keep moving forward, my Friend! xoxo
I'm so proud of you girl. Really. You came on and admitted that you relapsed. You recognized it and didn't try and hie with a "slip" or whatever people are calling it today. You got humble and that is a huge step.
I had talked with you recently about doing the first three steps over and over for a year. I am not your sponsor and don't claim to be. I can only share with you my experience, strength and hope. That is what I did and it worked for me. Maybe it will work for you.
You thought I was disappointed in you. Far from it lady. Your admission on here and in private made me respect you even more. This is not to say that I recommend relapse. It is not a requirement but if you learn from it and go forward then maybe that is what YOU needed.
I learned from your relapse so I thank you for that. Hang tight lady and keep going forward. There may be some bumps in the road but it does get better....
GO GREEN BAY!! I'm sorry, was that out loud??????? lol
I had talked with you recently about doing the first three steps over and over for a year. I am not your sponsor and don't claim to be. I can only share with you my experience, strength and hope. That is what I did and it worked for me. Maybe it will work for you.
You thought I was disappointed in you. Far from it lady. Your admission on here and in private made me respect you even more. This is not to say that I recommend relapse. It is not a requirement but if you learn from it and go forward then maybe that is what YOU needed.
I learned from your relapse so I thank you for that. Hang tight lady and keep going forward. There may be some bumps in the road but it does get better....
GO GREEN BAY!! I'm sorry, was that out loud??????? lol
I'm so sorry to hear that. I see ur comments and read your posts all the time and they are very inspirational. So you made one mistake big effin deal. You just start right back up. Don't think about day 1 again and all that non sense. You are where you are and going forward is your only option. One slip up is now behind you. You caught it in time and you seem to be ready to fight the good fight again. Most people wouldn't stop at a day. They would go for weeks or months. Please just keep on going you will be ok !! Keep posting and God Bless !! sunny
Oh and u are so right about that pink cloud effect. After you first quit and beat the physical withdrawals we are on top of the world. It then all gets crazy and we have to actually work in ourselves. That is where so many fail. To be honest , I'm almost 8 months and I still have bouts of depression and anxiety. It's a long journey
Oh and u are so right about that pink cloud effect. After you first quit and beat the physical withdrawals we are on top of the world. It then all gets crazy and we have to actually work in ourselves. That is where so many fail. To be honest , I'm almost 8 months and I still have bouts of depression and anxiety. It's a long journey
IBK- I love ya girl!! Your a rock to me and I appreciate you beig there for me and never abandoning me! GO PACK GO!! :)
Jade-Thank you honey. Forward is my only option and Im not giving up!
Sunny- Im definitely not dwelling anymore on my mistake. I was having a pity party at first but I realized that wont do me any good. I am just like everyone else and want to be sober. Its not easy for any of us and all we can do is share our own experiences in hopes it will help someone else. Thanks for your support :)
Barb- BIG HUGS back!! :)
Jade-Thank you honey. Forward is my only option and Im not giving up!
Sunny- Im definitely not dwelling anymore on my mistake. I was having a pity party at first but I realized that wont do me any good. I am just like everyone else and want to be sober. Its not easy for any of us and all we can do is share our own experiences in hopes it will help someone else. Thanks for your support :)
Barb- BIG HUGS back!! :)
OH girl, i am so sorry, i hate this for you as you know i am in the same shoes as you. But like you have told me, we just need to move forward, learn from this and dust ourselves off and keep on tackling this disease. I have learned from my slip up, and i am sure you did too. So now is the time to just move forward, and i know first hand how much this *****. T, you having been an amazing supporter on here and truly helped so many including me, you are a great lady, wonderful friend and a big heart, thank you for your honesty and for your friendship. I know how difficult it was to post this, and i just want you to know that i am so proud of you, proud of your honesty, and more importantly I'm proud that this was just a minor set back and you are going to only move forward from here on out!!!!! XO
i believe this has been a defining week for a lot of us.... before i go futher i need to address mintyfresh quoting the basic text~every addict relapes at least once~... i respectfull ask you to show me where you read that..... which copy of the basic text...i them all, and i have never read it that statement... there are a thousand statements about relaspe but never have i seen one like that........Recovery and Relapse pg.77...in our disease,we are dealing with a destructive, at times violent power greater than ourselves that can lead to relaspe..If we have relapsed it is important to to keep in mind that we must get back to meetings as soon as possible.... we never fully recover,no matter how long we've been clean......the word relapse is used loosly in the basic text because before we pick up again we have already began the process in our thinking and where our feet are taking us..... you hang in a barber shop long enough you will get a hair cut...the same is true with using.our disease is 3 fold..mentally,physically and spiritually... all three require our attention. we can not afford to leave loop holes in our program.............teresa1717.... you have done the right thing by coming clean on this forum. people need to know the truth as we have seen that played out this week..... i believe there is nothing short of actual death...that keep us from starting over. i promised my self that tonight i will get some sleep as last night was a sleepless one...... I have my basic text and it is my lifeline to recovery because it tells me who i am...and what i can do about it....i do not ever need to forget that i am a recovering addict. my basic text brings me comfort because it give me a solution to what eluded me for so long.....how to get clean, how to stay clean, how to deal with my past....live in the present and hope for the future. ...
Free, thanks for posting; sorry to inturrupt forum, but I was thinking, if everyone relapses once, why am I doing this?
Oh Teresa, I am so with you honey! Here to support you when and if you need it ... just get back up again, and it sounds like you already have. You know you can do no wrong here, girl ... big hugs!
S.L.I.P. stands for Sobriety Losing It's Priority Hmmm I think of a slip is when you've tripped on the edge of the pool and a relapse when you've tripped, and then dove in and done a few laps..... I guess I just think there should be some recognition for someone who immediately pulls themselves back from getting into the high..... I have got MAD LOVE, like all of us here, for anybody who IMMEDIATELY gets themselves back on target and doesn't stay for the picnic and make a holiday out of a bad choice, as we have all done in the past. Here's to raising our bottoms. (what?) hehehehe You know what I mean.......
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We r so alike that I know exactly how many pills u took and that's one to many. If u don't swallow it, shoot it, or put it up ur nose then u can't get high or drunk. Remember that.
Learn from this and dust urself off n try again and tell yourself every morning u wake up that ur stronger than yesterday.