September is National Recovery Month.
My blogs will focus throughout September on addiction and its life-destroying tendencies. The writings derive from my experiences of battling addiction and living a life of recovery.
These specific writings are focused on the ACT acronym.
ACT leads to sobriety…
A – Acknowledge you have a problem, are powerless over it, and need help.
C – Connect with a power greater than you and people with solutions to help you conquer your problem.
T – Take positive, recovery-oriented action every day.
Today’s post is a continuation of yesterday’s post.
While working hard to prove that I didn’t have a substance use disorder, my wife worked even harder behind the scenes to figure out what to do with me. The spouse often becomes crazier than the user, but this was not the case in our situation. I am incredibly grateful for her strength, fortitude, and unwillingness to become co-dependent during this hell I was taking her through.
She saved my life.
She knew I was messed up, and there was nothing she could do about it other than connect me to the right resource(s).
First and foremost, she had a small circle of Christian friends praying for me continuously during my roller coaster ride of addiction. I believe this is the most critical connection she made throughout this process. I found out about this after I got sober. I am forever indebted to this group of ladies. Prayer is so powerful.
While still seeing my psychologist, Bob, she somehow coaxed me into going and talking with a chemical dependency expert at a rehab center in Dayton, Ohio. She encouraged me to take an assessment to see if I did have a problem.
I guess I went because I wanted to prove to her, Bob 1 and now Bob 2, that I didn’t have a problem.
Keep in mind that I was taking about 20 pills a day in my use. “Taking” meant I was stealing from the pharmacies where I worked. Stealing meant I was committing felonies.
And I needed to take an assessment to see if I had a problem?!?!
It’s denial that kills the addict, not the drug.
So, I decided to meet with the chemical dependency expert.
More about this part of my Connection stage tomorrow.
John 8:32, “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”
P.E.A.C.E.
Jay@EagleLaunch.com
