Recovery is not only about gaining positive coping mechanisms and healing; it is also about shedding the negative aspects of your past to make way for a brighter future. Letting go can be a challenging process, but once you learn to embrace it, you will see the benefits it has on your life. However, knowing you have to let go of some things is only the first step. When you identify what these things are is merely when the process starts, as you will have to learn to live without things you once depended on.
If you are contemplating entering into treatment for your addiction but are waiting for the “right time,” it is crucial that you let go of this concept. If you continue waiting around for the right time to come, you will be waiting forever. There is no such thing as the “right time,” and you will continue putting off recovery because you are not ready to face what it has in store for you. You need to face recovery head-on. The time and energy you put in will be exhausting, and the process will be difficult at times, but it is much better than staying in the cycle of addiction and destroying your life. Stop waiting for the right time and seek help today.
For addiction to survive, it relies on you being the victim in everything you do. You are not able to accept responsibility for your actions and allow your addiction to continue, so many individuals struggling will blame those around them and other external circumstances for their misfortune. Admitting that addiction is causing negative consequences in your life will mean acknowledging that you need help, and many simply don’t want to come to that point. However, now that you are in recovery, it is vital that you let go of this mentality and start accepting responsibility for your actions and their impact on your life. It is only then that you can begin building a life that you are proud of as you continue working towards long-term sobriety.
For many people, the ones that introduced them to the world of addiction and used with them are often individuals they have known for an extended time. This can make letting go of these friendships difficult when it comes to your recovery. You may not want to let go because of the time you have been friends or because you think that they will change and get clean one day. However, you cannot afford the risk of keeping these individuals around, hoping they will change as you work on your recovery. Being surrounded by bad influences puts you at a greater risk of relapse, especially if you have been hanging around toxic individuals that try to manipulate you into continuing using drugs and alcohol. You must separate those that enabled your addiction from your real friends. Those that contributed to your addiction are not your friends, and you need to rid yourself of those bad influences if you expect to maintain your sobriety for the long-term.
Addiction feeds off low self-esteem because a negative self-view keeps you needing an escape; this will continue driving you towards drugs and alcohol. However, in recovery, you need to realize the harm of harsh self-criticism. Everyone makes mistakes from time to time; you wouldn’t be human if you didn’t. Life is about learning from those mistakes rather than beating yourself up for them. By harshly criticizing yourself, you will only make yourself feel worse, which can contribute to a potential relapse. Learn how to focus on the things you can change and learn from your past mistakes. Doing this will help you develop more positive self-talk and boost your recovery over time.
Recovery is not a competition. You may feel the need to “compete” with others in recovery, but this will only serve to bring you more harm down the road. There is no such thing as perfect recovery. Everyone makes mistakes, everyone needs extra support sometimes, and you will eventually be one of those people. Comparing yourself to others will only bring you down more, which will not positively impact your recovery. Instead, support others and focus on your own unique journey as you find what works for you and find healing.
Letting go is a valuable skill to have when it comes to addiction recovery. The process can be challenging, but over time you will see the benefits it has for you, your healing, and maintaining your sobriety. Knowing what to let go of will come as you continue going to therapy, talking to others, and reflecting on what you are learning. It is essential to realize that sometimes even the things you love, you need to let go of if you plan on living a better life. NorthStar Transitions can help you with this process. We have seen the negative impacts of hanging onto things that do not serve your recovery, and we strive to help our clients move forward in their journeys. Our facility is home to an expert staff that will work with you individually to ensure your recovery needs are met. Our evidence-based treatment modalities and programs are here to help you become your best self. Call us today at (303) 558-6400. Healing begins at NorthStar.
