#Addiction v #Recovery

There's so much happiness to be had that you never experience when in the depths and despair of addiction.

The same routine all day everyday. Trapped in the squirrel cage or spiders web .It's mentally exhausting and boring.

You don’t realise that the best parts about living are being replaced with ONE thing.

That sums up addiction. #Recovery is giving up that ONE thing to regain EVERYTHING you lost.

I was taught the monkey is always on your shoulder. Sometimes quiet for long periods. It is when the monkey speaks we must not listen.

In early sobriety that “inner voice” can seem instantly overwhelming. However it’s in the early days we have to stay strong or the monkey could potentially bring the entire circus with it if you give in.

Eventually as time goes by and the days turn into weeks and the weeks turn into months the monkeys voice fizzles out fading to silence.

This is when the magic starts to happen and all the good things start to come.

You wake up one day and then it hits you. You made it!!

it can not be explained in words how good that feels. Only a recovering addict will identify with that feeling. It’s the greatest feeling on earth.

You start living with integrity .Doing all of the opposite things that you did before.

You start to make plans.

You start planning your new future. Most importantly , planning how you are going to shape it.

These new "goals" help you stay focused. Any goals. I mean any at all.

You'll look back on who you were then, and you will not even recognize yourself.

Your past self seems like a weird stranger.

That stranger wasn’t a bad person that person was sick and didn’t know it until they decided to get help.

I used to think my family hated me . The reality is ? Your family aren't against you or trying to control you either ,they genuinely care and don't want to see you die early.

Accept their help while you still have a family, and also friends as everybody has a breaking point.

Thankfully i hit my rock bottom and i climbed the summit. Respect to everyone out there fighting another day.

Sending 🤗 and ❤️ to anyone struggling, chin up FAIL= First Attempt In Learning . Just because you never got sober at the first attempt doesn’t mean you cant do it.

Recover out loud and always remember your story could save someone else’s life . ~ Joe