Addiction Recovery

How do we beat our addictions? There are many positive steps that we can take to beat the addictions of drugs, alcohol, sex, and many others. We can draw on our emotions for strength. We can find a positive outlet, i.e. running, reading, studying, hiking, horseback riding, pray and many others.

My main way for winning the addiction battle is to hate the addiction. Daily we must muster all the pure hatred we can for the addiction. We must mentally prepare ourselves for battle. My main source for strength to fight addictions is an emotion one. You can also use your emotions as a force to help in these daily battles of addiction(s).

We often remember the pass failures and broke inhibitions that were influenced by our addictions. These memories are very painful, but as General Powell said “they are part of the record”. We can also use these memories as a source of strength to fight addictions. We have to draw a line in the sand and take a stand. Emotions can play a major part in combating addictions. Personally, I have found pure unfiltered hatred of the addiction to be a major source of strength.

Another way to find strength to fight our addictions is to talk about it. When we have the opportunity to pull out our soap boxes; pull it out. I have family members that are not to happy when I take out my soap box. But, I am not ashamed of telling about my battle with any addiction. We have to take a stand. Let people see who you truly are. For, example I will proudly say to a table full of family and friends that I stop drinking in 1994. I am very proud of that fact and unashamed. I would tell that to the president face to face and eyeball to eyeball.

We can maintain our addiction winning by keeping the fire going. This means not forgetting were we came from. Nobody likes to goes backwards in life, we all like to keep marching forward. Periodically remembering our bad time can help to keep us on track, and also looking at where are today can also help to keep us on track. There has to be a balance. As the old saying goes, keep your head up.

We can use our minds and emotions to keep winning the daily addiction battle. Everyday we must ready ourselves for a bloody battle. My advice to you is to take no prisoner in the war against addictions. Look at it like this, if the additions get the upper hand, it will try to finish you off. Lastly, at all cost, stay motivated.

I retired from United States Navy in 2003, after serving over 21 years of enlisted active duty onboard several different ships and a few shore assignments. I am married. My wife and i have two daughters. We have two dogs, Chow Chow’s, to be exact. I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Liberal Arts (Focus area Psychology) from Excelsior College class 2004.

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