The price is goodbye:
Things to stop doing in your addiction recovery

Episode #274

We have accumulated a lot of bad habits in our journey of addiction. The physical ones are very noticeable, but the mental ones – perhaps not so much. We are all searching for solace from our past selves in our sobriety. Saying goodbye to your old self requires saying hello to new ways of living your life. This episode starts a series meant to give you the direction that’ll help you solidify your new life in sobriety and recovery.

Power Sentences & Quotes

1. “Your mind is going to play mental gymnastics on you, especially in the early stages.” – This highlights the mental challenges and complexities faced in early recovery, where the mind can create difficult and conflicting thoughts.
2. “Spiraling your mind down into the abyss of your despair is going to destroy you.” – Allowing negative thoughts and emotions to take over can lead to destructive outcomes, making it crucial to manage and interrupt these spirals.
3. “When your mind starts wanting to take you down a path that you know is gonna lead to anger or resentment, you are gonna want to pattern interrupt yourself out of that.” – Recognizing and stopping negative thought patterns early can prevent emotional turmoil and help maintain sobriety.
4. “Anger is going to be very near the surface when you first get sober.” – Early sobriety often brings heightened emotions, particularly anger toward oneself, which must be managed carefully to avoid relapse.
5. “The price of saying hello to alcohol and drugs a long, long, long, long time ago is saying goodbye to those today.” – Emphasizes the long-term consequences of past substance use, which requires letting go of old habits and behaviors to achieve sobriety.
6. “You can either have accomplishments and success, or you can have excuses, but you do not get to have both.” This stresses the importance of taking responsibility and not letting excuses hinder personal growth and success.
7. “Blaming, complaining, making excuses, not trying, spiraling, and automatic negative thoughts and emotions. The price of your sobriety recovery is saying goodbye to those things.” – Outlines the negative behaviors and habits that must be abandoned to achieve and maintain sobriety.

Content Summary

Mental Challenges and Pattern Interrupts in Early Recovery:

In early recovery, the mind often engages in mental gymnastics, creating challenging and conflicting thoughts. Recognizing and managing these thoughts is crucial to avoid spiraling into despair. Techniques like pattern interrupts can help shift negative thinking. For example, engaging in physical activities, listening to uplifting music, or repeating affirmations can break these negative cycles. By doing so, individuals can maintain focus on their recovery journey and prevent relapse. It’s about training the mind to redirect its focus from destructive patterns to positive and productive behaviors.

Managing Negative Emotions:

Negative emotions, particularly anger, are common in the early stages of sobriety. These emotions can trigger destructive behaviors if not managed properly. It’s important to identify and replace negative visualizations with positive ones. Visualizing positive outcomes, such as waking up sober and happy, can help shift emotional responses. This practice not only aids in emotional stability but also reinforces the benefits of sobriety. By acknowledging that negative emotions are a natural part of the human experience, individuals can learn to manage them effectively and maintain their recovery.

Personal Responsibility and Overcoming Excuses:

Taking personal responsibility is a key theme in maintaining sobriety. Blaming others, complaining, and making excuses hinder personal growth and recovery. Instead, embracing responsibility and avoiding excuses lead to accomplishments and success. This involves recognizing that past substance use has long-term consequences and requires saying goodbye to old habits. Emphasizing effort and perseverance, such as through physical fitness or setting personal goals, can inspire a commitment to change. By focusing on what can be controlled and making positive choices, individuals can successfully navigate their recovery journey.

Take Action

• Use Pattern Interrupts:

  • Engage in physical activities, such as jumping jacks or pushups, to break negative thought patterns.
  • Utilize music or affirmations to shift your focus and disrupt spiraling thoughts.

• Replace Negative Visualizations with Positive Ones:

  • Visualize positive outcomes, like waking up sober and happy, to counteract negative emotions.
  • Focus on picturing yourself in positive, sober situations to reinforce your recovery goals.

• Manage Negative Emotions:

  • Recognize and address feelings of anger, resentment, and fear.
  • Practice techniques to calm these emotions, such as deep breathing, mindfulness, or talking to a supportive person.

• Avoid Blaming, Complaining, and Making Excuses:

  • Take personal responsibility for your actions and avoid shifting blame onto others.
  • Focus on finding solutions rather than dwelling on problems or making excuses.

• Embrace Personal Responsibility:

  • Own your recovery journey by making proactive choices that support your sobriety.
  • Set realistic goals and work towards them consistently, holding yourself accountable.

• Stay Physically Active:

  • Incorporate regular exercise into your routine to boost your physical and mental well-being.
  • Use physical fitness as a tool to manage stress and maintain a positive outlook.

• Visualize Positive Outcomes Through to the End:

  • When tempted by substances, play the scenario through to the credits, visualizing not just the initial moments but also the consequences.
  • Reinforce positive outcomes by picturing the benefits of staying sober, such as improved health and relationships.

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