Your Personal Independence Day

Summer is a time of celebrations, and for a recovering addict that can become a slippery slope. Living an addict’s life means being a slave to powerful and destructive forces. But, the day you break the bonds of your addiction is when you achieve your own personal Independence Day. It’s said that you don’t cut the ties to addiction by stopping use, you recover by creating a new life where it’s easier not to use.

Celebrating you.

Obviously, many aspects of your life can’t change. The Fourth of July is still going to be celebrated, there will still be social obligations and family functions to attend, but if you’ve decided to become independent from your addiction, then you should be celebrated regardless of your recovery journey.

Recognition of and independence from addiction are pivotal life moments that come from lots of struggle, so don’t be afraid to celebrate your everyday victories over your addiction.

Becoming independent from addiction.

One of the keys to a successful recovery is making serious and dedicated changes in your life. Start by avoiding high-risk situations and not falling victim to the who’s, where’s, and why’s of day-to-day life.

• PEOPLE - People who facilitate your addiction. People you are in conflict with. People you use with. People who don’t support you recovery.

• PLACES - Places where you use or where you get your drugs or alcohol. Places that facilitate any of the triggers that get you into trouble.

• THINGS - Anything that reminds you of your addiction.

You can’t always avoid certain situations, but if you are aware of them, they are far less likely to catch you off guard.

Addiction is sneaky and sometimes high-risk situations do sneak up on you, which is why it’s important to learn how to recognize them ahead of time. Make a list of your high-risk situations and keep it with you. Share the list with a fellow recovering addict to see if you missed any situations and to help keep you accountable.

Recovery isn’t about making one big change; it’s about making a lot of little ones. Eating better, getting a good night sleep, learning to relax, exercising, and recognizing and avoiding the triggers that lead you to use are all part of how you stay on the straight and narrow, and ultimately how you achieve your personal independence day from addiction.

Embracing the truth

Addiction requires lying which traps you in your addiction. That’s why recovery requires complete and total honesty.

Don’t be afraid to be honest with those around you in situations that might be high-risk. Being honest helps others around you understand and support your recovery, mitigating certain pressures of the situation. Achieving your Personal Independence Day from addiction is not going to be easy, but it is going to be rewarding. Always remember to celebrate yourself!

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