When I was in active addiction I would go through severe withdrawals regularly. Usually from heroin, but other substances as well. I attempted every “remedy” to make them easier but nothing ever worked, except for one thing.
Getting and staying sober.
After my first relapse I didn’t give a shit. I don’t think I ever planned on staying sober tbh. I was ready to run, and run I did. Got myself in a pretty dark place that time around. Also got myself back into rehab.
I was all gung-ho in rehab, but as soon as I got out the motivation left me. Wasn’t long until the relapse came. I wasn’t really surprised by it, but I definitely wallowed in self pity the entire time. I went through the typical addict mentality of “oh I’ll never get sober, woe is me” as I’m loading up another shot. Now was that pity party for one helpful? Probably not, but it did soften me up to actually want to seek sobriety, rather than hope it just fell out of tree on my head.
That first relapse didn’t teach me much. I mean it confirmed I was a full blown addict, but that much was pretty clear regardless. That second one didn’t teach me much either, other than that drugs and alcohol made me really fucking miserable. Again, pretty obvious anyway.
What taught me a lot was recovery.
Powerful…thanks
For there was no finer gift than the gift of desperation. I was at the point in my life that I would literally do anything to get sober. It made everything so much easier when my only other choice was suicide. I called a rehab every morning at 9 am for like 12 days in a row before they sent a van. Do you know how hard it is for a heroin addict to do anything other than get high for 12 days in a row?
Then I went to rehab (3rd time) and stayed for 30 days rather than trying to graduate early.
Once I got out I actually invested in AA. I didn’t whine about all the God talk or act smarter than everyone (I had done this before). I wasn’t so ego driven that I had to put my personal beliefs above my sobriety. Again, it was desperation. I could either die nice and young all because I was going to throw a fit about God. Or I could just try a new way. It was either swallow my pride or swallow a gun?
Desperation caused me to move into a sober living residence, something I swore I would never do. That very well could have saved my life.
Desperation allowed me to do all the things that have kept me sober.
Amen dude. Thanks for your truth @Englishd , same for me, I was willing to do anything this time to stay clean, I just wanted the cycle of slow suicide to stop. I done NA before and it was always a holiday from drugs , couldn’t get how people could happily think it was a club they had to be in for the rest of their lives. I get it now 
. I’m an addict for the rest of my life. I’ve done it all online this time, and wow I’m slowly coming to understand the conscious contact with a higher power rather than my own self will (head plans for the day,who I will talk to what I will do and say). And humbling to carry a message to my still suffering friend this weekend that being sober is possible. Off kayaking today and I don’t feel lonely.
I think that’s a fair assessment
Stop taking AA service positions if you don’t actually want to commit and serve the group. Only take on that position if you’re one hundred percent committed and attend weekly.
It just makes it harder for others
Also would it be appropriate to casually crank a rear naked choke on somebody while they’re sharing in an AA meeting to put them to sleep if they’re being discriminatory??
Would that constitute a life time ban 
I approve that method… Though, I’m not connected to AA
Most groups have a custom of not allowing cross-talk, defined as direct comment on another’s share. In these cases, I find a way to relate a story about how I changed or behaved in regard to the situation (e.g., once my brothers and I started a rumble with a bunch of Black kids because of our stereotyped views of them, now I’m sober I can listen to ideas better regardless of who speaks them), or if I don’t have direct experience, I can say that I get upset when opinions are shared rather than experience. And if they want to call that crosstalk and shame me for it, fuck them.
This is exactly what step 1 is about. I’ve had the talk with a friend over “why should I be powerless, getting sober is all my power”. I tried to say when we surrender that is where the strength really comes from.
She wasn’t convinced. I think she’s still drinking. 
Such a powerful thread . I hope this helps others as much as its helped myself. As honest as it gets
Can I please like this five hundred times?
Where can I buy the t-shirt?
Wow. It’s been a minute.
The cool thing about sobriety is the emotional regulation I’ve been given. However, this means I’ve lost the right to complain about my bad days. If I’m having a bad day it’s completely my fault and ain’t no one want to come to that pity party.
But occasionally I do have bad days, well mostly bad moments now, because my sobriety has given me the ability to change my mood without drugs and alcohol.
Sobriety has taken away my excuses and provided me with tools.
There’s days I still want to be a grown up toddler throwing a tantrum, and I can’t get away with it any more.
My favorite moment ever at work. Saying, “Hey, check out this slick piece of code I wrote.”
Colleague: “Congratulations on doing your job! I’m so proud of you.” 
I loved getting called out for that. My job is interesting (to me anyway), so sometimes I share stuff cuz it’s fascinating.
That moment made me realize I often use those as opportunities to ask for a pat on the back or to look smart for just doing what I’m paid to do though. Whoops.
Racist shares off old timers
It’s not a generation thing, it’s ignorance
Just chaired my home group AA meeting and had to shut down some racism and do an announcement at the end of the meeting for shares to be free of discriminatory language and remind people it’s a safe space and open for all 
Next week I’ll get “these young uns sober for a year thinking they know best” 
