Addictions can take ruin an entire life, but when you begin the recovery process you can see immediately see the first freedoms of recovery.
A couple of years ago I came across an interesting article written by a mother. She decided to stop yelling at her children by starting what she called the “Orange Rhino Challenge.” The idea of being calm and patient with your kids is a common parenting goal, but as I read about the results of her yelling-free year, I was struck by the amount of freedom she gained; she went to bed guilt-free, she was able to love easier, and she experienced special moments that would have easily been damaged or missed by yelling.
It sounded similar to things I felt when I abandoned my addiction a short few years ago. When we eliminate negativity in our lives, we get powerful freedoms. Addictions can take an entire life away, but when you begin the recovery process you can see immediate freedoms that come from a clean life.
Free from guilt
That overwhelming guilt that shakes your soul and aches your body is gone with the freedoms of recovery. You don’t go to bed beating yourself up and replaying the mistakes you made that day. When I struggled with my addiction, I hated myself. Guilt and anguish filled every day of my life. I spent many nights wishing I had done things differently that day.
Free from wasted money
Drugs and alcohol are expensive, especially if you have an addiction. I felt like my paychecks had suddenly doubled the instant I quit using and I had the freedom to buy things that made me feel good about myself. I could eat healthy food, wear nice clothes, and, most importantly, afford to pay the bills. The guilt of spending my last dollar on drugs was eliminated, and I felt like I could plan and save for the future.
Free to be you
I didn’t want to be a drug addict; but that’s who I was. It was hard for people, myself included, to see who I really was when my actions displayed someone else. I was selfish; drugs came before family, work, and friends. My addiction replaced the things i once loved to do. When I began recovery, I felt like I could finally be me. I had the time to focus on hobbies, enrich my life with yoga and reading, and put my energy into work and helping others. Being me now feels really good.
Free to love
Addictions damage, replace, and end relationships. When you have the freedoms of recovery, you are free to love. People will begin to trust you once again, and friendships based on truth will begin to develop. My thoughts were always on my addiction, but recovery helped me focus on something better. The most amazing thing was when I was mentally and emotionally strong enough to listen and help a friend work through a problem.
Free to enjoy life
Addictions are like a prison; they lock you in and steal your life. When you escape their bars, you are free to live. Things that were once small and meaningless will start to matter. The smell of nature will mean something, you’ll answer calls from friends, a drive in the car will be relaxing, and laughing will replace the tears. Recovery comes with a price, but the reward of freedom is worth the fight.
Freedoms of Recovery With Morningside
At Morningside Recovery, we want to work with you to attain the freedoms of recovery that you deserve. Through detox programs and addiction treatment services, we’ll help you get on the path to a life of health and sobriety. To learn more, call us today at 855-416-8202.
