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Recovery and Pickles
Is recovery our only option? Or, do we want to get clean and then somehow magically have the power to overcome future cravings? Can we get clean and become "normal"?
I was once told that we are like pickles. A cucumber gets pickled but is pulled out of the pickling solution before it is eaten away or shriveled into oblivion. Does the pickle ever return to being a cucumber again? No. It will forever remain, a pickle.
We are like "pickles". If we stay out of the solution we can save ourselves but we will never be cucumbers (normal) again.
Staying out of the solution takes changing our mindset plus seeking spirtual help. This is where recovery comes in.
Silly analogy but at the time it helped me understand that I needed help to stay stopped once I stopped using.
Chances are, we will get high again unless we get help. For me, therapy helped my mind but a 12 step program helped my spirit. Later, returning to my traditional spiritual practices helped too.
tzt
I was once told that we are like pickles. A cucumber gets pickled but is pulled out of the pickling solution before it is eaten away or shriveled into oblivion. Does the pickle ever return to being a cucumber again? No. It will forever remain, a pickle.
We are like "pickles". If we stay out of the solution we can save ourselves but we will never be cucumbers (normal) again.
Staying out of the solution takes changing our mindset plus seeking spirtual help. This is where recovery comes in.
Silly analogy but at the time it helped me understand that I needed help to stay stopped once I stopped using.
Chances are, we will get high again unless we get help. For me, therapy helped my mind but a 12 step program helped my spirit. Later, returning to my traditional spiritual practices helped too.
tzt
"Now, what happens when you decide to "reward" yourself for being clean so long. You ingest a pill or two. You are unique, right? You can get high and walk away, right?"
Geez... ain't that the truth. I actually thought that today... sad, but true. But I came to my senses.
Anyone else reading this post: what also occurred to me today - and made me stop - was coming to the board and thinking/REMINDING MYSELF: "hmmmm, is there one person who's taking pills who is happy?" NO, all there is is misery..
THAT sealed the deal.
Read the posts next time you feel like using.. it's stopped my crazy thinking today.
Geez... ain't that the truth. I actually thought that today... sad, but true. But I came to my senses.
Anyone else reading this post: what also occurred to me today - and made me stop - was coming to the board and thinking/REMINDING MYSELF: "hmmmm, is there one person who's taking pills who is happy?" NO, all there is is misery..
THAT sealed the deal.
Read the posts next time you feel like using.. it's stopped my crazy thinking today.
Thanks Lizzie, aftercare is so crucial. I think this is where we get tripped up. Most here are professional people but we are never the same after becoming addicted, it takes work.
Narc-vet
Ahhh,,, the "sleeping tiger" Did you see that video??? I saw it in detox back in '86. Il loved that, it really helped me understand addiction better.
Narc-vet
Ahhh,,, the "sleeping tiger" Did you see that video??? I saw it in detox back in '86. Il loved that, it really helped me understand addiction better.
Another analogy is the tiger in your belly. You create this tiger as you ingest you DOC. The tiger grows as your addiction grows.
Now, if you can stop doing drugs, this tiger will eventually calm down and go to sleep. Keep up the sobriety and the tiger will never wake up.
But here is the trick - the tiger continues to grow larger, even thought you have stopped the drugs. This tiger gets bigger and bigger the longer you stay away from you DOC.
Now, what happens when you decide to "reward" yourself for being clean so long. You ingest a pill or two. You are unique, right? You can get high and walk away, right?
Wrong. You have just woken up a 500lb beast that wants to be fed. And you will be compelled to comply...
Never wake the tiger up.
Now, if you can stop doing drugs, this tiger will eventually calm down and go to sleep. Keep up the sobriety and the tiger will never wake up.
But here is the trick - the tiger continues to grow larger, even thought you have stopped the drugs. This tiger gets bigger and bigger the longer you stay away from you DOC.
Now, what happens when you decide to "reward" yourself for being clean so long. You ingest a pill or two. You are unique, right? You can get high and walk away, right?
Wrong. You have just woken up a 500lb beast that wants to be fed. And you will be compelled to comply...
Never wake the tiger up.
Another analogy is the tiger in your belly. You create this tiger as you ingest you DOC. The tiger grows as your addiction grows.
Now, if you can stop doing drugs, this tiger will eventually calm down and go to sleep. Keep up the sobriety and the tiger will never wake up.
But here is the trick - the tiger continues to grow larger, even thought you have stopped the drugs. This tiger gets bigger and bigger the longer you stay away from you DOC.
Now, what happens when you decide to "reward" yourself for being clean so long. You ingest a pill or two. You are unique, right? You can get high and walk away, right?
Wrong. You have just woken up a 500lb beast that wants to be fed. And you will be compelled to comply...
Never wake the tiger up.
Now, if you can stop doing drugs, this tiger will eventually calm down and go to sleep. Keep up the sobriety and the tiger will never wake up.
But here is the trick - the tiger continues to grow larger, even thought you have stopped the drugs. This tiger gets bigger and bigger the longer you stay away from you DOC.
Now, what happens when you decide to "reward" yourself for being clean so long. You ingest a pill or two. You are unique, right? You can get high and walk away, right?
Wrong. You have just woken up a 500lb beast that wants to be fed. And you will be compelled to comply...
Never wake the tiger up.
EXCELLENT POST...i applaud you.
this is exactly why so many addicts fail...return to using. they think they are "fixed"..."cured"...when they have some clean time. having a plan...a life plan...is so crucial at this point. it is never too soon to begin some kind of program...whatever works for each individual.
"therapy helped my mind but a 12 step program helped my spirit". this statement alone reminds me of why i love to read your posts. you get it, don't you?
kim
this is exactly why so many addicts fail...return to using. they think they are "fixed"..."cured"...when they have some clean time. having a plan...a life plan...is so crucial at this point. it is never too soon to begin some kind of program...whatever works for each individual.
"therapy helped my mind but a 12 step program helped my spirit". this statement alone reminds me of why i love to read your posts. you get it, don't you?
kim
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