Once we remove the alcohol
and drugs from our lives the real work of recovery begins.
And as we start the process
of living clean and sober we discover who we really are. And even
though it may not be too relevant, we realize why we started using in the first
place.
Many of those not in recovery
– especially parents – see that we're free of drugs and alcohol and think
everything's great. After all, wasn't that the goal? Get rid of the drugs and
alcohol?
But for most of us the drugs
and alcohol are merely symptoms of a deeper malaise, a spiritual and emotional sickness
that we try to ease with chemicals. Once the chemicals are gone then we’re
forced to confront these issues as part of successful recovery. And if we
don't run away - and face these challenges as they arise - we’ll enjoy a
successful recovery.
Among the issues we deal with is low self-esteem. Poor self-esteem is a reason many of us use drugs
or alcohol. We drank and drugged so we could feel as good as we think everyone else feels.
How do we build
self-esteem? In recovery we start
building self-esteem by paying attention to small accomplishments. Things like
keeping our room clean. Showing up for groups on time. Not engaging in negative
talk. Working out. Being supportive of others . Being kind to our family. All
of these small things are building blocks for improving self-esteem for those of us who start out on the bottom.
Ideas for improving self-esteem
can be found at Psychologist Nathaniel Brandon’s website.
