To the status quo, addiction is an indicator of a life gone awry. The word carries the heavy burden of shameful whispers, disappointed looks, and the idea that something must be wrong with the person struggling with a substance use disorder. However, this could not be further from the truth. Sure, addiction is a part of who you are, but it does not define you as a person. There is so much more to you than your addiction.
Addiction treatment programs can help you to see this. In treatment, you will learn about the underlying causes of your addiction and how to address them. This can help you or a loved one make positive changes in your life that can lead to lasting sobriety. You will also learn new coping skills and develop a support system of others who are committed to recovery. This can give you the strength and courage you need to face your addiction head-on.
Remembering That You’re More Than Your Addiction
If you are struggling with a substance use disorder, there are two essential things to remember:
- Addiction does not define you.
- You are not alone.
The truth is addiction is a complex condition, just like you are a complex human being. You have things you like and are passionate about and some things you equally dislike and avoid. And while addiction gets tangled up with who you are, it only means that you start living your most authentic life when you begin addiction recovery.
Understanding Who You Are Beyond Addiction
When you begin your addiction recovery, you can expect to expose many raw areas in your life. These experiences often reflect painful times when you may have lived through trauma, chronic stress, or acted out negatively towards the people you love.
It can bring up a lot of shame and reiterate the idea that you will always be someone with a problem. You may be dealing with shame in addiction recovery. But this is a typical response when you start uncovering the why behind your addiction.
The critical thing to remember here is that as you move through your addiction recovery experience, you begin to rely more and more on the positive aspects of your identity while learning to accept the negative ones. Little by little, you will use these parts of yourself to paint the whole picture of who you are. You can be sure that the person living with addiction will not be the star in your story.
Here’s a good exercise for you. Grab a piece of paper and a pen. Write a response to each of the questions below:
What…
- …do I value?
- …is one strong belief I have?
- …is one boundary that I am working on?
If you aren’t sure of what to put down, then that might be an excellent place to begin building the foundation of who you are.
Find Hope and Healing at Promises Brazos Valley
Addiction is not who you are. It never was, and it never will be. Instead, it will merely be a part of the complex human story you get to share. No matter if you are building or rebuilding your life after addiction, getting to really know yourself can rewrite your entire narrative.
Those who go into recovery often have transformational experiences to their identity. From personal goals to values and even social roles, these changes can help you create and maintain life-long sobriety.
If you are still unsure of who you are and where you should start your recovery journey, Promises Brazos Valley can help you get started. Our drug rehab center in Texas offers individualized treatment plans to support our diverse population. Call us at 979.426.0086 today to learn more about our addiction treatment programs.