"Imagine recovery like a cross country trip from NY to LA. If you blow out a tire in Cleveland, you don't drive back to NY. You fix it in Cleveland and keep moving" - Advice from group therapy
I suffered a relapse last week. I can't make any excuses other than I ####ed up. The addiction took over. The following day I divulged to therapists and the group what happened and we had an amazing talk. Through my mistake, and the ensuing discussion it generated, 2 people in the group spoke to me on the DL that they were inspired by the courage it took to be completely vulnerable in that moment. They had been contemplating leaving the program and have since stuck with it. I've hesitated sharing here because of the shame, embarrassment, guilt, etc.
But I'm using it as a major learning experience. I was supposed to graduate/be discharged my PHP program last Wednesday but both my therapists and I agreed to another week+ in the program. I dove in to the material, put everything else aside and focused on my sobriety first and foremost. They noted a significant change in not only my recovery, but my motivation, energy, growth, and overall contributions to the group...which I guess are all intertwined.
Today I graduated that PHP program. I received a bronze coin (inscribed with "One Day at a Time") that I'm going to find some sort of bezel for and wear it as a necklace as a constant reminder. <insert Mr T meme here>. Tomorrow I begin the next chapter, IOP.
Thanks again for following along. Aside from treatment, I'm attending 2-3 weekly meetings (AA and SMART) but the more I am able to get thoughts, feelings, etc out into the ether, the more it helps me be a better me.