Addiction: Why can’t I forgive myself?
Recovering addicts are disturbed by memories. Although they are now sober, memories of the consequences of their addiction arise as uninvited guests.
These memories cause intense shame and guilt. Many addicts tell me they won’t be fully recovered until they can forgive themselves. I presume this means that the memories will fade, or they will no longer produce feelings of shame and worthlessness.
This post will consider three solutions to the problem of painful memories.
What can make me stop drugs and alcohol?
Most recovery programs use pain and consequences to improve a person’s motivation to quit using drugs and alcohol. Pain and consequences come in many varieties. There are legal pain and consequences, health pain and consequences, and relationship pain and consequences. School and work can also deliver pain and consequences. Even Religion threatens its own set of pain and consequences.
But, I want to suggest that mercy and grace are more effective motivators.
A simple test: Am I drinking too much?
A simple, interactive test can tell you if your drinking is risky to your health.
