Just Stop Using [They said]

May 14, 2019

“Ask not why the addiction, but why the pain?” – Gabor Mate

I know many I have hurt (or confused) continue to grapple with the question of “why?”

Why would I continue to use a substance that not only brought great harm to myself but to those who loved me as well.

Why would I even start?

It’s as simple as this – guided by my council of idiots in my head I believed I was doing no harm. I was just having fun. And in the beginning it was fun.

But then the addiction took over.

When I was short on cash the choice was to either steal money or sell drugs. I chose the one I believed to be less harmful. Never once did the thought cross my mind to stop using – that would come, but by then it was too late.

When my waist size dropped from 42 to 38 to 36 to 34 to 32 my council of idiots voted me sexiest man of the year. “Sign up now! The Tina Turner Diet will work for you in just 30 days,” my brain said. (Meth is also known as Tina).

Did I decide to stop using?

No, I decided creating illnesses to explain the dramatic weight loss was the rational thing to do. To keep it simple – a lie was easier to tell than face the truth.

I was addicted. I was hurt and I didn’t know how to fix it.

I had no control and I was powerless to stop.

To many, this may seem foreign, if you want to stop, stop, but for the diseased brain this simply is not an option nor possible – until I first acknowledged I had a problem, second, accepted I had a problem, and third asked for help.

I hope that helps. And if it doesn’t, please allow me to show you over the next few months and years.

Guide Me In My Recovery

May 14, 2019

I’m sending these thoughts out to my spirit guide because I want to heal my soul.

I ask for forgiveness, strength, courage, and love.

I am willing to do anything for this.

My fears include death, being alone, losing my parents, and hurting those who love me again.

My hope is to enjoy life on a mental, physical, and spiritual level.

I am grateful for having this second chance at life.

Asking for Help

May 15, 2019

I have requested to stay longer [at Homewood]. My addictions councillor will support my request to stay longer.

My family deserves a Chris well on the road to recovery as I do, so in my view additional time here is a good investment in myself.

On a positive note (both are positive in my opinion) I have been granted a weekend pass to go home to Windsor.

Yay!

Mistakes Are Opportunities

May 14, 2019

Mistakes are an important part of being human, and for me, now as my awareness grows, they are my best teachers.

I have, however, feared making mistakes and this limited my growth. Mistakes for me were evidence that I was somehow less than everyone else.

This could be detrimental to my recovery.

As long as I learn from my mistakes and do not repeat them, mistakes are a sign of strength and demonstrate a willingness to take risks and grow. Mistakes are not tragedies so long as I learn from them.

Just for today I will not be afraid to make mistakes – they are a learning opportunity.

Amends

May 10, 2019

Making amends is more than saying I’m sorry for the hurt and destruction I’ve caused.

Making amends is action-based and one of these actions is being aware of my character defects with a readiness to let go of them.

Just for today I will be more aware of my shortcomings with a readiness to turn them over to my higher power so that I may continue to grow spiritually.

Freedom and Peace

May 9, 2019

I will not hurt you.
The time has come to lay down your arms.
Take my hand and trust, I know …
Step out of the dark and into the light, my hand in yours, yours in mine.
Step into the light where I have always been.
Waiting with tears in my eyes,
and love in my heart.
Welcome home.

Why I Recover Out Loud

May 9, 2109

26 days clean and 23 days smoke free!!

Some are perplexed why I am being so public about so many of the details during my active addiction and recovery.

Writing provides clarity and provides keys to locked places inside of me.

Writing helps me be more honest with myself and I hold myself accountable to all of you.

The more who know my story, the more difficult it is for my addict mind and perhap one day my writings will help one struggling addict stay or become clean.

I can only keep what I am willing to give away.

One of the ways I can search for truth in recovery is to write.

Never Alone

May 8, 2019

Very intense day today in group.

A young man begins breaking down after a woman shares her story.

I start breaking down seeing these two people break down because I hear some of my story from both.

Typical me, fight or flight mode kicks in and I prepare to bolt.

My addictions councilor literally jumps in front of me preventing my great escape from the group and says, “You can relate. Go to him, he needs you”.

Every muscle in my body wanted to go the other way, but you know what? I went to him, and a peace fell over him.

I am so grateful for my councillor.

I’ve always feared intimacy with another man. This pushed me outside of my comfort zone and through our shared pain were able to help each other.

Using Dreams

May 8, 2019

Trying to be positive and remind myself of how far I’ve come.

But last night, I had a “using” dream and woke up this morning wanting to use.

These dreams are so vivid.

So real.

So real in fact the injection sites on my arms hurt.

I hate this.

Addiction is awful.

This is what happened before my last relapse and it scares the fuck out of me.

But I am stronger than I was.

I will not relapse.

I will persevere.

I have to.

There is no other option.