Free Yourself From Addiction and Uncover Your Truth
You hear it all the time — “Find your truth!”
It’s emblazoned on encouraging Instagram posts, expounded upon in motivational books, talked about by inspirational speakers, and more. What does that actually mean, though? How are you supposed to find your truth?
It’s even harder to find your truth when you’re stuck in the cycle of addiction. I know I looked for all sorts of solutions as my addiction got worse and worse. I bought the bestselling books that swore they could help me outline a path to living as my authentic self. I listened to those motivational TED Talks that insisted success was mine if I could only wake up a couple of hours earlier.
Run a quick Google search and you’ll find hundreds of articles telling you how to find your truth. All you have to do is do some internal and external exploring to determine your core values, then take steps toward aligning yourself with that truth.
How can you do that when you’re still trapped by your drug and alcohol use, though?
When I was battling with addiction, the choices I made were all fueled by finding the next fix. I couldn’t determine what was important to me aside from staying in that euphoric state that drugs launched me into. There was no exploration happening outside of that.
Uncovering your truth is next to impossible when you’re still actively engaged in drug or alcohol addiction. Substances block you from uncovering your truth and stepping into your authentic self. And I know that’s the case because I couldn’t find myself until I freed myself from my addictions. Once I reached that place, though, I finally realized I could thrive.
Living the Lie of Addiction
Anyone who has experienced substance addiction, either personally or by watching a loved one, knows how complicated the condition is. Too many people think it’s as easy as “cutting back a bit” or “just quitting.” They point out that losing the power of choice doesn’t matter if you chose to start in the first place.
These misunderstandings, judgments, and harsh stigmas associated with addiction make it even harder to share your truth. Despite the incredible progress made in terms of addiction awareness during the last decade, there is still a long way to go. People fear losing friends, family, employment, and more when they come clean about their struggles with substances.
Most addicts perfect the art of living a lie. I developed a double life for years as my drug abuse got worse. There was the side of my life that I showed to loved ones and employers to make it seem like I had it together. Then there was the other side of my life that was quickly spiraling out of control, where substances reigned supreme in my world.
There was no possible way I could uncover my truth while I was still living in active addiction. I wanted to be the best person I could with everything I had in me but I couldn’t make my actions match those wants. Addiction is a strong persuader and a difficult disease to overcome.
Where the Treatment System Fails
The biggest problem I experienced when I tried to quit over the years was the way the treatment system failed me. I tried time and time again to stop using between the ages of 25 and 27. Every time I sought help from a physician or therapist, though, they were less than helpful in meeting my needs. I know I’m not the only one who’s been let down by the medical world, either.
The first time I asked my doctor about my substance use, even with the top-notch insurance I had, he said that rehab is for celebrities. I visited a therapist when my cocaine use progressed significantly but he suggested that I only needed to get out more, go skiing in Tahoe. I tried AA but couldn’t find a solution in the method they provided. Then the one time I did find a clinician who offered an approach that could work, the once-a-week sessions didn’t provide the level of support I needed.
If your pleas for help aren’t taken seriously, why would you continue asking for it? I stopped trying to quit and pushed on with the way things were going. The sense of denial that settled over me after those medical professionals rebuffed my concerns dragged me through another decade of destruction before I was finally ready to stop again.
Freeing Yourself From Substance Abuse
I couldn’t uncover my truth until I first freed myself from the grip of addiction. The malady had a tight hold on me and took over every aspect of my life. Most inspirational influencers touting the importance of finding your truth are talking to people who feel trapped in their mundane daily lives.
They aren’t considering the possibility that your view of the truth is marred by substances. Before you can take the critical journey of self-exploration to determine your values, you have to get over your alcohol and drug use. And if you’re anything like me it’s not going to be an easy process but I can promise you it’s going to be worth it.
Drugs and alcohol block you from achieving all that you are capable of becoming. Settling for the comforting haze that sets over when you’re high might be appealing but it’s preventing you from thriving.
I know there are things you want to do with your life that your addiction is holding you back from working toward. I know that’s the case because it was the case for me, too. I understand what it’s like to live with a condition that feels impossible to control no matter how hard you try. I also understand that it’s possible to conquer it when you reach the breaking point.
If you’re ready to uncover your truth by first addressing your addiction, I’m here to help you. I let myself break down and work through my struggles so I could turn around and help you do the same. You never need to feel alone in your fight against addiction as long as you’re willing to reach out.
Want to find out how I can help you? Connect with me today and let’s get started on helping you break free. Find me at emergerecovery.org
