“Suffering does not solve any problem mechanically as much as it reveals the constant problem that we are to ourselves, and opens up new spaces within us for learning and loving”
– Richard Rohr
Connecting With Others
Life is about connection. Human beings are social creatures. We are often at our best when we are sharing our experiences and working together toward a common goal, and with purpose. Our collaborative spirit thrives on connection with other human beings. When relationships end, which is inherently painful, we are left feeling the absence of that relationship. What we turn to, in order to cope with that loss, is critical to our emotional wellbeing. Many people will turn to what is most accessible, or the quickest fix, which often is not the healthiest choice. From personal experience, my favorite excuse to drink alcohol was when I felt a disconnect in my relationships. Alcohol became my comfort, my best friend, and my most intimate partner.
Alcohol Recovery Challenges
Through life’s challenges, we are presented with opportunities to either grow our spiritual ‘container’, if you will, or perhaps replace some of the items in it. The bulk of these moments occur when there is a severance of some form of human connection. After more than a decade of ignoring such opportunities, I realized my approach to ‘self-care’ had caused my relationships to become superficial. I had become spiritually bankrupt; disconnected from everyone who actually cared about me, dodging anyone who might be inclined hold me accountable. I began to consider the idea that my drinking was perhaps perpetuating my unfortunate life-circumstance. Yet, when I would put the alcohol down for a few days or weeks nothing really improved in my life. I was sober, but I was not working a program of recovery, nor did I know what one even looked like.
Spokane Falls Recovery Center
Recovery definitely entails abstinence from drugs and/or alcohol, but sobriety in itself is not the complete picture of recovery. At Spokane Falls Recovery Center, we believe that recovery is about restoring old relationships and building new, healthier ones than those of the past. Recovery is about reconnecting with the people, places, and things that have meaning in our lives. To recover from a substance use disorder through a substance abuse treatment program is to return as a willing participant in life, with all the good moments, bad moments, and everything in between.
By staying clean and sober, we are able to confront the hard times, and embrace the good times, with acceptance and grace; we are able to appreciate human connection, in all forms, without being mystified by it. Indeed, the opposite of addiction is connection. For more information about our alcohol rehab center at Spokane Falls Recovery, contact us at 844.962.2775.
Johann Hari is the author of two “New York Times” best-selling books: “Lost Connections” and “Chasing the Scream”. The following video of Hari was released the year after I got sober, and I remember feeling greatly moved by his take on addiction, especially as he shows his vulnerability near the end of the presentation.
