Your Story Rewritten
A New Chapter in Maintaining Sobriety
Dictionary.com defines “addiction” as the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming, as narcotics, to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma.
While the definition does cover some basic facts, the interpretation of the word lacks the infinitive movement of addiction. Addiction is not a fixed or stationary concept. It is a broad narrative that evolves over time. The addict’s story is often a mixture of multiple literary genres; horror, action and adventure, comedy, drama, mystery and tragedy – entangled together to compose a colorful and quite often, entertaining memoir.
“We tell ourselves stories in order to live” — Joan Didion
You may not think of stories as a basic survival need, but our brains require them to give structure and meaning to our lives. The stories we tell ourselves about our lives don’t just shape our personalities—they are our personalities, and this plays a large role in who we were in the past, who we are in the present and most importantly, who we can become in the future.
Unfortunately, the stories we tell are usually influenced by the stories we hear, and if you look to society for an example, you’ll see addiction glamorized, albeit discretely. The dangerous partying of the young, rich and famous makes the front page…the happy, laughing faces of models advertising any given brand of alcohol… Even shows that are meant to spread awareness and foster intervention are 90% focused on the addiction itself, leaving little time to highlight life after sobriety.
There is a big misconception when it comes to sobriety—that it is a dull and unremarkable ending to what was an exciting and entertaining story. Honestly, who wants to be the author a boring book? Quite frankly, no one…even if chaos, pain and instability may be the price you pay otherwise. Is it hard to imagine then, that so many people struggle with maintaining their sobriety?
The truth is, sobriety is not boring. It also is not simply the absence of substance abuse. Sobriety involves achieving stability through mental, physical and spiritual health. And trust me, pulling yourself out from the pits of Hell, saving yourself and others along the way, can make for one epic and exciting story.
Your story belongs to you, from beginning to end. The greatest part of writing a book is that it can always be changed. Even after a book has been published, it can be revised. Of course your story should include the truth, even the dark times of addiction—but don’t let it be a single story! You are more than your addiction. You can still feel the “high” of reckless abandon in a healthier, more responsible way while creating new, more meaningful chapters. Your story is still evolving, your past can be retold, and the rest…is still unwritten.
The role in timely intervention, motivating the individual with the problem to seek help and supporting that person throughout his or her efforts to maintain sobriety cannot and should not be underestimated. Please contact the caring staff at Privy Oasis, LLC today if you or a loved one is struggling with addiction. This month we are offering free screenings, so don’t let anymore time slip by—the sooner you reach out for an evaluation, the sooner your recovery can begin.
Always in Your Corner,
Taaka M. Cash
DNP, MPH, MSN, RN, FPMHNP-BC