Early remission is challenging, no doubt! You figure everyone is going to love you now. There’s usually an angry stage during the process though and it’s jammed packed with misguided anger. A very special person in my life helped me understand. Thank you, Dennis, for that gift you gave me 20 years ago. I’m sure you’re at the pearly gates of heaven, my friend.
I was new to recovery and my friend was several months ahead of me. We were attending a meeting together and I was all upset over something, or so I thought. My friend asked me a simple question: “You know what your really upset about?” I responded in a snippy wise ass manner: “No, tell me, what am I really upset about?” What he said next floored me: “You’re upset because you can’t drink.” It was so true. I had reached a point where I knew drinking alcohol was no longer an option and it was pissing me off. I had learned to cope with life’s challenges by using alcohol to self-medicate. Now I needed to find healthier coping strategies.
I come across this often with clients in early remission. If it sounds plausible, be it heroin or alcohol, take my friend’s gift and ask yourself the same question. Redirect your misguided anger to where it belongs.