As we’re working to recover, we need to understand the wounds that are at the root of our addictions. These wounds fuel our deep unhappiness and cause the many challenges we experience in our lives. Sometimes we tend to focus most on our problematic addictive symptoms without understanding the underlying causes. We focus on the relationship we have to our drug of choice and all the self-destructive ways in which we’ve been hurting ourselves. While these are all important things to address, we can sometimes forget to look deeper. After all, the present circumstances are a direct result of our past experiences. Often we are afraid to look at our deeply rooted wounds and fears. The emotional pain and discomfort surrounding them are difficult and uncomfortable to handle. The more we resist looking at our wounds, the more overpowering they become, the more power they have over us. We prevent ourselves from healing from them and remain stuck in patterns of self-sabotage. These harmful behaviors, especially our addiction, begin to control us since we have yet to resolve the underlying issues. Let’s look at some of the ways we can develop more understanding of the core wounds that contribute to our illness.
Examining the Source
Our core wounds are the major sources of mental and emotional distress that are impacting our lives. When we are afraid to address these wounds, they direct our behaviors, thoughts, and emotions, often without our knowledge. We unknowingly act out the pain of our past. Let’s ask ourselves where our pain originated. Is there a traumatic experience in your past you have yet to really confront? Were there particular incidents that caused emotional challenges for you? Sometimes a single loss can create years of grief, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Let’s examine the sources of our pain, rather than continuing to avoid them. Looking at our wounds can be hard, so we need to have compassion and love for ourselves. Remind yourself that you are strong enough to handle anything that comes up through introspection. We don’t have to let our emotions overpower us or drive us back to our addictions as a way to cope. We can reclaim our power and heal from our wounds.
Enlisting Support
As we’re healing, all of the residual emotions from our past can surface and threaten to overwhelm us. Let’s enlist support to help us through this process. Talking about these issues with therapists, sponsors, and recovery coaches can make the entire process more bearable. Develop a close relationship with a support group. Discuss the subjects with loved ones or friends in recovery who might be struggling with the same issues. When we seek support, we receive valuable guidance and insight on how to move forward. Our allies can help us process our feelings and remind us that we’re not alone with our pain. We don’t have to suffer alone. There are people around us who care about us and want to help. We often think that our pain makes us somehow unlovable or unworthy. That idea can fester and cause us to disconnect from the important people in our lives who can support us in our healing. Let’s shed the limiting beliefs that we aren’t lovable or worthy because of our pain. Opening ourselves to all the love and support around us can be a life-saving strategy. So, allow yourself to be comforted and encouraged by people who understand your struggles and offer a helping hand.
Being Patient and Loving with Ourselves
Sometimes when we’re facing our wounds for the first time, our instinct is to reject ourselves. We blame ourselves for the painful things that happened to us, even the traumatic experiences that aren’t our fault. We feel ashamed of ourselves and struggle to forgive ourselves for our mistakes and the harm we’ve caused. The more we reject and hate ourselves, the more we prevent ourselves from healing wounds that contribute to our addictive patterns. We continue to turn to our drugs of choice for comfort and solace. Try practicing compassion for yourself instead. Instead of rejecting yourself and wallowing in morbid reflection, treat yourself with patience and understanding. These wounds are very deep, and they can take years to heal, especially when we haven’t been conscious of them for so long. Burying them under our addictions for so long will add time to the process, as well. Recovery is a lifelong journey. The more kindness we can show ourselves, the quicker we can heal and enjoy our new lives.
For that extra bit of support to get you through the difficulties of sobriety, check out The Guest House Ocala. Our experience with addiction and recovery makes us uniquely equipped to be able to understand the struggles you’re experiencing. We’re here to help. Call 855-483-7800 today for more information on our treatment programs.