February 4, 2008, I made a call to a drug dealer; I was hopeless and wanted to die. I bought a large quantity of drugs and the plan was to kill myself. “If you come & follow our program, your life will be totally changed. Our plan builds upon the success of our current programming through scaling the model into additional areas and populations. Michael J. Rounds is the author of 10,000 Days Sober and an addiction recovery specialist at a correctional facility in Indiana. The approaching storm was forecast to hit as the equivalent of a Category 4 hurricane along Taiwan’s eastern coast on Thursday.

Not a Betrayal – an Affirmation of Life

At the outset, let’s be clear that there are no universally right answers. Each person needs to figure out the best approach to making a new life in recovery. Whether this involves compromise or complete cutting off from the past is a purely individual choice. It is also important to remember that choices can be changed. With new information, new goals, new friends, hope and courage, all things are possible.

1. It will take more courage for you to walk away from the past, but it is something that you absolutely have to be willing to do.
2. You may love and care for your spouse dearly, but still not be able to remain in the same house with them.
3. Having a stable job, having stable financial situation and helping us get back on track and building for future really helps.
4. At the outset, let’s be clear that there are no universally right answers.

Recalculating Your Life in Recovery

As individuals in recovery, we are fighting the same war. As someone who has been in recovery for nearly 30 years, I have discovered that there will be days when things do not go as planned. Perhaps your job is not going in the direction you had planned, and you did not get a promotion that you felt you deserved. The important thing is to not fall back into a life of addiction.

Community

Some of your old friends will undoubtedly be the people you used to hang out drinking and partying with. Some may be co-workers or your best friend from college or high school. You may have grown up with the person and can’t envision your life without him or her. But when continuing the association threatens to sabotage your sobriety, you really have only one choice and that is to put some distance between you.

There will always be times when there are issues at work, in a relationship, or life in general. However, none of this was worse than being in the nightmare of just going through life in a zombie-like state of active addiction. Many amazing things have happened to me since February 4, 2008; it was a day that changed my life forever. Today I am a father of two amazing boys, Ricky and Carson, whom I want to set a great example for. I decided to dedicate my life to helping men rebuild their lives. Having a recovery community to be part of is crucial in early sobriety.

Meet Rick DelValle, the founder of Rockland Recovery

If you are married to someone who continues to abuse alcohol or drugs, or has a Rockland Recovery process addiction, this can be a rather difficult situation. Again, you cannot compel your spouse or partner to get clean and sober. It is possible that over time, your spouse will see the changes in you and come to the decision that recovery is a viable option. At that time, it will be your turn to be fully supportive and encouraging of your spouse’s recovery efforts.

Even saying hello to a newcomer in the rooms of recovery is something that you can easily do. You may not feel like it, not at first, but give it time and a little practice and you’ll soon figure out that it doesn’t hurt you to be a little more outgoing and friendly. To the extent that you have common interests and likes, keep in mind that these may be just the right choices for friendship – as long as the feeling is mutual. The best part about cultivating new friends is that they will fill the void left by leaving your past behind.

We also work with local temp agencies, contractors and other employers. Engaging in service work brings a sense of purpose, personal growth, and builds relationships. It fosters empathy, makes a positive impact, and improves mental health. Ultimately, it strengthens communities and promotes compassion and altruism.

Naturally, this is an extremely personal and painful decision, not one that you’d make lightly. Get counseling to ensure that you’re making the right decision. Perhaps a coordinated family effort may convince your spouse that rehab is a better alternative. This could come in the form of an intervention, conducted by a professional interventionist.