Homepage

Program Info

Program Costs

Articles & Info

Location

Addiction Test

Events

Links

FAQ'S

Search

Road to Recovery

Mistaken Belief #1

Mistaken Belief #2

Mistaken Belief #3

Mistaken Belief #4

Mistaken Belief #5

Mistaken Belief #6

Mistaken Belief #7

Mistaken Belief #8

Mistaken Belief #9

Mistaken Belief #10

Mistaken Belief #11

Mistaken Belief #12

Mistaken Belief #13

Mistaken Belief #14

Mistaken Belief #15

Mistaken Belief #16

Mistaken Belief #17

 By: Terry Gorski with additions by: Lee Jamison

A MISTAKEN BELIEF IS SOMETHING THAT YOU BELIEVE TO BE TRUE AND ACT AS IF IT WERE TRUE WHEN, IN FACT, IT IS FALSE.

Mistaken Belief #16: Once you begin using it is impossible for you to interrupt your use before you have "hit bottom" again.

Fact: The reality of addictive use in a person who has never been addicted is this: Once you use addictively you can never be sure of what is going to happen if you use ever again. This is the nature of loss of control. Once addicted persons begin using, their lives are in danger.

Controlled drinking/using is not possible for a previously addicted person and taking a drink or using a drug is always life threatening. But using addictively on one occasion does not mean that you are condemned to use until you destroy your life totally.

Many alcoholics and addicts inadvertently program themselves for destructive use episodes. They continue drinking or using because they have come to believe that there is no way to stop once they have started. They continue drinking or using until serious damage – perhaps even death – occurs.

A much healthier position to take on the issue of “use episodes” is to realize that if you ever return to addictive use, you will have periodic “moments of sanity.” These moments of sanity may be brief, fleeting periods where you regain control of your thinking, your emotions, your memory, and your behavior and judgement. You are able to see what is happening and you have a few moments in which to take positive action. You will not be able to stop by yourself. You will need help. Taking action is not “making up your mind.” Your mind is affected by chemicals. You must get help. There is always an option other than suicide, going crazy or using addictively. There is the option of getting treatment or other help.

Many recovering people believe that it is better to be dead than drink or stoned again. They believe this so strongly that if they begin using again, they see no way out except drinking, using or death. And many do choose suicide. The suicide rate among sober alcoholics is higher than among the general population. They choose to die rather than drink or use. How sad that they are not aware that other alternatives exist.

Remember, once you begin using addictively you can never be certain what is going to happen. The odds are ninety-nine to one against your ability to drink or use moderately and safely. If you do begin to use addictively as a result of poor judgement or loss of control you will hit periodic moments of sanity. It is your responsibility to yourself and those whom you love to get help to interrupt your “episode of use” during these moments of sanity.