What else can happen during Early Recovery?
Others take on too much too early in recovery. This is a most common pitfall and the reason behind many a relapse. First Things First - One Day at a Time - Keep it Simple. These are the phrases to live by in recovery.

“People kept telling me to be patient - I don’t know why they said that - It was not possible for me to feel patient.

But I did wait - one minute at a time some days - and things eventually got better - They’re much better now.”

Issues of shame, guilt and remorse pull many back into addiction. Recovery teaches to not blame others and to take responsibility for your sobriety. But it does not say to blame or to beat up on your self. Self critical habits can rear up and pose a challenge to any recovery.

“Sometimes I think I want to feel badly.

I’ll find myself thinking about something that makes me feel horrible - but its like I’m pulled to keep it on my mind.

Maybe this is another way I set myself up to relapse.”

The SupportNet Affirmation Checklist is included in the Recovery Learning Series section of SupportNet. Keep in mind that we all talk to ourselves most of the time. Your self talk will affect how you feel, how you interact with others and how you experience your day.

You can talk yourself into feelings of sickness - of guilt, shame or self pity. Or you can talk to yourself in a way that is soothing to your mind and to your body. The choice is yours to make.

There are many pitfalls to early recovery. Jumping into a new relationship or job can rapidly distract anyone from their recovery. Another distraction is care taking - trying to help others before you are well in the habit of tending to your own needs and your own recovery.

SupportNet offers another section – Other Challenges and Choices – that continues discussion of the issues, obstacles and challenges that may arise in recovery from addiction.