The Greatness Within - Edition 11

Personal Opinion - Judging Others Recovery?

(The debatable argument that seems to never end) Here's my take...

Written By: Mike Gliem a.k.a. @Recovery Mike

Drug and alcohol addiction can be a difficult and personal journey, and we must acknowledge that recovery is not a one size fits all solution. Each person who seeks recovery has different needs, which require different approaches, and we must respect and support each other's individual paths without any judgments.

It is important to note that people should not judge others for the paths they choose toward recovery. Recovery is ultimately about bettering oneself and overcoming addiction to live a more fulfilling life. Whether it be implemented and/or continued through group meetings, individual therapy sessions, coaching, mentoring, holistic approaches, church, spirituality, service work (volunteering), medication management, or none or all of the above. Thankfully, there are so many different paths to recovery at our disposal. You see, what may work for one person may not work for another, and that is perfectly fine, because recovery starts with oneself we can make suggestions to others based only on our own personal experience. Giving suggestions does not mean they need to be accepted by others.

Whether you're a person in recovery or not, we must keep in mind that, ultimately we cannot, and should not try to force someone into a specific lane just because we "think" it's going to be the only one that could work for that individual, perhaps because it's simply what worked for us in our journey. Remember it is our journey, not someone else's. All we can do as humans are to offer and encourage different resources or avenues that are available. We cannot make the decision for them. Expecting or anticipating someone to take our specific suggestion is somewhat counter-productive as well. Even if another person agrees to try the one way that worked for you, doesn't necessarily mean that they would not benefit from more than that, or supplement that path with one or multiple others. We need to allow people to explore their options because as mentioned before, recovery is a personal journey, with no finish line in sight. It's a marathon, not a race.

Think about your job or career, or any skillset being learned for that matter. I'm sure your onboarding and/or training included multiple areas of different roles (whether used or not) in preparation to properly and effectively execute your tasks and job description successfully.

As people are coming into recovery or are recovery curious we should always simply try our best to plant seeds into an open mind. Offering these many proposals without having a predisposed personal opinionated outcome also shows other individuals that part of the recovery process is ultimately acceptance. And we need to be a good reflection of what acceptance truly means.

Also, in my opinion, for whatever that is worth, early recovery is more about "discovery" than "recovery". We're finding a whole new way of life as if an onion peeling away the layers of one's old self to find anew. This is NOT an easy task. It's emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual.

Also, notably is that as we grow into and further into our own personal recovery process, we evolve. There are some people who find one path, stick with that one and one only, and is all they may ever need. If you're anything like me, I'm constantly evolving, and changing, my environment changes, and life presents new responsibilities, and/or struggles. So I personally need to address them with the best fitting solutions that can be provided to me to "treat" my issues in real-time. Now with life changes, come personal change and most importantly growth, awareness, and development which continue to lead to me becoming the best version of myself, and that is one of my most important purposes in life, in all aspects.

Now, of course, one of the most debatable and controversial topics is medically assisted treatment and/or "maintenance/M.A.T.". The fact is at the end of the day is that over 106,000 people in America alone died from overdoses in the year 2021 (and still climbing). Approximately 70,000 of these involve synthetic opiates, other than methadone (primarily fentanyl). Unfortunately, there's still a stigma that surrounds whether or not people "think" using medication to assist someone to detox or stay off their drug of choice is or is not sober, clean, or even actually a type of recovery at all. Looking at numbers and statistics like that mentioned above, witnessing these deaths, and having close personal ties to many that passed, I personally (just my opinion) just want those struggling to live and make an attempt at bettering their way of life for themselves and their loved ones. If that's what it takes, then I refuse to look down upon that or to disagree or shame such an individual. When are we going to stop!? Who am I...or you to make that decision?

I've personally seen some people more productive, more spiritual, accepting and managing more responsibilities in their life, and genuinely more happy and joyous than some of those who frown upon M.A.T. That's not to say everyone, as I speak and write from personal experience only. I used two different forms of M.A.T. in past attempts at sobriety and sadly was not successful, but I know people who were.

See I, myself just didn't truly want recovery at the end of the day back then and decided to use other substances and/or alcohol as a replacement. I admittedly used it as a crutch, not an effective tool in my process or lack thereof. That was my personal fault, not the path I chose. I hadn't come to the realization, understanding, and conclusion internally that a complete behavior and mindset change must be present and equipped as well, not just medication alone, thinking my life was going to miraculously change overnight and I would be "cured". Obviously I was not educated enough on this route, to begin with, and continued the vicious cycle, or maybe subconsciously just didn't want to even bother listening, as I was just so far gone in that chapter of my life.

So to sum up the whole medically assisted treatment approach discussion (which is frankly getting old and causes more arguments and even prevents people from feeling worthy of recovery than anything at times). My personal answer and perspective are simple...DO YOU! By any means, PLEASE just live. I'd rather see you trying than dying.

It's always better to explore than to ignore, or dismiss. Your life may literally depend on it. Find your lane, or lanes, and do what YOU need to do to improve YOUR life.

Unity, acceptance, love, and understanding are crucial to supporting each other's recovery journeys, as well as our own. The more we can support and encourage one another than the stronger our individual and collective recoveries can become. There should be no division in a way of life based on unity (especially simple personal opinions). I need to embrace differences and individuality, accept and respect others' decisions, live and let live, and continue to pray for others to be given the guidance they need from above to help them find and maintain a solution fitting for them. That is what's in my control, that is ALL. Ultimtimatley we have to make our own choices and take our own steps in the direction we so choose and understand regardless there will be lessons along the way. Good and bad, up and down.

In conclusion, it is important to celebrate and support people's efforts to overcome addiction, no matter what path they choose. As we continue on our own journeys, we must remain open-minded and accepting of others, and never judge someone for their journey. Unity, acceptance, and zero judgment are the keys to a successful recovery community.

If this message helped you or may benefit someone you know, please share. Thank you so much for taking the time to read today!

Also, if you haven't yet read my book and you'd like to: Truth Be Told - The Story of an Addict Turned Advocate which is the unfiltered, raw, and real depths of my own personal testimony, story, and journey, it is available here:

https://www.amazon.com/TRUTH-BE-TOLD-Addict-Advocate/dp/B09QF9K6PJ/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Or, you can also direct message or email me for personalized signed author copies - [email protected] (Subject Line: Truth Be Told)

https://www.nextlevelmovement.org