How Do You Feel When You Talk About Addiction?

What are the feelings experienced by people in Recovery when they suddenly find themselves engaged in a conversation about addiction?

These are some of the responses gathered from recovering addicts/alcoholics:

First and foremost, how one feels in talking about addiction depends to whom one is speaking, it depends on the situation and the context. “I am cautious when disclosing my own addiction to people I don’t know very well, but I don’t mind talking about addiction in general terms”. This is a sensible attitude, especially when talking to strangers or superficial acquaintances. Best not lead with the chin. Be aware of your boundaries. It is suggested not to disclose one’s personal information to just anybody, anytime, anywhere.

Some addicts/alcoholics feel lingering shame/guilt when discussing addiction. This gets better with time. Shame and guilt lessen as the sense of accomplishment in sustained Recovery grows stronger.

Many recovering addicts/alcoholics feel the need to speak up in discussions regarding addiction, especially when prejudice and ignorance surface. One of the most common misconceptions is that alcoholics/addicts are morally defective individuals who “choose” to abuse drugs and alcohol. One of the simplest and most effective responses to this is to repeat the tried-and-true adage that “addicts/alcoholics are not responsible for their disease, but they are responsible for their Recovery”. This statement seems to satisfy most “Earth people”. In a sense, they are reassured that we alcoholics/addicts are not making lame excuses, that we are taking responsibility at least at some level, and that we are not getting a “free ride” by feigning a disease, riding on the coattails of modern medicine.

Many recovering addicts/alcoholics feel there is a vast difference between conversing with a non-addict about addiction (in this case, one might wish to keep one’s guard up) and assisting an alcoholic/addict in need of help (in which case, one might consider self-disclosure). In the latter situation, we naturally feel empathy, and a desire to help others who are afflicted with the same illness as ours. I (the writer of this blog) personally feel tremendous gratitude for my Recovery and the people (and true friends) in my life who have made it possible. I want to give back a little, whenever and wherever possible. I feel enthusiastic and somewhat knowledgeable (as a consequence of my experiences) – maybe I can help someone else!

Those of us still in the health care field can relate to our addicted patients better than we ever could before Recovery and better than our non-addicted colleagues who are (with a few notable exceptions) breathtakingly ignorant of this condition and who unfortunately represent a majority of the medical and health-care profession.

It is precisely because of this that the best recommendation one can give to someone seeking Recovery is to get help from other alcoholics/addicts firmly rooted in many years of Recovery. If one’s car needs fixing, one goes to a mechanic; that’s where the knowledge is. Similarly, if one is seeking relief from addiction, one should go where the recovering alcoholics/addicts are. Nobody knows how to do Recovery better than they do. The mainstay of treatment is addicts/alcoholics helping addicts/alcoholics.

Talking about addiction can also open up the topic of mental health because addiction is often the presenting symptom of mental illness. In fact, one can even make the generalization that addiction is the perceived solution to mental illness. However, the real solution is to be found in Recovery.