You’re still deep in your addiction wanting to get to a good place, and you’re sitting with a group of friends or people you tend to use with. Let’s paint that picture. You’re on a couch sitting in your dirty apartment that is filled with used needles and empty bottles. Dishes are piling up; the fridge is empty because you spent your last few dollars on heroin and a bottle of whiskey. You can’t afford cable because you spend too much on your ever-increasing habit. You do, however, have a cell phone with unlimited music. You pick your favorite song, and start getting everything ready to shoot up. The moment comes where you inject the needle and plunge the heroin into your vein. You’ve reached the ultimate stage of euphoria and life is good again. You’re numb, nodding out, and listening to your favorite song. There are no thoughts going through your head, just the numbness of emotions and reality.
I’m sure there is more to this story that only a heroin user could imagine. However, you’re sober now and want to reach this psychedelic and euphoric state of mind. What can you do? The easiest option is to get high, but then you would relapse and be stuck in your addiction once again. What will get you to a good place again?
1. Create The Scene Of Your Good Place, And Paint Your Picture
What feels good for you now that you are sober? Is it being around great friends listening to a Led Zeppelin album? Is it being by yourself while watching the waves crash into the sand? Find your happy place, somewhere that makes you feel safe. Somewhere you can be with your thoughts, ideas, and creations.
2. Find The Right People To Share Your Good Place, Or Don’t
The people you once got high with are not the people you want to reach this sense of euphoria with. There will be too much reminiscing and gloating about the times you guys got high together. Find someone who enjoys some of the things you do. This could be a number of things, whether it’s the same type of music or enjoying a drive without conversations. You can also not find someone and enjoy the quiet by yourself. It’s important to learn how to be okay with the loud thoughts in your mind and discover how to be your own best friend.
3. Find A Hobby Or An Activity To Do In Your Good Place
This hobby could be watching TV, coloring, drawing, painting, completing a puzzle, playing a sport, or any other healthy avenue you can think of. The key word in this is healthy. As a former user, it’s too easy to substitute your once destructive and extreme habit with something else more socially acceptable, but still destructive and extreme (gambling, shopping, bodybuilding). While engaged in this new habit, your mind will be able to soar and escape reality.
Ultimately, find something and or someone to take your mind to that once happy place. Create your space, create the euphoria. Ride down a windy mountain road with your best friend, while listening to your favorite song and drinking your favorite coffee. These moments and memories will last a lifetime. It’s time to make new memories, new euphoric spots and continue on with life.
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Addiction Center