I have compiled the 7 deadly sins for people in addiction recovery. It is a list that I have compiled over a decade of teaching groups at my addiction centers. My list is not in any specific order like the 12 steps in AA or NA, but instead a list of challenges, hurdles, and obstacles that need to be addressed for a successful journey to sobriety and good health.
My 7 deadly sins in recovery are as follows:
- Believing that sobriety and healing are one in the same process.
- “Sobriety is instant, healing takes time”
- Unrealistic Expectations
- Expecting too much and expecting sobriety to solve all your problems
- Protecting your pride
- Letting pride get in the way of healing
- Unresolved past trauma/life events
- Past traumas/life events triggering mental health symptoms
- Lack of Support Systems
- Depend on a short list of supports systems in recovery
- “I got this”
- The three words that can give you a false sense of success
- Not working to balance your “Mind, Body, and Spirit”
- All three spheres are necessary to build a strong recovery state of mind.
I have written a full blog dedicated to, “Sobriety is instant, healing takes time” https://resolutionshealthcare.com/blog/sobriety-is-instant-healing-takes-time. Believing that sobriety and healing from past scars and mental health issues are one in the same is a critical error in thinking. This sin has taken down many people in recovery. The minute you put down a drink or drug you are entering sobriety. It hasn’t anything to do with healing what caused the addiction in the first place, yet most believe since they stopped their addiction they are beginning to heal. This is not the case, which leads to the next sin of, “Unrealistic Expectations”.
I have found through my groups and treatment centers that unrealistic expectations are one of the leading causes of relapse. Although expectations are basically unavoidable in our lives, those set by people in recovery tend to be unrealistic and thus unattainable. The result of unattainable expectations speaks for itself; let down. This let down leads to sadness, depression, anxiety that often leads to using substances to deal with the emotional letdown. Set your expectations to a minimum when starting your recovery.
The sin of pride is also listed on the 7 deadly sins in Christianity, but for us in the recovery teaching world, pride will get in the way of those addicts trying to address the issues that brought them to our rehab centers. My blog on this topic can elaborate more on this issue https://resolutionshealthcare.com/blog/pride. Pride has no place in recovery. It is a wall that needs to be transcended if you truly want to reach peace with your addictions, as well as other mental health issues.
When it comes to our past, the issues that remain unresolved become the goal(s) to address. Although we can’t change our past, we can change our beliefs and perspectives about it. For further elaboration on this issue please read my blog https://resolutionshealthcare.com/blog/we-are-the-product-of-our-past-resolved-and-unresolved-issues. This sin needs to be addressed if you want to sustain sobriety and resolve the issues that have fueled your addictions in the first place.
The next sin, regarding lack of support systems, is a matter of organization or management of your recovery. I have found that this sin is way too common in recovery. It’s just not enough to have one thing you depend on for support, yet too many people depend on meetings or loved ones to be enough to get them through challenges. You need to create a system of support around you. That means, not only at home, but at work and other places you frequent. It means drawing up a safety plan that can be shared with loved ones about who, what, and where your various support systems are located. It means truly being transparent with those surroundings.
The phrase “I got this” is one you should remove from your vocabulary. No one has “got it” regarding anything in life. The minute you think you have conquered something, is the moment you have lost it. I can’t tell you how many times I have heard clients use this phrase when graduating or saying goodbye to others in rehab. I know it is said with good intent, but it can also bestow a false confidence that takes more than a phrase to accomplish. Try using another phrase.
The final recovery sin of not working toward a balance of your mind, body, and spirit will be one of the most challenging of the seven. This triad is the area that needs to be worked and addressed while in recovery, as well as throughout your lives. It will take all three spheres working together to finally help you develop a healthier “state of mind” while in recovery. To learn more about this triad and how to work towards a good balance please read my blog expanding on this concept. https://resolutionshealthcare.com/blog/mind-body-spiritbalance.
So, these 7 deadly sins in recovery present major challenges to those trying to remain sober. This is especially true when returning from a rehab stay of 30, 60, or 90 days. To
handle the initial social re-engagement in a healthier manner, you need to be prepared. These 7 sins will help you do just that, prepare for what is coming and how to navigate through the early stages of recovery. I believe if you work on and practice the 7 areas I have outlined, you will give yourself a better chance to beat the demon of addiction. The 7 areas will also help you build a stronger self to face the challenges that life presents to us all. Good luck in your recovery and remember to focus on balance.
Mind, Body, Spirit…Balance!
Vinnie Strumolo, CEO, LMFT
