Substance Abuse Recovery Means Living One Day at a Time

When I walked into my first substance abuse recovery meeting, "one day at a time" had no meaning to me. Because of my anxiety, I always thought days and even years in advance, future tripping and wanting alcohol to cope. I thought of never being able to have a drink ever again, and it terrified me. It wasn't until someone with multiple years of sobriety told me that all I had to do was live one day at a time that immediately, miraculously, I found a sense of relief.

I Can Stay Sober for One Day at a Time

When I tackled my early addiction recovery program, I thought of the many years that I could never have a drink again. This made me very depressed and anxious. Being a planner, I was very afraid of the unknown. I had to have a plan for what was happening at all times, and when it was going to happen. Before I started to go to meetings, I couldn't last more than three days without a drink. I discussed this during my first week of meetings and someone who had been in the program for awhile told me to focus on not drinking for the next 24 hours--take it one day at a time.

Before I started to go to meetings, I couldn't last more than three days without a drink. I discussed this during my first week of meetings and someone who had been in the program for awhile told me to focus on not drinking for the next 24 hours--take it one day at a time.

This concept was foreign to me, but I tried it. I focused on my sobriety one day at a time. I was amazed by how I felt. Some of my anxiety and depression lifted and I became more hopeful for the future. I stopped thinking of my alcoholism as a lifelong death sentence and started think on how I could get through 24 hours without having a drink.

As the months went by, the cravings became somewhat lifted and living one day at a time was getting easier. I am becoming more hopeful for the future by living only for today.

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