Developing a Drug-Free Lifestyle by Eliminating Distorted Thinking

When I look back on my active addiction, the biggest barrier to changing to a lifestyle of recovery was me. Years of self-abuse led to a pattern of negative thinking that was hard to overcome. Much of this negative thinking was centered on distorted thinking patterns that had been formed as a result of experiences I had growing up.

How Distorted Thinking Patterns Lead to Negative Behaviors

This distorted thinking resulted in a pattern of maladjusted behaviors. People pleasing, lying, and isolation were typical ways that I made my way through the world. These behaviors actually began before I even picked up the first drug. I do believe that for most addicts that addiction begins this way.

This distorted thinking became even more pronounced after I experienced my first psychotic episode and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. There were times when my perception of reality was terribly flawed. It was during these times that I was most vulnerable. Unable to discern truth from fact, I could not envision a life beyond my dual diagnosis.

The Breakthrough

It took many years of intensive therapy, hospitalizations, and self-introspection until I was able to come to the realization that I was, in many ways, my own worst enemy. For so long I had been unable to see how sick I really was. Finally, I became willing to surrender and allow the process of recovery to take hold. This was no easy task. I had to let go of the toxic people in my life and change how I looked at the world.

It was through this process that I also learned that how I perceived the world was reflected in my attitude. Whenever I looked at the world through a negative lens, I also would tend to have a pessimistic outlook. In the words of Winston Churchill, “Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.”

Even now, although I am fortunate to have been clean for nearly 25 years I still can fall prey to having a negative attitude. When this occurs, I have to check myself and perform the necessary adjustments to bring my attitude into a proper alignment. I do believe that the old cliché about looking at the glass half empty or half full can make a big difference in recovery.

So whether you are trying to get clean or even have been able to put a few 24 hours together, having a positive attitude can make a huge difference in how you are able to manage your recovery.