Our addictions often bring along with them a host of other dangerous and destructive behaviors. Our addictions don’t function in isolation, meaning they are often part of a larger cycle of self-destructiveness and self-harm. Along with substance abuse, we often engage in reckless and risky behaviors that endanger us and put us in harm’s way. For example, we might drive drunk or have unsafe sex. We become stuck in the cycles of our addictions that are full of these other related behaviors, and they feed off of each other, worsening the problem as a whole. For many of us, it becomes a pattern of self-sabotage.
When we get help for our addictions, we must also address all of these other self-sabotaging behaviors. Let’s try to look for the underlying causes fueling them. Are we self-destructive because we have yet to heal from our traumatic experiences? Are we dealing with subconscious fears of inadequacy and unworthiness? Recovering from our addictions is about learning to abstain from our addictive substances and behaviors, but it’s also about learning unconditional self-love and self-acceptance.
When we don’t feel worthy or deserving of love, happiness, success, and whatever else we might want for ourselves, this can drive our tendency to self-sabotage. We self-destruct, sometimes in big and obvious ways, sometimes little by little, over many years. We choose relationships that are bad for us. We keep ourselves from reaching for our dreams. When we’re working towards our goals, we sabotage our progress. We think and talk about ourselves in unkind and self-deprecating ways. We’re quick to judge and criticize ourselves. We beat ourselves up rather than giving ourselves the encouragement we need to uplift ourselves.
Recovering from our addictions and mental health issues involves a series of very important decisions. We have to make certain choices, whether we want to continue down our path of self-sabotage, which can feel like the easier thing to do, or whether we will do the hard work of taking our healing into our own hands. We make the decision to admit that we have a problem. We decide to stop hiding our addiction from other people and to reach out for much needed help and support. We make the decision that we want to try to learn to love ourselves. We choose to stop the downward spiral of self-destruction.
We have many years of experience helping people recover successfully. We are totally committed to helping you reach your goals of recovery. At Bayview Recovery, you’ll receive the support and understanding you’ve been looking for. Call 888-570-7154 for more information.
