Worth The Effort –
August 2, 2019 – Once sober, we begin to feel our emotions clearly for the first time in a long time. These emotions have been bottled up for so long inside of our psyche that they almost seem to implode on us; the smallest inconvenience can appear apocalyptic. A recovering addict may be triggered and tempted to relapse by the sudden reappearance of the feelings they were attempting to numb in the first place. This is why working through trauma is vital in order to live a peaceful and sober life.
As a recovered addict myself, I found it extremely hard in the beginning of my sobriety because I had not learned how to process my thoughts and emotions in a healthy manner. I remember having outbursts of anger and guilt with no idea how to respond. I felt like I was losing my mind, when in reality I was simply learning how to process emotions normally and regaining my sanity. This phenomenon led me to talk to my therapist, who explained to me that my constant inappropriate emotional responses were a direct result of unresolved trauma. We addressed the traumatic events of my life, dating all the way back to my childhood. Recalling the things that happened to me brought up a lot of emotions that I didn’t even know existed. I worked on coping mechanisms like meditation, breathing exercises, and simply talking about my feeling with someone I trusted.
