Watch out from "left field".

I know for me in my own life, it is very difficult when things don't mesh together. I'm talking about every day life struggles.  Perhaps "normy's" get through it easier, I'm not sure; perhaps the coping skills of a "non-addictive person/ normy" is more tolerant, has better life skills, has tools that are applied, I don't know!  Whatever the scientific gene is that they, "normy's" have, we or at least I- know, I don't have them! 


This is how it goes for an addict.  Lets just say I have been clean for seven years.  I'm doing everything right, meetings, Church, good support group, Family is good, money issues are back on track, in all general purposes, life is good, Then, something out of left field occurs.  Your best friend, of some 20 years, has just been found dead.  In a rehab facility hospital non-the-less. You then get news that your about to be laid-off, and your oldest daughter tells you she's pregnant. This all happens in the course of about 2-weeks. You make it through all this with the right help, family support, all crisis of "slipping" has been avoided, how; "who-knows". 


Then a few weeks later you find out that the nagging pinched nerve in your back needs surgery. It can't be avoided. You get through it, the surgery was successful. But out of left field comes this new problem, "prescription medication". Your life changes before you know it.  After some time passes, you look back, 10 years have gone by and your still on medication. You are still in pain, but you don't know why.  All I know is, I believe I need the medication. You convince yourself with the Doctor's help.  Little does anyone know, the usage has gotten way out of hand, and no-one needs that much medication.  After another failed marriage and the lose of everything once again. Rehab must again be the answer.  Again, you say, "what happened" how did this hit me, how did I not see this coming, how did I get so bad. 


These are the questions many of us ask ourselves, after the fact of course. The thing we need to watch out for is "everything" our attitude, or health, our surroundings/ environment, our friends, even our strengths and weaknesses.  Balance in life is so important when we are addicts. Even if we aren't addicts. There are going to be times when we least expect "satan will arrive" usually out of left field. There is no way to predict, or keep these events from happening.  But I believe, with balance in our lives, they will be easier to avoid.  Perhaps we may even be more prepared to recognize the demon before or at the time he appears.  


Good luck to you in establishing "balance" in your life, and making certain that history does not repeat itself.


Michael Angelo