We found that we do not recover physically, mentally, or spiritually overnight.
Basic Text, p. 28
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Have you ever approached a recovery celebration with the feeling that you should be further along in your recovery than you are? Maybe you have listened to newcomers sharing in meetings, members with much less clean time, and thought, But Im just barely beginning to understand what theyre talking about!
Its odd that we should come into recovery thinking that we will feel wonderful right away or no longer have any difficulty handling lifes twists and turns. We expect our physical problems to correct themselves, our thinking to become rational, and a fully developed spiritual life to manifest itself overnight. We forget that we spent years abusing our bodies, numbing our minds, and suppressing our awareness of a Higher Power. We cannot undo the damage in a day. We can, however, apply the next step, go to the next meeting, help the next newcomer. We heal and recover bit by bitnot overnight, but over time.
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Just for today: My body will heal a little, my mind will become a little clearer, and my relationship with my Higher Power will strengthen.
Recovery does indeed take time! Once I stopped using, my body started to heal and the obsession to use drugs faded away. But I still had a long way to go with my mental and spiritual recovery. I have found that I get better mentally and spiritually by working the steps.
