Day 20
“Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.”
-Michael Jordon
Once you’ve been able to stop using and have put in those first few days and weeks of hard work, it would be self-defeating to start again! Even so, the fact is that many people who have quit go back to using months and even years after they’ve stopped.
There is not a safe length of time when you can say, you will never touch it again. Memories, events, and certain people will always be there to tempt you, even 20 years from now something can trigger that curiosity or thought of ‘what would it be like to get high again’ even if there is no intent or desire to use. Even though the strong cravings to use do go away there will sometimes be a longing for the past that might tempt you.
A return to using is likely to happen if you keep the idea somewhere in your mind that you will be able to use again one day. You may think that you will be able to go back and keep it under control.
You are only fooling yourself. The problem is that it’s almost impossible for a former or recovering user to go back and use recreationally. If you keep such hopes, you must remember that you would be taking on the whole weight of your old habit. To make sure that you keep up your success, you must be aware of this kind of trap.