Sobriety is a Blood Sugar Content

Ever heard the phrase, “Sobriety is a Blood Alcohol Content. Recovery is spiritual content.”? Well, I propose “Sobriety is a blood sugar content. Recovery is spiritual content.” In other words, sobriety = abstaining from the drug “foods” and recovery = the deepest values and meanings by which people live.

Okay, but what am I getting at? The disease of addiction is the disease of addiction. Different people have different outlets. No matter the outlet, it is roughly only 10% of the problem. 40% of a person’s issues are related to living life on life’s terms. When we can’t do that, we may exhibit any number of the following symptoms: often angry at/afraid of authority, seek approval of others losing our identity in the process, make a good first impression but are unable to follow through, have difficulty accepting criticism, have addictive personalities, self-rejecting, self-alienated, immobilized by anger/frustration, rarely satisfied, usually lonely, chronic complaining, blame other’s for what is wrong in our life, feel unappreciated, feel don’t fit in, feel that no one is “there” for them, everything is a catastrophe, very concrete in thinking (black/white, my way or the highway), may live in the past and be fearful of the future, may have exaggerated fears of abandonment, fear failure and rejection so don’t try new things, obsessed with money/material possessions, have big dreams and little ability to make them happen, intolerant of illnesses (in themselves or others), intimidate subordinates, charm superiors, may believe rules don’t apply to them, adrenaline junkies, and/or hold emotional pain within and lose touch with feelings.

So what? As humans with a very robust survival ability, we are driven either toward pleasure or away from pain. This means these symptoms play out in any number of caricatures of self. Due to the emotional arrest at the age of first use (so for many of us bottle-fed babies…) or shortly thereafter, it means our emotional regulation system has not matured into healthy regulation. We may think we are right, and “they” are wrong. And we will defend our “rightness” anywhere and anytime we feel threatened. WHAT DOES THIS LOOK LIKE?

There are just about 20 (YES! 20!) myths that these symptoms create. In no special order they are:

Popular Me

Tyrant/Dictator

Playboy/Playgirl

Sexual God/Goddess

Beautiful Me

Barbie/Ken Doll

The Entertainer

Perfectionist

Perfect Host/Hostess

Sweetie Pie

People Pleaser

Rebel

Martyr

Caretaker

Dropout

Tomboy

Got More than You Have

Little Girl/Boy

Insignificant Me

Teacher/Counselor

In the coming blog posts I will go into depth with each one and explain how each one is advantageous and unhelpful as well. Stay Tuned!!!

Be sure to let me know in the comments which one you are the most excited to hear about!

Molly