The Benefits of Being Sad While Recovering from Drug Addiction

Jacob Malewitz
Drug addicts fear any emotions that makes the addicts desire using drugs. Often, they want the same thing when using as when not using; they do not want to feel anything. Addicts use to mask perceived hurts, or joy they don't feel they deserve. One emotion that is beneficial is sadness. Sadness does not have to be a dangerous emotion for them. Feeling sad signals a return to humanity. Feeling is a key part of being human. The addicts need return to experiencing sadness as well as happiness. It is important for them to find good in bad, instead of masking these emotions by getting high. Sadness has pluses for recovering addicts because it permits the onset of thoughts and experiences. Drug addicts approach a point where using to mask emotion is not necessary.

When drug addicts attempt to get clean, the addicts fear emotions. They typically use over being happy, sad, or somewhere in the middle. Sadness isn't a dangerous emotion for them. These emotions must be felt at some point. The addicts should be grateful that instead of smoking or injecting drugs to deal with emotions, the addicts are experiencing them. They can cry again. They can mourn again. Life is being lived, and it is about dealing with pain.

Drug addicts don't have to use over emotions anymore. Emotions can actually be quite enjoyable, even the sad ones, because these remind the addicts of their humanity. For example, addicts might cry after losing jobs, or cry when someone close dies. The addicts are actually going through these parts of their lives. They are not escaping into drugs; they are feeling. Now, drugs are not the answer. The addicts discover emotions again.

The drug addicts feel the emotions. Perhaps the addicst never cried over drugs; but the addicts had cried over the pain they caused. Experiencing a real point of sadness, whether it is a lost job or a loss in the family, is something addicts can miss. Letting out feelings is important to the addicted.

Recovering drug addicts who express sadness are also demonstrating progress. They need to start recognizing these improvements. When addicts can cry over pain instead of using drugs like cocaine and marijuana, the addicts are becoming a regular people again. They are back to normal lives of sorts. The addicts keep discovering these emotions, and should express them.

Published by Jacob Malewitz

I have written over 600 articles for newspapers and online publications. I am the author of the ebook The Writer Who Smiles, available here: booklocker.com/books/3288.html My new blog can be found at Cof...  View profile

  • Addicts are use to avoiding their emotions
  • Sometimes, sadness can lead to happiness
  • Drug addicts must learn to cope with regular emotions daily

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