The Dangers of Happiness for the Recovering Addict

Being happy is not a good position for a drug addict, because using drugs led to happiness. Feeling anything can lead to a relapse for the recovering addict. Happiness in a recovering addict will come from countless things: he or she finds a dream job, finds a love, or passes a class course with a 4.0. Perhaps the recovering addict never thought that happiness would lead to problems. Happiness will inevitably lead him or her to the type of thinking that destroys countless lives. The joy makes the addict wonder if success is possible with drugs, and if the same problems from before will disappear. The joy also makes the addict want to be even happier and stay that way.

Relapse is the nightmare of the recovering drug addict. He or she can dream of using drugs, see people using in countless places, and this makes it seem impossible for the addict to escape these thoughts. The dreams remind the addict of the joys in using drugs, and not all the pains the drugs caused. He or she may think these problems were just a fluke. The addict thinks using drugs successfully is possible, because the same bad things won't happen again. The fact is the common drug addict won't find this success. No matter how many drugs he or she uses the happiness will never come. The addict must be weary of associating happy thoughts with drug use because these can lead to relapse. He or she must also be weary of the happy emotions when thinking of drugs, because these lead to relapses.

"I can try just one because I am having a good day." This is what the drug addict says before a relapse. The addict expects change. He or she is happy, and decides to try using successfully. This is the danger of having feelings: the addict thinks too much, and the minds open. When the mind opens, and when an addict is happy, he or she must work twice as hard to remember all the problems that came as a result of our addictions. There are no successful drug users, and addicts should be reminded of these facts.

The drug addict is happy and, because an addict minds work differently, wants to stay on a cloud or reach one even higher up. When the drug thoughts reach his or her mind, there are a few choices: act upon the thoughts and use, or ask someone for help. The addict must be honest with the person who can help. "I am happy and don't want to use." This is what support groups like Narcotics Anonymous do; they help the addict sort out all the emotions. The addict cannot do this alone; the addict will need help.

There is no question that being happy is as dangerous as being sad. Perhaps the addict feels invincible when using, or found that escape from life. The addict needs to be vigilant in defeating this thinking. The mind was working when he or she used, and it works just as well when there is no drug use occurring. They say in Narcotics Anonymous that, while the addict is clean, his or her addiction is doing pushups in the mind. The addict needs to do pushups, too. Feelings need to be recognized, the addict asks for help, and never acts upon the first impulse to become even happier.