Pure Food Life

Relapse and Recovery: Everyone’s Addiction

When in recovery for an addiction, the afflicted person stands in the middle of a swinging pendulum. On the left side there is the addiction while on the right side there is recovery (full freedom). Throughout time we swing with the ball of the pendulum to both ends. This is partially due to the seductiveness of each side, because every story has its other side. On the one hand, the disordered side is older, safer, familiar and secure, although at the same time it isfull of heart ache and consequences. While the recovered side allures us with images of freedom and normalcy, But at the same time is full of battles and unfamiliarity. So while both the addiction and the release from that addiction have their attractions, we don’t know which ones to go to so we go back and forth. Along with the attraction of each end there are the major factors that compel us to move away from one end to the other, and back again. For example, a recovered woman’s friend dies and she deals with her pain by submitting herself into the blinding hands of her old eating disorder but then after realizing that she more worse for the wear she will begin to swing back over to the side of recovery… three years later, another death, another swing.

     We make our choices based on our point of reference, as our points of reference change so do the decisions we make. Therefore when you look at your current position in the pendulum of life, it helps to keep the big picture in mind. More specifically I mean that if you are swinging back to one end or the other, don’t get motion sickness from the ride… don’t get caught up in the fact that you are swinging. Instead look at why you are swinging and realize that you are swinging less now that you were before, and that with each swing you are one ride closer to you final destination.. on the right side of your pendulum. So weather you are an alcoholic, drug abuser, eating disordered, or are just a person trying to transition over to this lifestyle. Look at the bigger picture, all the swings and their patterns and not only the one that your riding right now. And know that with every swing and bounce that you are getting closer to standing still on the side that is right.