Before moving forward, youll need to accept responsibility for any collateral damage you caused in the past. It might have been in the form of people you harmed or laws that you broke, all actions driven by your addictive behaviors. No matter what collateral damage you left in your path, youll need to confront these damages head-on.

Why?

Guilt is a powerful beast. If left undisturbed, it can completely consume a recovering substance use sufferer whos already dealing with an influx of complex emotions. Though a seemingly normal and productive human emotion, for substance use sufferers, guilt can trigger devastating relapses.

With these life-altering consequences in mind, youll have to eliminate the guilt. To do so, youll need to forgive yourself for past transgressions so that you can move forward with a clear conscience. While challenging, this step is non-negotiable.

In most cases, the path to clearing guilt is making amends. As mentioned previously, apologizing and making amends arent synonymous. Apologizing in the act of recognizing and admitting you did something wrong. Making amends is about righting the wrongs whenever possible. Consider these distinctions when initiating your sobriety journey.

Making amends isnt always a comfortable or easy thing to do. However, its a great alternative to dealing with thesigns of alcoholismor drug addiction that you exhibited while using.

Making amends can take many forms. You might be able to make some amends by paying back the money you borrowed in the past. Making amends might involve simple gestures like making yourself available to help someone you hurt in the past. If you dedicate enough time and energy, you can almost always brainstorm new ways to make amends with your loved ones.

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Why Making Amends Is an Important Part of Addiction Recovery - Longevity LIVE