Recover Out Loud!

Recover out loud!  (National Recovery Month)

For many of my own years in recovery, I didn't tell to many people about it. My family and close friends knew, but, that was about it. In the last several years, following some recovery movements nationally, I have shifted my mindset of only telling certain people. I now recover out loud.

Now, mind you, I am not on the streets holding a sign with my entire story on it......wait, I guess I kind of did do that in 2017 and 2020.   I blogged, for the entire month of March of 2017 and again in 2020, my entire story.  I can remember deciding to do this. It was scary. Revealing my whole pathway through, and more importantly, out of active addiction and into a life in recovery. I have followed many of my fellow friends in recovery who have done the same. We are no longer hiding in the shadows.

See, here's the thing. What do we see on the news? We see active addiction. We see the latest superstar who has a substance use disorder running through their lives. We see the latest person being arrested for crimes that are directly related to a substance use disorder. We see the wreckage regularly in the media. THIS is what is talked about. But, what don't we see or hear about regularly?  Recovery! We don't hear from the nearly 25 million people who are living amazing lives in recovery. THIS is what we NEED to hear about more. When I started reading about a movement to tell how I changed my life for the better, and, to tell that to as many people as possible, I was all in.

There is a mis-conception from some who are involved in twelve step programs that this goes against the principle of anonymity. The reality is that if I were to go to an twelve step meeting I shouldn't share with anyone what was said in that meeting, or, who was there, but, no where does that preclude me as an individual to share my story and success in recovery to whoever I chose. Even the founder of AA, Bill Wilson, testified before congress! 

There is also what I see as the bigger issue with talking about our stories to the masses. The stigma. Because of how a substance use disorder is portrayed in the general public eye, talking about it carries stigma. We still, in the year 2023, with all the known science behind a substance use disorder being a diagnosable medical condition, we still say "it's their own fault" they have the addiction. There is a constant battle between one side believing it is a disease, and, the other side believing it is a choice. My view is this: Regardless of whether you believe it's a disease or a choice, with over 100,000 people dying a year, shouldn't we try to do something to help humans live rather than die? Families are literally being ripped apart by a condition that CAN be treated.  People can heal and families can be saved.  It IS possible. I am living proof. My wife is living proof. My son and his wife are living proof. 

Now, what is my suggestion for those in recovery who want to tell people about their amazing lives in recovery, but fear the kickback from those they tell?  I give you my personal experience. 

I have received massive amounts of positive feedback that tells me this is the right thing to do. I have taken phone calls, answered emails, text messages, im's, and more from people thanking me for being willing to put it all out there.  I have had family members tell me they have hope by hearing about my success in recovery. It fuels my fire. I see it happening with others too, it's not just me.  I have friends who are recovering out loud across our state and nation, and, it is working.

Imagine for a moment, if the 25 million people in recovery, were to recovery out loud.   This could dramatically change how we, as a society, view addiction and recovery.  If the general public could see the 25 million people in recovery and know where they were, and where they are now, that would be huge in helping people see the amazingly positive side of a substance use disorder.....Recovery! 

We are as large as contingent as the AARP. And guess what, they vote!  Imagine if we all recovered out loud and voted for policy change in the area of the mass incarceration for low level drug users who need treatment not jail. Imagine for a moment the change that could happen if we all came out of the shadows and spoke to the power of person in recovery!   That alone, could shift the mindset of many and would add more to our base to give rise to effective treatment and long term recovery support services. Because of this movement to recover out loud we have shifted the mindset of lawmakers who are able to effect policy change, which helps people find recovery. It is so much a powerful movement that I can't talk about it enough.  If you are person in recovery and you are enjoying the success of that recovery, tell people about it.  Tell you local city council, tell you state lawmakers, tell your congress people.  Tell as many people as will listen.

I have made the decision to continue to recovery out loud!  Speaking to the power of a person in recovery. 

Recovery works, lives change.  Period.