Tag: early recovery

Becoming aware of growth – conscious competence!


I was reminded this week of the stage of learning a new skill or changing an old habit:

1. Unconscious incompetence — I’m not aware of the situation – either the possibility of growth, the area of need, or the new perspective. It’s the “I don’t know what I don’t know.”

2. Conscious incompetence — I become aware of the situation.  I start to learn a new skill, or become aware of an area of my life that needs to change, or begin to see things differently.  My instinct is still to fall back on my old way of doing things – it’s hard to teach an old dog new tricks. I feel very incompetent.

3. Conscious competence — I gain confidence and experience in the skill or new habit.  I am able to do or see things the “new way” — but I’m still very aware of the change.  I might still have to think or talk my way through things, but I’m able to consistently “perform the new trick.”

4. Unconscious competence — The new skill or perspective or way of life becomes so second nature that I forget I’m doing it!  In one respect, I’m back to “I don’t know what I don’t know” but only because it has become the new default – the natural reaction – the “new pair of glasses.”

The reason I like being reminded of this learning dynamic is when I’m in between the second and third step life can be frustrating, particularly for this perfectionist addict who is comfortable in some old patterns.  The “problem” is I’m now aware of the situation and want change…but oft times will still fall back into my normal way of thinking.  But, like learning to drive a car, I find comfort in knowing that the teen-age like awkwardness of jumping the clutch and having to mentally go through my checklist as I pull out of an intersection or start the car eventually becomes second nature.  I drive today without even thinking about it – and yet I know that if you had asked me on day three of my student driving class if I ever thought I’d get this driving thing down pat, I would have burst into tears!

 

This week, I became aware of how my reaction to situations and the actions I take in certain ones is become more conscious competence than not. I’m present enough and aware of myself that I’m able to recognize the inherent powerlessness in a situation, and “work some steps” on a situation rather than try to fix, manage and control it.  I am able to see and catch my competitive tendencies before I act on them, choosing instead to connect, to be happy, to be helpful.  I still have to walk, think or pray my way through.  But, to be aware of the growth in myself was invigorating. It was like having an outside of body experience – being able to step away and observe the situations that came up and realize that the person I was watching was different from the person from my past.  I am growing, learning, adapting, transforming.  And, I like what I see!

I’m far from unconscious competence!  And in some situations or for some things, I may always be at the level of conscious competence. In one sense, it keeps my present, connected and aware of my powerlessness when I’m in that state. But, I have hope that like driving, I will someday have a new set of instincts and reactions which will be second nature…simply a part of who I am…or in fact, present because that is who I am.  I will have just unlearned the coping skills or removed the masks, connected with my true self and allowed that man to step out of his shell.

For the awareness, I’m grateful.

For the growth, I’m grateful.

For today, I’m grateful.

 

 

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Am I Wired Differently? Am I Really? Two words remind me…


We know well the two things that make up true addiction: obsession and compulsion. Obsession—that fixed idea that takes us back time and time again to our particular drug, or some substitute, to recapture the ease and comfort we once knew. Compulsion—once having started the process with one fix, one pill, or one drink we cannot stop through our own power of will. Because of our physical sensitivity to drugs, we are completely in the grip of a destructive power greater than ourselves.

The physical aspect of our disease is the compulsive use of drugs: the inability to stop using once we have started. The mental aspect of our disease is the obsession, or overpowering desire to use, even when we are destroying our lives.

NA Basic Text

After my initial arrest and sentencing to probation for illegal possession, I found myself in a relapse last year which resulted in six months of house arrest for probation violation.  A friend asked me, “Didn’t you know the legal consequences of doing illegal drugs?” When I answered yes, she couldn’t understand why — knowing that — I would continue to use.  That’s when it first really sunk in for me and I understood that I am really wired differently.

The mental obsession, the physical compulsion…non-addicts just don’t have it.

Around the time of my last hearing for my probation violation, a friend who is not in recovery said something to the effect of, “It’s just eight more months. Wait this out and get on the other side of probation clean without any other violations. Heck, at that point if you want to have the biggest using party go ahead – just don’t do it while you’re on probation.” While I know that is ludicrous and goes against every grain of my recovery and self-awareness, that comment hasn’t left my mind in over two months!  I don’t think of it daily – but probably at least a couple of times a month it’s come back to me. I know that wasn’t his intention – and this isn’t about everyone becoming P.C. and having to censor/watch what they say around me. It’s my addiction, my responsibility for recovery. However, that it’s engraved in my mind is another sign of the mental obsession.

I’m wired differently.

Then today, out of the blue – after almost five months of no contact – I get a text from an unknown number. It’s clearly my former dealer. Pushing his wares. I was in the middle of a meeting a church when the text came in.  And I had to fight for the rest of the meeting to stay focused. I could feel a slight ‘rush’ in my system when I read the text and figured out what it was about. As I walked home, I told myself to delete the text and number right away. But, this addict mind hesitated…played out a couple of scenarios of how I might be able to grab something, use it in a controlled fashion, slip under the radar screen of probation. Really?  Wow, I’m wired differently. Then, I applied the tools of my recovery – the ones I failed to apply when I relapsed last year. I played the tape through and reminded myself how ugly things had gotten. I replied, “Please delete my number and do not contact me again.”  I prayed. I called my sponsor. I had a message from another addict (who called during the same meeting) who was in need of help – I called him back. I will share it with other addicts throughout this week to keep me honest.  I am even writing this to keep me honest in a way and remind me that yes – it’s a real battle out there. But, if I apply 100% of the tools I’ve learned, 100% of the time – if I rely on my Higher Power because ultimately it’s not my strength that gets me through – if I’m vigilant in working this simple program on a daily basis – then yes – just for today, I can stay clean and sober.

Am I wired differently?

Absolutely.

Am I a victim of that situation?

Absolutely not!

Will you be my used car salesman?


I was talking to my therapist today about how I’ve been disappointed recently with some people in my life. Several people have either said or done things that were not what I was expecting from friends – they let me down. I have been feeling sad, frustrated and sometimes angry.

I’m sad because I feel like I need to cut my losses with a couple people in my life because of their actions, so I’m ending a relationship.  Grieve and replace.

I feel angry because I think they violated a “boundary” or expectation I have around how friends behave.

That’s where I got my lesson in used cars.

“People often mistake being friendly with being friends,” my therapist pointed out to me. “That’s particularly challenging when someone like yourself is rebuilding friendships and relearning what it takes to be a friend and to have friends.” He then proceeded to describe a used car salesman — friendly as can be, “has your best interest at heart,” is willing to “go to any length” to get you the best deal.  He asks me about my dogs, my family, my birthday, my favorite coffee at Starbucks.  But, as my therapist points out, “you know he and the sales manager are figuring out how much they can get out of you.” And, do I ever hear from the guy again?  Nope…unless I need a new car.

“So don’t mistake being friendly, respectful and helpful with someone who is willing or able to be your friend.”

I can see this pattern even in how I perceive people to be around me in recovery. I go to 12 step meetings and everyone is friendly, supportive, helpful. I start to think (and I know I do!) – wow, everyone in here is my new-found friend – bringing with that certain expectations about how friends interact.  It’s a pattern in how I relate to people at work, or as far back as my “Christian cult days” in Ann Arbor, MI.  I have such a deep void right now in my life as I rebuild and relearn who I am, that I’m anxious to connect and make friends. Then when these “new-found friends” lash out at me, or don’t respond to a request for assistance with a project, or don’t include me in social events I get sad, frustrated and angry.

But have they really violated a boundary or reasonable expectation?  Or, am I perceiving our level of “friendship” as more than it really is – and therefore having unrealistic expectations?  This doesn’t question their sincerity or authenticity in the rooms – or in business, or wherever I might run into friendliness and misinterpret it for friends. Perhaps the used car salesman analogy falls apart here — my apologies to any used car salesmen for the stereotype 🙂  I do believe the folks around me are helpful, friendly, supportive and nice. But, that a friend does not make – perhaps, so I’m being told. And since I do trust my therapist, I’m staying open-minded, willing to take this as a lesson in life and a lesson in my recovery as an addict.

What are my expectations of certain individuals?

And how do I grow in my understanding and ability to discern between acquaintances, friends and confidants?

As my sponsor would encourage me, start with some definitions!  So, I’ll end here – grab my dictionary (or wikipedia!)- and cuddle up with my dogs for some unconditional love. Because with them, there are no unrealistic expectations — it’s unconditional love 24 hours a day.  That and eat, sleep, poop.  Not a bad life 😉

From Wikipedia on the Value of Friendships:

Value that is found in friendships is often the result of a friend demonstrating the following on a consistent basis:

  • The tendency to desire what is best for the other
  • Sympathy and empathy
  • Honesty, perhaps in situations where it may be difficult for others to speak the truth, especially in terms of pointing out the perceived faults of one’s counterpart
  • Mutual understanding and compassion
  • Trust in one another (able to express feelings – including in relation to the other’s actions – without the fear of being judged); able to go to each other for emotional support
  • Positive reciprocity – a relationship is based on equal give and take between the two parties.

 

From Wikipedia on Types of Friendships:

Acquaintance: a friend, but sharing of emotional ties isn’t present. An example would be a coworker with whom you enjoy eating lunch or having coffee, but would not look to for emotional support. Many “friends” that appear on social networking sites are generally acquaintances in real life.

Best friend (or the closest friend): A person with whom someone shares extremely strong interpersonal ties with as a friend.

BFF (“best friend forever”): Slang used primarily in the USA by teenage and young adult women to describe a girl friend or close best friend.

Blood brother or blood sister: Either people related by birth, or a circle of friends who swear loyalty by mingling the blood of each member together.

Bro: Slang used primarily in the USA and New Zealand by teenage and young adult men to describe a boy friend or close best friend. This term is currently used to describe the modern generation of college-age male party-goers. The name is typically associated with attention-seeking males who like to get drunk and party constantly.

Sis: Also slang used primarily in the USA like “Bro” but for women and girls.

Buddy: In the USA, males and sometimes females often refer to each other as “buddies”, for example, introducing a male friend as their “buddy”, or a circle of male friends as “buddies”. Buddies are also acquaintances that you have during certain events. The term may also refer to an online contact, such as the AOL Buddy List.

Casual relationship or “friends with benefits”: A sexual or near-sexual and emotional relationship between two people who don’t expect or demand to share a formal romantic relationship. This is also referred to an open relationship or a “hook-up”.

Family friend: A friendship extended to family members of the friends. Close relation is developed in those societies where family setup is strong. This term usually used in subcontinent.

Comrade: Means “ally”, “friend”, or “colleague” in a military or political connotation. This is the feeling of affinity that draws people together in time of war or when people have a mutual enemy or even a common goal. Friendship can be mistaken for comradeship.

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