Romance and recovery
“Relationships can be a terribly painful area.”
Basic Text p. 78
Love is like an elixir for some of us. The excitement of a new lover, the intrigue of
exploring intimacy, the sense of release we get from allowing ourselves to become
vulnerable-these are all powerful emotions. But we can’t forget that we have only a
daily reprieve from our addiction. Holding onto this daily reprieve must be the top
priority in any recovering addict’s life.
We can become too involved in our relationship. We can neglect old friends and our
sponsor in the process. Then, when things get difficult, we often feel that we can no
longer reach out to those who helped us prior to our romantic involvement. This
belief can lay the groundwork for a relapse. By consistently working our program and
attending meetings, we ensure that we have a network of recovery, even when we’re
deep in a romance.
Our desire to be romantically involved is natural. But we mustn’t forget that, without
our program, even the healthiest relationship will not guard us against the strength
of our addiction.
Just for today: In my desire for romance, I will not ignore my recovery.