Dealing With Adversity During Recovery

Adversity happens to everyone. However, those in recovery can find themselves thinking that their life should be smooth sailing now that they’ve given up drugs or alcohol. Then, when they find themselves struggling with anxiety or depression or some other issue, they’re discouraged. In this episode of The Recovery Playbook, Dr. Shorter and Leaf explore what can happen when someone in recovery encounters adversity and what to do about it.For Leaf, recovery meant that he had to address underlying mental health issues, which for him included social anxiety, depression, and narcissistic personality disorder. He says those diagnoses were a game changer because it meant there was a “why” to his addiction.“Addiction helped calm those mental illnesses.” In order to heal, he still needed to address them. Dr. Shorter points out that “You don’t have to wait until a crisis has happened in order to seek any sort of treatment, especially mental health treatment.”Leaf says everyone new to recovery should seek treatment because sharing your story is so powerful and sharing your story with others is a way to be of service to others. According to Dr. Shorter, some people deal with adversity during recovery by going back to using drugs or alcohol or engaging in their behavioral addiction. Leaf encourages these individuals to begin the recovery process again.“Be transparent and vulnerable about the adversity you’re facing with your therapist, physician and the people who are supportive of your recovery,” says Leaf. “And believe that they are not going to judge you or shame you.”Follow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to stay up to date on new Recovery Playbook episodes with Ryan Leaf and Daryl Shorter, M.D.  To submit a topic for discussion, email [email protected]. If you are a new or regular listener, please leave us a review on your favorite listening platform! Visit www.menningerclinic.org to learn more about The Menninger Clinic’s research and leadership role in mental health.