By sheer coincidence, everyone seems to have this idea that the grass is greener over there. It is not specifically over there, but on other people’s lawns that we either know or we think we know because we see them on social media. We have no idea what is happening behind the scenes. We do not know what life is like over there, but we would do better in recovery to focus on making our own patch of grass and lawn greener where we are right now. Find out why the geographical cure is not the answer and how to cultivate a sense of peace in your life.
Benefits of Geographical Cure
While geographical cures are far from infallible, it can be quite healthy to leave certain spaces. This can be helpful when you are using substances in a place and cannot return there and remain sober. Sometimes you have to change geography, even just minor adjustments, to stay clean. Places also have certain energy. It can make you feel downright awful, or make you feel amazing. Environments people associate with periods of active addiction are not ones that should be including in places you spend your time. Going elsewhere can prove beneficial to your mental, physical, and spiritual well-being.
Challenges of the Cure
Geographical cures may work for a time but, eventually, they are all too likely to fail. The general remedy is that people who are uneasy without knowing the cause and change place may just increase their pain unwittingly. Running away from shame can be difficult because it just brings with it more challenges. The illusion of the geographical cure even shows up in the AA book. Some people attempt to use this as a way to cure substance use altogether, by changing where they live. The environment is not entirely the issue when the way to shift things is within the mind, body, and spirit. One of the references in the book talks about being unable to see drugs or alcohol without being triggered. The mindset has to change, not just place or people because those things will pop up unless you live hidden under a box. The true challenge of healthy recovery is not just shifting where you live but understanding how to live differently in recovery than you did under the guise of addiction.
Why it Matters
Leaving the environment is one way to ensure positive change, but geographical cures are not enough in and of themselves. One of the best ways is to build a strong and sober support network. We have to get out of our own way in recovery to meet people who will help hold us accountable. You also need community to support you so upending your life to move far away from where you know accountability exists can be detrimental, too. The goal of recovery is to help you shift your life in a way that you can keep some of the things that will work (loved ones, community, recovery groups) to support your sobriety and shift away the things that don’t work for you (toxic people, environments, stress) and start to find a way of discerning more appropriately how to engage in your world so that you don’t have to change it all at once. Recovery is a gradual journey of discovery, one step at a time, day by day.
The Springboard Center’s addiction treatment programs are tailored to meet the needs of each client. By utilizing a set of diverse methods of addiction treatment, we are able to deal with your addiction from all angles and concentrate on every aspect of your healing process. It is important to recognize that many of our services offer a group setting and environment, so that the client spends time with other people affected by the same chronic disease and problems. 432-620-0255
