Remember you have a conscience

Addicts tend to have strong consciences. Using tends to be the way addicts escape from their conscience. If someone has been sober for awhile and has practiced the 12 steps, this conscience has only been further developed. This is why relapsing after a period of sobriety can be so depressing. This is also why "cross addicting" to other addictive ways of escaping from one's conscience can cause such depression, sadness, and self pity. Examples of cross addicting are substituting overeating for drinking or internet porn for crack or gambling for smoking pot or even excessive working for sex addiction, etc. Self pity, anger, a guilty conscience, and other bad feelings are not relieved by cross addiction. The best way to have a clear conscience is to try to live according to the four absolutes (honesty, purity, unselfishness, and love) and to practice the 12 steps in all of your affairs. 

 

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To-do:

Live in the moment practicing love, purity, unselfishness, and honesty. And tell a therapist or your sponsor if you are cross addicting. Remember how painful relapse is to your conscience.

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