Breaking The Cycle of Alcohol Addiction: Finding a New Narrative

Kohdi Rayne
2 min readDec 13, 2023

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Every individual has a unique story to tell, but sometimes society seems more interested in our struggles than our triumphs.

Photo by Michael Discenza on Unsplash

This is a common experience for many people struggling with alcohol addiction, where their woes, not their victories, often take center stage.

Society usually pays keen attention to tales of pain, struggle, and turmoil. This is partly why some people find it hard to stop drinking. After all, when there is nothing negative to share, who will listen?

The irony of this situation is that most individuals are more invested in their own sorrows than the happiness of others. We often meet people who are as discontented or even more so than us. As such, it becomes easy to dwell on the things we hate, the things that are not working, and all the problems we face.

In essence, the brain amplifies these struggles, inscribing them deeply within our psyche. These negative events, in turn, feed our need for solace, often found at the bottom of a bottle.

In light of this, it is clear that the narrative we create and share plays a significant role in our lives and recovery journey. Negative experiences often trigger a rush of adrenaline, making these events more impactful and memorable.

In many ways, retelling these stories reinforces their impact on our lives, making it even harder to overcome our addiction.

However, during recovery, the focus shifts. At sobernotsober.com, the emphasis is not on dwelling on the pain, but on moving past it. The reason is simple — constantly revisiting painful experiences can trigger the desire to drink.

Hence, it’s counterproductive to talk about the things that lead you back to alcohol, the very thing you’re trying to escape from.

In conclusion, the room for recovery is not a place to sit and wallow in everyone else’s sorrows. It is a place of strength, of moving forward, and most importantly, of change. Sharing stories of misery may seem like a way to connect with others, but it can also set you up for a relapse.

Changing the narrative and focusing on positivity and growth instead can make the recovery journey less burdensome and more successful. After all, real recovery happens when we start sharing triumphs, not just trials. In the end, it’s our victories that define our journey, not just our struggles.

K O H D I | Beyond Sober

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Kohdi Rayne
Kohdi Rayne

Written by Kohdi Rayne

I’m an ex-alcoholic and liver failure survivor actively helping the world recover from toxic habits and design a life they love to live.

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