Oct 24, 2013 | By Tim Stoddart

The Advantages Of Being An Addict

Personal Addiction Recovery Stories

advantage of being a drug addict

I am a big fan of Malcom Gladwell. For those who are unfamiliar with him, he is the author of famous works such as “The Tipping Point” and “Outliers.” Both of these books had huge impacts on me as a person, and changed my perspective on many aspects in my own life. I mention Gladwell because he recently published a book entitled “David and Goliath.”

I have not yet read the book, but in a recent interview he did on The Daily Show, Gladwell explained the overall premise of the book. He wanted to look at what we consider advantages, and really dig into what we think of as being advantageous. Some of his examples include the fact that many successful businessmen are dyslexic. In interviews of these people, it became clear that their dyslexia turned into being an advantage for these people. This happened for two reasons. First, because for whatever reason, this hardship gave these people resolve to work hard and not let their “handicap” become something to deter them from achieving their dreams. Second, he says that their dyslexia became an advantage because it forced these people to find solutions to problems in other creative ways. This got me thinking…

In my experience, people that have dealt with addiction, have an uncanny ability to turn this hardship into a strength.

As usual, this is the part of the article where I mention that I am not a doctor, or a psychologist. I do not have a degree in social dynamics. This article is nothing but an opinion I have formed through my own experience.

Speaking from my experience, I vividly remember feeling so beaten and burdened by my addiction. Keep in mind, that my addiction, is omnipotent. The personality traits I have can be exhausting. Sometimes, my mind races so fast, and so hard, that I feel fatigued. It takes a physical toll on me at times. I can obsess, I get caught up worrying about my looks, my relationships, my fitness and health. I will run for miles, simply to fill this void in me. However, I am grateful for this void, because it keeps me going. It adds fuel to the fire that burns inside of me.

I think once you have escaped the stronghold of addiction, your life changes. You are grateful for things that used to seem irrelevant. More then anything, we are grateful for life. I have realized how precious and fragile of a gift life is, and how quickly it can end. I use this gratitude to motivate me. Every second wasted is a second I will never get back. Time is in fact, priceless. You can’t buy it, you can’t steal it, you can’t give it away.

Addicts have a certain way of thinking. We all know the phrase “more then one way to skin a cat.” However morbid that slogan may be, there is a lot of truth to the idea that there is always more than one way to solve a problem. I think addicts understand this. We are creative thinkers. If there is something we decide we want, usually, very little will stand in our way. The problem becomes what we use this energy for. Once I learned to better harness this creative thinking, I found myself being able to achieve and solve very complex situations. The biggest difference is, that the energy I now produce is good energy. I became able to rapidly better my life, as well as the lives of those around me. This positive energy is contagious, and many times, it is exponential. Events stack on top of each other. One day I woke up and I felt happy. I have never looked back.

The question becomes, what are you going to use your energy towards? This gift of sobriety and change of perspective still has the capacity to produce very bad energy. Lots of sober people still do really bad shit. I think the Universe has its own justice system, and in the long run, good will prevail. We all have to look at ourselves in the mirror. The truth is permanent, and the rest will fall by the wayside.

With recovery, came an unprecedented and untapped determination and strength that I never even know I possessed.

My challenge to you. Use your addiction. Use all the pain, the heartache, the regret, the mistakes, blood, tears and life we have already spent. Use your recovery, as a self fulfilling engine for good. I am a huge believer that we can literally accomplish anything we want. If we can get sober, then we can do anything. Believe it.

In closing. Remember that you are beautiful. You are strong and powerful. You can do anything you set your mind to. Your only limitations are your own insecurities. Fuck that. Push through the fear. If you have recovered from addiction, you can do anything. Believe it, because it’s true.

sober nation

23 responses to “The Advantages Of Being An Addict

  • Angie Lawson

    10 years ago

    God can take what is meant for evil and turn it into good. I do believe it.

  • Very well written. Its so easy to fall into negativity just by the nature of the beast. I will read this every day just as a reminder of what sober life should be like. Thank you.

  • Very true we are strong resourceful people its funny people that look at addicts an alcoholics as weak I couldnt disagree more . We are the srongest people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting from the old timer to the new comer to me recovery is joy an God is peace. Thank u for shareing very inspiring.

  • what a great read!!!!! sooooo true to the tee. that’s why my hvac business is taking off …. im one determined mo-fo, to prove to all the doubters that I CAN & WILL SUCCEED!!!!!

  • Amazing read & perfect timing. I had lost gratitude of my affliction. I had become resentful against it & those without it. This reminded me if where I came from & the light I can produce when I’m grateful & am harnessing the strength my addiction has given me. I’ve done things I never believed possible, changed attributes of myself I thought would always haunted me, & have even inspired others at times. I needed this reminder & I’m grateful you wrote this & even more grateful that my sobriety allowed me to read this. What an ah ha moment! THANK YOU!

  • Colleen M

    10 years ago

    This is good stuff. And things I need to remember and believe.

  • I needed this!!!! I just went and wrote down the words, what will you use your energy towards? And hung it above my desk. I have been struggling w negativity from a break-up. I’ve poured all my energy into being miserable & extremely hard on myself while letting my program, step work & job suffer. Not anymore!! Good stuff!

  • No matter how far down the scale we have gone we can see how our experiences can benefit others

  • Yes addiction can be turned into a strength but in dealing with this all my life. I feel I have been thwarted socially due to my eccentric nature (most likely due the addict personality). I would rather not be an addict since I am not sure being the way I am has caused me to enjoy life more. I see others who are not addicts and they are not that different but actually have a more balanced approach to life.

  • Excellent article. I NEVER thought of it this way! When I remember the determination, strategy, cunning, and creative thinking it required to obtain my drug of choice, I realize the potential I carry within to do absolutely ANYTHING i put my mind to now. WOW. What a fresh perspective, and what a revenge to those substances and spirits that tried to destroy us! Thank you for sharing this most “outside the box” idea.

  • no thats my kind of thinking!!!!!!!! when i finally realized that all the dope and booze was just and only about trying to feel good, somethin shifted and i started seeking good clean fun. what really makes me feel good. the hard part was sitting down long enough to continue the thought. and some MAJOR step work. i belive that the victim stace freezes more addict in there tracks than anything else.i still go there as a first re-action, the 10th step continues to save my skinny butt. im clean im sober, only by the grace of god. my happiness IS up to me.thnx 4 letting me share. and god bless

  • debbie: its uncanny really how we both really max our “every bit of wits” just to get our hands on whatever drugs of our desire thereafter that i truly felt a sense of empowerment after having achieved it. Yet , neglecting every sense that’ this’ is the very cause of me entering an endless cycle of heartbreaks,haplessness & loneliness.
    May we all be able to harness this ‘tenancity of ours to grab drugs’ to quit it altogether as well.
    Love&Best
    b

  • debbie: its uncanny really how we both really max our “every bit of wits” just to get our hands on whatever drugs of our desire thereafter that i truly felt a sense of empowerment after having achieved it. Yet , neglecting every sense that’ this’ is the very cause of me entering an endless cycle of heartbreaks,haplessness & loneliness.
    May we all be able to harness this ‘tenancity of ours to grab drugs’ to quit it altogether as well.
    Love&Best
    b

  • What an excellent way to look at it. My greatest liability can be turned into my greatest strength. It has taught me humility, patience, an prayer. It has taught me compassion for my fellow addicts. I have met some of the most wonderful people because of my involvement in Recovery

  • Good read! Very true in my opinion also! The typo (then) should be than though!

  • Jamie Conway

    8 years ago

    We in Scotland call this the “better than well effect” when people in sustained longer term recovery can live happier, better adjusted life’s, fulfilling more of their potential than a person who has never had an addiction to start with. It’s a lovely way to think, and, has helped me massively in my recovery.

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