Dry Drunk Or Living Sober
Wednesday September 30, 2020
Being a “dry drunk” is a term used to describe a person whose actions and attitudes are pretty much the same as when they were drinking. Without substance to medicate the pain, they hurt. If we simply stop drinking or drugging and do not address the underlying issues, we can easily get into situations where we are prone to relapse. For example, if the way we deal with anger or handle rejection is a problem we never dealt with, then we could end up ruining a relationship and that could cause us to pick up again.
See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you. (Luke 11:35-36 NIV)
Some telltale signs of being a dry drunk include: being rigid; being angry, resentful, or sarcastic; having extreme mood swings; full of self-pity and blaming; believing nothing is ever good enough; and a general sense of boredom and dissatisfaction with life.
My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body. Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. (Proverbs 4:20-23 NLT)
Jesus wants to heal us and set us free from living as a dry drunk. Accepting His mercy and forgiveness is enough to heal us and make us feel safe, with plenty left over so we can offer the same to others. It’s only in the strength of God’s love and acceptance that we are able to do the hard work of exposing and handing our character defects over to God so He can remove them from our lives and we can truly live in a new way.
Prayer: Loving God, I know it displeases You when I live as a dry drunk and don't bother to deal with my character defects. I don't want to live that way any longer. I release myself and my hurts and resentments into Your hands. Help me to change so I can live in Your love in every area of my heart. Amen.
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More information on this and other related topics @ http://www.partnersinhope.ca/life-with-god-in-recovery-resources/
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