Dry Drunk Or Living Sober
Being a “dry drunk” is a term used to describe a person whose current actions and attitude remain the same as when they were drinking. Without a substance to medicate the pain, they still hurt. If a person simply stops drinking or drugging and fails to address their underlying issues, they can easily get into a situation where relapse is looming. For example, if our way of dealing with anger or rejection is a problem we have never dealt with, we could end up ruining a new relationship, adding to our grief, and bringing on the desire to medicate 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; angry, resentful, or sarcastic; having extreme mood swings; full of self-pity with a tendency to blame others; nothing is ever seen to be good enough; 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 plus have enough left over to 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 our character defects and become willing to hand them over to God who, when we are ready, will remove them from us. Then we will be free to live in the way God intends us to.
Prayer: Loving God, I know it displeases You when I don't bother to deal with my character defects. I don't want to live in that bondage any longer. I release myself and my hurts and resentments into Your hands for healing and restoration. Help me to change so I can live in Your love and be supported in every area of my life. Amen.
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