Finding the Encouragement to Keep Going

Doubts and feelings of discouragement are a reality in withdrawal healing. They are a challenge to overcome, but they are a normal part of the healing process and are not insurmountable obstacles to progress. 

Many people begin the path of getting off medications with confidence and enthusiasm, but when the process begins taking longer than expected—or becomes more complicated than expected—the doubts can creep in. And feelings of discouragement can take over.

After putting in so much hard work, a person can be tempted to just turn around and give up.

Maybe you’ve heard that “taking the first step” in a journey is the hardest part, but I would argue that it is the steps much farther down the line that can be more difficult in withdrawal healing. Discouragement, and doubt, often seem to come on stronger the longer we’ve traveled—again, usually when things prove to be more challenging, more complicated, or more lengthy than we first anticipated.

The steps are more difficult when we are more tired! When we’ve been at the journey for a longer amount of time, we are fatigued—physically, mentally, and spiritually. And then is when we are tempted to think “Is this really worth it?”

But the journey is worth it! The hard work and sacrifice do not go unrewarded! Just because something is taking longer than you thought it would, or proving to be more challenging than you initially imagined it would be, that does not mean that you are on the wrong path.

It doesn’t mean that you made the wrong decision.

It doesn’t’ mean that there isn’t great value to what you are doing.

It doesn’t mean that your hard work isn’t paying off or won’t pay off.

It doesn’t mean that you are doing something wrong, and it doesn’t even mean that you necessarily have to do much differently.

It just means that you need to look at things in a different way, find some encouragement, and then keep taking those small and productive steps forward.

Keep doing the right things, and just combine those right things with more time.

Maybe you’ve been feeling doubtful lately, or discouraged, and that’s okay. Again, if you never felt those things, you wouldn’t be human. The trick then—the solution—is to simply take a few deep breaths (get angry or have a cry or breakdown if needed), and then give yourself a good old fashioned pep talk.

Tell yourself that you are much closer to the end of the difficult journey than you are to the starting point. Much closer.

Remind yourself that you have seen some improvements, improvements that maybe you once thought would be impossible to realize.

Give yourself some major credit for ways in which you’ve pushed through difficulties—that shows strength.

Give yourself a compliment for a way in which you’ve developed and grown because of the trials you’ve been put through.

And as always, take a very important moment to have a few words with God. Thank Him for being with you. Your journey to this point certainly hasn’t been easy, but He has protected you and brought you to today for a reason. And that reason is to keep going.

You are still here, living and breathing, with many great opportunities for improvement ahead of you. God hasn’t abandoned you, and He will be with you as you go forward. Ask for His continued presence, and ask Him for the strength and spiritual encouragement needed to “fill up your tank” so that you can keep moving forward in this worthwhile journey of yours.

I know that this road is not the easiest in the world. Far from it. Trust me, I know. But it is one that comes with rewards, and a person must feel very proud for traveling it.

You are making progress on your journey. You will see further improvements. Just keep at it.

Stay encouraged!

Michael