Thanks for this. I fully agree with your sentiment, comparing addictions is something that I see a lot of in recovery but doesn’t really serve anyone. No one is more or less of an addict. Although there is a fine line between sharing your past, allowing others to connect with you, offering them the possibility to feel safe and reduce shame and boasting about past conquests. I think it’s something that all those in recovery have to be aware of.

I hadn’t actually seen this phrase in this light and it’s really interesting to hear your take on it. I guess it can be used in a way of ‘pull your socks up and get on with it’.

I actually have used this phrase but I would use it as a lifeline to try to help others to counteract a feeling of hopelessness in early recovery. I do see how this can be interpreted as minimising someone else’s problems or presuming everyone is the same. However, it really helped me when I was at the bottom for people who had turned their life around and told me their past. And there were many of them I can think of. When they said to me, ‘if I can do it you can too’, with absolute empathy, it was what I needed at that time.

Thanks for this- it really has given me something to think about and has reminded me of the power of words and how we really have to be aware of how our sentiment can be misinterpreted.