Episode #145 – Tuesday The Fix: Death by Terminal Uniqueness

Addiction is one of those conditions that lie to us. Addiction is one of the only diseases known to man that will tell you that you don’t have it. Addiction is a disease of denial. Most people die or live a life of defeat. If you are a person in active recovery, then you are the exception, not the rule. As I previously stated, per PT, the relapse rate for the addict doesn’t go down below 50% until they are in year 3 or 4. 

So, why is it so many are relapsing or dying before they ever recover? We live this life of self-isolation and despair. You have heard me mention before, “The Hole of No Hope”. Do you know what a rut is? A rut is grave with both ends kicked out. If we don’t get out of it, we die there. I think the thing that keeps so many people from recovery and challenges them while trying to recover is what I call “Terminal Uniqueness.” Terminal Uniqueness can keep us in that rut.

Terminal= extremely or hopelessly severe

Uniqueness= being without a like or equal

In other words, “No one understands me”. If no one can understand me, then no one can help. Maybe they haven’t quite figured out how to help someone like me. 

Since we know that most all addictions are progressive in nature, eventually we will die due to our terminal uniqueness. 

If we are to live long enough to enjoy true sobriety and recovery, we must work through this pattern of destruction.

One of the biggest signs of Term Uniq is the need to prove that we are different than others. Unless we are a narcissist, we most often think we are inferior to others and maybe just a little sicker. At times, it may come off like superiority, but it is knowing that something is wrong us or we are Too Broken.

In keeping the main thing, the main thing or as Stephen Covey would write “First Things First”, here some things we must do to avoid the pitfalls of Terminal Uniqueness.

1. Be thoroughly convinced you are sick and tired of being sick and tired. Anything short of this, barring a miracle, you will relapse
2. Become involved in some type of peer group recovery
3. Be convinced that you are only as sick as our secrets
4. Relate to others and their stories. Find the similarities. There are more similarities than there are differences
5. Try what’s working for them in their recovery and make what applies your own
6. Seek outside help where appropriate
7. Be to others what you want others to be you.
8. Wash, rinse, and repeat

Keeping these things in mind will help you grow and not go. Above all, be strong and stay blessed. Support our recovery movement via Patreon.com/recovery.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS