Dallas Bragg explains how comparison and inadequacy fuel relapse in meth recovery. Instagram and Grindr trigger envy and validation-seeking. The difference between staying sober and relapsing isn't strength or smarts, he says, but consistent daily effort and choosing response over reaction.
This is why you feel inadequate in your recovery. Listen, comparison really is the thief of joy. I've seen many relapses occur because hot gay men posting their bodies and their boyfriends on Instagram. We see that and then we turn to Grindr to find validation for us. The same situation exists when we begin asking, why does it seem like other men can break free from Tina, but I can't? That question is rooted in fear and insecurity. Your journey has been designed for a reason, specifically for your context and your needs. And I'll let you in on a secret. The only difference between someone who is abstinent from meth and you is consistency and persistence. That's it. They aren't smarter than you. They aren't stronger than you. They learn how to respond to life instead of react to it, pick themselves up, and do it again tomorrow.
