Dallas Bragg almost relapsed while doing laundry after getting sober, stable housing, and his kids back. The comfort felt wrong, so he craved numbness. He rewrote the story he told himself—that he needed chaos—and learned to find joy in mundane things instead.
Dirty dishes. When I was first getting sober, I was standing at the kitchen sink after doing some laundry, and all I wanted to do was use suddenly. I had to run outside and escape. My kids were there, and I didn't understand. And what I had realized was I'd re-established life from homelessness. And got my kids back and we had a safe place to live. And once I got on my feet, all of a sudden it was uncomfortable and I just wanted to use again. I wanted to numb. And what I will say to you is the story I had in my head was that I need chaos and I need to be seeking validation through other people. What I had to do was change that story and change the story to, I find joy in everything that I do. Even the boring and the mundane. That was a pivotal moment in my sobriety, and I hope that helps you.
