Dallas BraggFormer crystal methamphetamine user, I help men who have sex with men break free from the addictive patterns associated with Chemsex. Currently expanding my expertise by seeking to become a Certified

What’s been your experience with grieving your past self in recovery? Tell us about your experience

9 Jul 2026 · 1 min

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In this motivational talk, Dallas Bragg reframes the traditional five stages of grief (denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance) as a recurring spiral rather than a linear path. He explains that during recovery individuals repeatedly encounter each stage at higher elevations, gaining speed, skill, and maturity with each cycle. This ongoing process is presented as a disciplined practice and a way of being a man who has endured hardship yet continues to grow. Bragg emphasizes that no one is behind or too damaged; each person is exactly on time for the life they are becoming, offering reassurance and encouragement throughout.

Chapters

The 5 stages of grief are not a road that you're going to walk one time. It's a spiral you keep returning to at different elevations throughout your recovery journey. You will hit denial again in some new form about some new layer. You will move through anger again. You will catch yourself bargaining. You will sit with depression. You will return to acceptance over and over until you are a best and highest potential of yourself. Each time you go through this spiral, you go through it faster. Each time you go through it with more skill, more learning, more maturity. And each time you come out a little more whole. That is what this work all is. It's not a one-time graduation. It's a practice, a discipline, a way of being a man in the world who has lived what you have lived and is still standing. You are doing it. You're not behind. You're not too late. You're not too damaged. You are right on time. For the life you're growing into.