Dr. Twerski's Sober Thought - July

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July 22

Sobriety Can Bring New Problems

A man set up a workshop in his apartment. A neighbor began playing loud music to obscure noise of the machinery. When the man moved his workshop, he became annoyed by the neighbor's loud music. By this time the neighbor had come to enjoy it, and did not wish to stop it. Similarly, the sober spouse may have to adapt to the addict's behavior. These adaptations become an established pattern, which later annoys the addict -- though they had come about as a response to the addiction. This is why codependency requires careful attention. Abstinence can create a new set of problems.