Hi, Norman! Thanks for the shout-out on another journal. I've started reading your journal, and am interested in your story and journey.
As I scrolled around on some posts here I realized that this forum often disappoints: If people are posting it's generally because they're struggling. Rarely do people come on here and post to say "Hey, fuckin' killin' it boys!" and let's be honest that would be a bit off, like rubbing it in others faces. It pains me to see others struggle and I am feel like I have good advice but it has not been nearly the same struggle for me and that has made me hesitant to visit or post. I don't want to seem like a know-it-all.
I had a similar thought on rejoining Reboot Nation (as I was here between 2014-16). I've been down this road, I've fought with this thing using numerous approaches for- not years, but decades (almost 30 years!). I know how to abstain from this crap, when I have resolve. But am I coming off as a 'know-it-all'? And this concern is particularly true for me in using different approaches than what's typical in 'recovery circles'.
I used to get discouraged when I see others struggle- but now I know (too many times over) how easy it is when you let your guard down, or approach life mindlessly while your habit is still overly sensitized. One can't go on autopilot, and expect that they won't encounter old cues, or have urges with old habit patterns emerge.
Again, we don't want to be so conscious of this thing, like a hyper-vigilance, that we end up feeding the habit anyway!
But if we're doing good in this area, by all means- boast! Not in a self-righteous and condescending way, but as a way to celebrate yourself, and also to point the way to others because you've been there, and you care. Sure, our struggles may look different (I never really had PIED), but we know what habit is, we may know what addiction is- and how to fight it.
Helping others helps us to stay focused and sharp as we need to be.
Blessings!