Why is Emotional Sobriety so Important?

Why is emotional sobriety so important? Emotional sobriety encompasses effectively handling our emotions and expressing them to others, and picking up on subtle, intuitive messages from our Higher Power.

Our first job in recovery is overcoming hard addictions and codependencies. Then we can begin to address the underlying causes and conditions. Earnie Larsen called it “second-stage recovery” and we could even call it “emotional recovery.” Emotional sobriety is necessary for us to enjoy full recovery. Our recovery is not complete without it.

This “second stage” of recovery involves identifying and dismantling destructive coping mechanisms created from trauma, plus addressing undesirable behaviors and unhelpful attachments.