What’s a Double Winner?
Beating addiction is no easy task. It’s overwhelming at a first glance, and the harder you work to vanquish it, the more surprises it throws.
If you’re recovering from addiction, you might have noticed other issues pop up that warrant support. It’s not as uncommon as you think. There’s even a term for it — double winner.
It’s a sarcastic term, sure. A bit of that old-world-tough-love recovery talk. But the fact of the matter is, it’s the best term we have for the phenomena.
If you’re recovering from addiction and find yourself slipping into another bad habit, you’re not alone. This article will walk you through all you need to know about what a double winner is, and how you can get help if you are one.
Many people suffer from more than one addiction, but not many of the terms we use to talk about it are helpful. Let’s take a look at some more of the information so you can determine whether or not you’re a double winner.
The term addictive personality has its own problems, implying that all addicts have similar personality traits.
And don’t let us get started on all the damage that awful terms like “junky” can do. A double winner simply refers to someone who finds themselves in a bit of rough water because they’re trying to swim out of the deep end.
A double winner can be a person who finds themself in any number of situations.
Maybe you’re someone whose alcohol addiction has led them to realize how much they’re suffering because of a loved one’s alcohol addiction, and you also wish to attend Al-Anon.
Or maybe your progress in treating a narcotics addiction has led to a gambling addiction pop up to fill the void. This can happen if you’ve been addicted to gambling in the past or not.
Or maybe your progress in a drug recovery group has led to you cling too hard to your partner, and you go to Co-Dependents anonymous.
A double winner isn’t just someone with two problems, however. A double winner is someone immersed completely in the culture of two separate programs.
A double winner attends each separate program regularly and has a sponsor in each program. They also possess knowledge of the beliefs in the literature of each program.
Terms like “addictive personality” were designed to put people suffering from addiction down. So why is the term “double winner” so positive sounding when the condition is so awful?
Well, think about it. If you’re someone who regularly attends a support group, you’re someone who receives care, treatment, and love from a community of people who want to see you succeed. Not all addiction-sufferers have that.
Heck, plenty of non-addicted folks don’t have that.
If you’re a “double winner” you’re someone who recognizes the need to take care of yourself. You’re someone who’s used what you’ve learned from one addiction to help yourself in another. That recognition is the second win in “double winner”.
You also “win” twice because you’re immersing yourself in two communities where you can help yourself grow and encourage the growth of others. It’s not easy to be a member of one group and to participate in two demonstrates a strength of character, a “winning” spirit.
Being a double winner means you’re sacrificing a lot of your life for the improvement of yourself and others. It’s a noble pursuit, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy.
Let’s take a look at a couple of things you can do to aid your double-winner recovery.
While it’s easy to feel like you’re superman for doing all it takes to attend two programs, remember that other people are bringing different baggage into that room with them. It’s all well and good to learn from two communities, but that doesn’t mean everybody can relate to the experiences you have.
Being a part of two communities means you meet a lot of people. Between the meetings, the community, and the sponsors, you’ll have a lot of people to keep track of in your life. If you add work or school and a family on top of that, you’re looking at a serious social schedule.
Remember not to try to please all of the people all of the time.
By taking time for yourself, away from everyone, you’re doing your whole social circle a favor. Pushing yourself too hard to constantly provide support to all your contacts will breed resentment, and ultimately impact your connections and recovery.
If you’re a member of two different communities, you’re most likely a student of the school of hard knocks. You’ve found a way to make your life work for you, and you may distrust sources outside yourself and your community to tell you what to do.
However, it can be good to learn some new perspectives. Read up on our modalities to see how they can help you grow.
If you’re suffering from two addictions, you’re not alone. Acknowledging that you have problems and taking the steps to treat them is a sign of strength, not weakness. The people in both of your communities surely appreciate your strength in helping all of them.
If you suffer from addiction, it’s important to have the right terms with which to talk about. Once you understand what a double winner is, and whether or not you’re one, you’ll be well on your way to improving your path to recovery. For more information, contact us today.