Northwoods Recovery

These days, I don’t spend a great deal of time in any of the cities to the south of us. In fact, I go out of my way to avoid that very thing; but when there, I always feel deeply grateful to be residing in Rhinelander and count myself fortunate to be living my recovery from addiction here and not there.

The constant traffic headaches alone would likely see me in daily peril of relapse. Lifelong residents may not be aware of it, but there is a distinct vibe that comes with living in the Northwoods that’s found nowhere else I’ve ever been. It’s especially noticeable when returning from one of my frequent ventures abroad.  

 I would guess it must be due to a combination of close proximity to Mother Nature — a blessing bestowed on precious few cities — and the undeniable sense of community that permeates our collective consciousness here. While this unique vibe may not be what finally caused my surprise stumble into recovery, it seems to be essential in not only maintaining my sobriety, but more importantly, favoring a climate conducive to learning the daily life lessons vital to growing a good recovery. 

I can’t begin to imagine what recovering from drug addiction would entail for me anywhere else, buoyed as I am by all the encouragement consistently on offer from my support group of Northwoods colleagues and close friends. 

Like everyone else recovering from addiction, I sometimes face low spots and challenging moments, times when my better angels appear to go silent just as their voices are needed to shout down the others. But living in the Northwoods provides a range of approaches to such challenges unavailable elsewhere. When the walls are closing in, my favorite response is to do a few circuits of Hodag Park, with some quiet pauses along the welcoming shores of Boom Lake, listening to loons calling while grappling with the sometimes bewildering complexities of life in recovery. And never failing to feel grateful in the moment. 

Recovering from addiction in the Northwoods means having at our disposal an endless array of such opportunities to momentarily step away from challenging times and engage in the exercise of self-care that serves to safeguard our emotional well-being. 

The danger of relapse is real and not to be ignored; making use of the mental health tools only available here is one more way that we do recover.

Do you think you may have a problem with alcohol? Alcoholics Anonymous can help. Call our Hotline at (715)360-4637 or visit our website at www.northwoodsaa.org for questions or to find a meeting in your area.